Does Chinese trumpet creeper need to be pinched back? The correct method is here

Chinese trumpet creeper (Campsis grandiflora) is a climbing vine in the Bignoniaceae family, genus Campsis, distributed in central China, and it prefers warm, humid, sunny environments, tolerating slight shade. So, when growing Chinese trumpet creeper, does it need pinching back?

1. Does Chinese trumpet creeper need pinching back?

Chinese trumpet creeper needs pinching back. Pinching back means removing its apical dominance so the plant grows shorter, produces more lateral buds, and blooms more, giving it a better overall shape.

2. Cultivation techniques for Chinese trumpet creeper

1. Propagation methods

Chinese trumpet creeper can be propagated by cuttings, layering and division. Choose a sunny, well-drained, deep, fertile loam soil for planting.

Cuttings can be taken in spring and summer, choosing thicker one-year-old branches. Cut them into 10-15 cm cuttings, remove the leaves, then insert them in the cutting bed at a row spacing of 15-20 cm and a plant spacing of 5 cm, inserting 2/3 of the cutting into the soil, pressing firm and watering.

In spring, cover with plastic film to maintain a relatively high temperature and a certain humidity, generally at 23-25°C, and roots form about 20 days after cutting. If cuttings with aerial roots are taken, they root even more easily.

2. Key cultivation points

(1) Fertilizing

Chinese trumpet creeper likes fertilizer and moisture, so water and fertilizer management should be strengthened after sprouting in spring. Generally, apply liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month.

(2) Watering

During the flowering period, a certain temperature should be maintained; the potting soil should not be too dry, but it should not be too wet either.

(3) Pruning

For plants grown on a trellis, to promote vigorous growth and abundant flowering, weak, winter-killed and crowded branches can be cut off before sprouting in early spring, improving ventilation and light penetration, which benefits growth and flowering.

(4) Pest and disease management

Chinese trumpet creeper has few pests and diseases, but in dry spring and autumn seasons it is easily harmed by aphids, so timely control should be carried out.