Pinching back

[junglegal]

Phil mentioned pinching back for more side shoots. Is this done on new growth or lower leaves?

 

[fawnridge]

New growth and don't wipe your hands on your clothes as it will leave permanent brown stains.

 

[Phil Stager]

Pinching new growth is an ancient horticultural technique to encourage new growth and a bushier plant. Just don't do it on monocots like palms. I believe that this is where the term 'green thumb' originated, i.e., from the chlorophyl in the pinched plant - except for our crotons whcih, as Ricky pointed out, will give you permanent stains in any clothing the croton juice touches.

 

[junglegal]

Thank you! Would clipping work as well? I hardly have a pair of shorts without staining from bananas. I did not know that about crotons. And I know not to lick my fingers off as a substitute lol.

 

[Phil Stager]

almost any sharp cutting instrument from fingernails, pruning shears, scissors, etc; avoid cutting torches, lasers, and other high tech stuff. All one does is remove the growing tip of a branch.

 

[Phil Stager]

Here we go with another photo tutorial:
1. Find branch or stem that would look better with multiple heads of leaves instead of one. Here we have a Geisha Girl about 18" tall and getting a bit leggy. Note the new growth.
2. Grasp new growth firmly between thumb nail and another finger nail.
3. Squeeze
4. Off it comes. Now wait a month or two for, hopefully, several points of new growth.

Remind me in a month or so to post another pic to see what happened.

 

[junglegal]

Great tutorial Phil! Thanks

 

[Moose]

Croton mavens, now is the time of year to make you pinchings and or trmmimgs to shape your plants. The rains will be here in June so you budding new growth will explode.