2:4:8:16:32
THE FORMULA OF PINCHING
by
Carl F. Mieseke, past AFS President
American Fuchsia Society
Bulletin, March 1979,pg. 3
Controlling the growth and thus the shape of the plant.Increasing flower production potential.
These two statements are the basic purposes of pinching. If the grower expects to have healthy,
well-formed, and well-bloomed plants, a serious pinching program is essential. It is only through this
type of program that these conditions can be controlled.
The development and implementation of a successful pinching program is not difficult if the following
principles are kept in mind.
1. Flower production occurs at the tips of new growth. If new growth is increased the potential for
flowering is increased.
2. Dormant buds are situated on the stem at the base of each leaf. This area is known as the leaf node.
3. Fuchsias usually develop two opposite leaves at each leaf node and thus two dormant buds.
4. When a branch or stem is cut off [pinched] new growth usually emanates from the dormant buds on
the nodes nearest the cut. This characteristic allows the controlled increase in the number of branches.
For example, if the stem is pinched above a node
containing two dormant buds then the plant will grow two new branches from one. If these branches
are pinched the resultant growth will be four branches. Each pinching should double the number of
branches. Hence the title: 2 : 4 : 8 : 16 : 32. (Reference pinching diagraumber of nodes of new growth & Rowed to
remain after each pinching. The number of nodes left with each pinching varies with individual
growers and the growth results desired. If a larger and more open plant is desired, then three nodes
of growth may be left. If a more compact plant is desired, then perhaps only one node will be left. The
writer of this article usually leaves two nodes. However if the internodal distance (branch length
between nodes) is long, this may be reduced, or if the Internodal distance is small, it may be
increased. If a plant is developing lop-sided, then more growth will be left to correct that problem.
6. The size, compactness, and shape of the plant is determined by the length of the new growth
allowed to remain after each stage of pinching. Allowing fewer nodes at pinching forms a more compact plant, and thus affects the plant size. If fewer nodes are left on the top of the plant than
on the side, plant growth is encouraged to be lower and broader. This would be the case of a trailing habit. For an upright habit the opposite would be true. Uniform pinching may result in a
balanced plant, but one in which the flowers tend to be concentrated in one area. This is particularly true with trailing cultivars. By varying the
number of nodes with each pinching the growing tips can spread over a greater region, thus avoiding
the concentration of blooms to small areas
7. Growth and flower production can be accelerated through a properly planned feeding program. The vigor of the growth of any living thing is directly related to the nutrients received. Fuchsias at this
time require a feeding with fertilizers containing higher concentrations of nitrogen. For further information on this subject reference is made to the "Third Fuchsia Book" published by the American
Fuchsia Society.
8. New growth is accelerated by increased light. The rotation of plants is necessary to assure balanced growth. Without rotation to the light source (sun) the plant will develop more fully on one
side. It is suggested that plants be rotated 90 degrees each day.
The application of these principles allows the fuchsia grower to be creative. In this sense the grower
becomes an artist, the fuchsia plant becomes the medium, and the principles become the tools
which make possible the achievement of the final planned results.
Planned is the key word. The ultimate plant shape, the compactness of the plant and the flower
production wanted must be known, and the pinching program must be planned to meet these
objectives. Thus, each plant must be treated as an individual and its growth and development
guided with these specific objectives in mind.
Through a carefully planned program of pinching the grower can look forward to a season of
enjoyment and the recognition of a job that has been well done.