My second year of growing dahlias (the first year I upgraded to growing anything more than a Walmart/Lowes dahlia) I was pinching back higher up, experiencing the thrill of all those future increased loads of flowers I'd be getting - and then we had serious rain storms for a few days. Sure enough, some of the hollow stalks filled with water (over a foot high!), and it sat in the stalks until it rotted out the tubers. I didn't know this was going to be an issue, and then the smell started. I didn't realize the stink was that of rotting dahlia tubers, and once I figured out what was going on, I'd already lost several. Now if I'm going to be pinching higher up and it looks like rain, I'll roll up a leaf to stuff in the stalk, or try to drape leaves over it. . And if I find a stalk HAS gotten water in it, and there's more rain in the forecast, I've even poked a tiny hole near the bottom of the stalk to let it drain. I'm in NE Ohio, and we've just gone from ~3wks without rain, to rain forecast for all this week. Time to start watching those hollow stalks! I'm only on my 4th yr of growing dahlias, and it's been a fun crash course! Thanks for all your wonderful videos!
She does the absolute best Dahlia videos. I'm NE Ohio as well and appreciate the covering hollow stem recommendations! We tend to get too much rain here :(
I'm glad you talked about the intimidation bit. I think one of the biggest obstacles for novice gardeners (like me!) is the fear you're going to kill or at least damage your plants by cutting/pinching/pruning them. Same thing goes for pruning roses - I was afraid to prune the roses I inherited and as a result they got really leggy and thrashed about in the wind. It's useful to have good advice and to have the confidence you're not murdering them!
Thank you Brie for clarifying and expounding upon your short video. This detailed version helps a lot! I expect I’ll be needing to pinch very soon. Appreciate all you do! It would be great If you can do more pinching demonstrations for diverse varieties of flowers.🌺🌷💐💕
Most years I don't pinch my dinnerplate dahlias. They grow very tall and beautifully. This year I pinched them while young, they didn't grow much, only 2-3 ft or so, and their flowers were much smaller. I would say, don't pinch. Just harvest as each bloom comes to an end if you want the height and magnificent blooms
I actually planted dahlias for the first time this year...both tubers and those I grew from seed and you're right it's very scary to think about assaulting these small babies so I think I'll pinch maybe 1/3 of them and see how they do this year... thanks for the tutorial. 😎
If you pinch can you still stake each Dahlia plant individually? Thank you for your wonderful content. It is so helpful even for small backyard gardeners!
I too would like to know how well pinching at this early stage works with dahlias that will be staked individually. I’m working with varieties that generally grow between 3.5 and 5 feet tall, and they’re planted in an area that occasionally gets very windy. Hence, staking is mandatory!
Thank you for your Tipps! Do you pinch them more than once? So after pinching them once and they grow bigger do you pinch them once more? Or is that too much?
In another video, she shares to plant buckwheat seeds under your flowers after they have 2nd set of leaves to co-plant and help with pests. Also, to plant native flowers around the borders.
Well. I was following the general advice and waiting until they were 12 inches which they just hit, was going to do it this evening. Can’t hurt even if they’re too tall in your opinion
Hi Bree! I just love your channel! I have been gardening for 35+ years and this is just my second year growing Dahlias (everyone is right that once you get the bug of growing Dahlias … it does become impossible to not want them allll! 😂). Question about pinching … do you ever root the piece that you pinch from each Dahlia? Just seems to be a great way to increase inventory of those you don’t have many of?
So helpful! I’m going to be brave and do it! Mine are just about there here in central MN. I planted bushing sunflowers this year…I’m scared to pinch them, but I should right? Same general timeframe?
I live in Scotland, where the summers are short and wet. So, I wanted to know how long it takes for a pinched dahlia plant to grow and give flowers. Thank you.
Thanks so much! I'm a new grower and my first dahlias I pinched taller and they have a hollow stem which makes me nervous! I have some new babies in my raised bed so I'm gonna pinch after that 3rd set of leaves come in! Also...do you pinch this way regardless of the variety??? Thanks!
Hi, I'm new to growing dahlias and I'm unsure if I've waited too long to pinch them. One plant is currently about 2 ft tall and has a bud that's about the size of a gumball. Please advise what to do - thanks so much in advance!
I bought some Dahlia tubers that sprouted before i got them. Most are sending shutes upward fine, but I have a couple of them shooting straight out sideways instead of upright. I'm not sure how to correct this. It's difficult to plant with the way they're growing sideways without covering the old stem. It's my first time growing dahlias so I'm not sure what to do. One of the old necks are getting soft, the shoots themselves look great, but I'm worried about rotting. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you
With a clean craft knife you can cut off the sideways shoot and put them in a pot of sandy compost to root. When you take these cuttings you need to get a small bit of the tuber with it. The wound scabs over in a couple of days. Cover the pot of cuttings with a plastic bag and place somewhere bright, but not in direct sun. With a bit of luck you will get extra, free plants. I grow most of my dahlias from cuttings this way - they make better plants and I only have to buy one tuber.
Do you ever have trouble with 'scale' bugs on your dahlias? I got some and could not figure out how to get rid of them so I finally cut my dahlia to the dirt to let it regrow but I'm afraid it will still be in the soil and come back.
do you feel like pinching creates a plant that's shorter than a non-pinched plant? I was reading that pinching can lead to shorter plants and want to make sure I have nice long stems, especially on my dahlias!
