Pinch out plants

Pinching out the stem tips of young plants encourages more sideshoots to form, which in turn produces bushier growth and lots more flowers. Plants that respond well to pinching out include chrysanthemums, cosmos, dahlias, fuchsias, pelargoniums, sweet peas and zinnias. The time to do it is when plants have grown 5–7½cm (2–3in) tall and have three pairs of leaves. Using your finger and thumb, small scissors or a sharp knife, simply nip out the very tip of the stem shoots, just above a set of leaves.