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How to Pinch Bougainvillea: A Detailed Guide to the Correct Method

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A single bougainvillea can display multiple flower colors at the same time, and it is easy to keep alive, but if it is allowed to grow freely it will not form a low, spherical shape. To maintain its plant form, pinching is necessary. The specific method is to wait until it grows to 20 to 30 cm, then cut off the branch tips. When the side branches grow to about 10 cm, continue pinching them off, but leave three or four leaves for shaping later, cut off the other terminal leaves, and then use the same method to pinch the small twigs on the side branches. Note that you can only pinch shorter branches; if there are overly long leggy branches, choose to prune and shorten them instead.

1. What Is Pinching

The top of the main stem of every plant has tender buds, which is what keeps the plant growing taller and reduces branching. Pinching means removing the tender buds at the tips of the plant's main branches; generally, the terminal buds of vigorously growing side branches should also be appropriately removed depending on the situation. If some plants are not pinched for a long time, they will grow excessively tall, and many leaf buds will appear at the top. At this point, you need to remove the several tender buds connected at the growing point together, which is also called removing apical dominance.

2. Method

When the plant is young, there is no need to consider pinching. Wait until it grows to within the range of 20 to 30 cm, then cut off the branch tips. At this time the plant is in its growth stage and the leaf buds are still very tender, so do not accidentally damage other tender buds. After cutting off the branch tips, the auxin in the main stem spreads downward, promoting the growth of side branches, and soon multiple side branches will develop. Following this method, when the side branches grow to about 10 cm, continue pinching them off, but leave three or four leaves for shaping later, pinch off the other terminal leaves completely, and then use the same method to pinch the small twigs on the side branches. After repeated operations, a spherical plant with nine to twelve side branches in a "three forks, nine branches" form will develop. Note that you can only pinch shorter branches; if there are overly long leggy branches, choose to prune and shorten them instead.

3. Effects

Pinching can appropriately inhibit the growth of the main stem, allow the plant to sprout more side branches, and prevent it from becoming leggy. If you want to make the plant full, you must dwarf it so that it looks plump and fluffy, and the only way to achieve this effect is to pinch it. Pinching can increase the sites where flowers sprout, thereby increasing the number of flowers produced and making the plant more gorgeous when in bloom. Not only that, pinching can also delay the flowering time, and if it is well cared for, it can bloom one extra time a year.

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