Can You Pinch Back Flowering Petunias?

Petunias produce a variety of blossom colors.

Petunias are popular flowering ornamental annuals that produce large trumpet-shaped blossoms. The colorful petunia flowers appear with smooth or ruffled edges. Some blooms are bi-colored or even striped. To increase the amount of flower blossoms, pinch the flowering plants back.

Function

Pinch petunias back to 4-inches high after the plants bloom the first time. This takes off the excess vegetative foliage. In 2 to 4 weeks, the pruned petunias will produce another wave of flowers.

Benefits

Deadheading, which is the removal of old, fading blossoms, promotes the production of more flowers on petunia plants. Pinch the wilting flowers just above the leaves removing the blossom and part of the stem. This prevents the petunias from forming seed pods, which takes away the energy for flower production.

Care

Petunias prefer planting sites in full sunlight. Water the plant whenever the soil is dry. Do not splash water on the flowers since this causes them to curl up. Wet petunia flowers will not reopen until the petals are dry again, which takes 2 to 3 days. Mulch around the petunia plants to reduce water evaporation and splashing.

References

• University of Rhode Island Fact Sheets: Petunias
• Oregon State University Extension: How to Keep Petunias From Becoming Bedraggled