My pinched pants reach the same height as non-pinched, but are fuller and encourages more laterals. To promote the best blooms and longer stems you need to disbud and remover laterals, so you do sacrifice some blooms but definitely worth it if you are specifically after longer stems. It's also worth remembering some varieties naturally produce much longer stems than others.
Thank you! I have one Dahlia I forgot to pinch, and that main stem is hollow. Plant is about a foot tall. Could I pinch it and "cap off" the hollow stem with aluminum foil?
I've been growing Dahlias for 35 years and this was the best pinching tutorial I've seen. Thanks for including all the reasons to do it.
My second year of growing dahlias (the first year I upgraded to growing anything more than a Walmart/Lowes dahlia) I was pinching back higher up, experiencing the thrill of all those future increased loads of flowers I'd be getting - and then we had serious rain storms for a few days. Sure enough, some of the hollow stalks filled with water (over a foot high!), and it sat in the stalks until it rotted out the tubers. I didn't know this was going to be an issue, and then the smell started. I didn't realize the stink was that of rotting dahlia tubers, and once I figured out what was going on, I'd already lost several.
Now if I'm going to be pinching higher up and it looks like rain, I'll roll up a leaf to stuff in the stalk, or try to drape leaves over it. . And if I find a stalk HAS gotten water in it, and there's more rain in the forecast, I've even poked a tiny hole near the bottom of the stalk to let it drain. I'm in NE Ohio, and we've just gone from ~3wks without rain, to rain forecast for all this week. Time to start watching those hollow stalks!
I'm only on my 4th yr of growing dahlias, and it's been a fun crash course! Thanks for all your wonderful videos!
Thanks for your insight here! I’m growing dahlias from seeds and wondering when to pinch😅
She does the absolute best Dahlia videos. I'm NE Ohio as well and appreciate the covering hollow stem recommendations! We tend to get too much rain here :(
@@pdb313 Yeah like right now! Not that we've got many plants at risk of rotting out right now, but our yard is a swamp.
Dahlias are some of my favorite flowers, thanks for the tips!
This is my first year with dahlias and I just examined my plants and gave them a pinch! Your quick visual was so helpful!
I'm glad you talked about the intimidation bit. I think one of the biggest obstacles for novice gardeners (like me!) is the fear you're going to kill or at least damage your plants by cutting/pinching/pruning them. Same thing goes for pruning roses - I was afraid to prune the roses I inherited and as a result they got really leggy and thrashed about in the wind. It's useful to have good advice and to have the confidence you're not murdering them!
Thank you Brie for clarifying and expounding upon your short video. This detailed version helps a lot! I expect I’ll be needing to pinch very soon. Appreciate all you do! It would be great If you can do more pinching demonstrations for diverse varieties of flowers.🌺🌷💐💕
Most years I don't pinch my dinnerplate dahlias. They grow very tall and beautifully. This year I pinched them while young, they didn't grow much, only 2-3 ft or so, and their flowers were much smaller. I would say, don't pinch. Just harvest as each bloom comes to an end if you want the height and magnificent blooms
I actually planted dahlias for the first time this year...both tubers and those I grew from seed and you're right it's very scary to think about assaulting these small babies so I think I'll pinch maybe 1/3 of them and see how they do this year... thanks for the tutorial. 😎
Its not really that scary, pinching slightly later will work too and essentially youre doing the same as you deadhead/cut the bloominng stems anyways
Your advise makes solid sense! Thank your for solid advise with reasoned logic!
Best Dahila tutorial on here
Thank you for your time
This is super helpful, thank you!
You are so welcome!
Thank you.
You the best!!
If you pinch can you still stake each Dahlia plant individually? Thank you for your wonderful content. It is so helpful even for small backyard gardeners!
I too would like to know how well pinching at this early stage works with dahlias that will be staked individually. I’m working with varieties that generally grow between 3.5 and 5 feet tall, and they’re planted in an area that occasionally gets very windy. Hence, staking is mandatory!
Great advice - the hollow stems can be a problem - thank you
Thank you for your Tipps! Do you pinch them more than once? So after pinching them once and they grow bigger do you pinch them once more? Or is that too much?
I struggle with earwigs eating my Zinnias . Help !!! What do you use to rid yourself of these awful creatures?
In another video, she shares to plant buckwheat seeds under your flowers after they have 2nd set of leaves to co-plant and help with pests. Also, to plant native flowers around the borders.
Well. I was following the general advice and waiting until they were 12 inches which they just hit, was going to do it this evening. Can’t hurt even if they’re too tall in your opinion
I just show how I do things, doesn’t mean it’s wrong to do it other ways. :)
Hi Bree! I just love your channel! I have been gardening for 35+ years and this is just my second year growing Dahlias (everyone is right that once you get the bug of growing Dahlias … it does become impossible to not want them allll! 😂). Question about pinching … do you ever root the piece that you pinch from each Dahlia? Just seems to be a great way to increase inventory of those you don’t have many of?
Excellent video.
This was lovely 😍 thanks 😊
When and how do you pinch lisianthus? I'm growing it for the first time this year. Thank you!
I have the same question.
We pinch after the third set of leaves. :)
@@Blossomandbranch Thank you!!
So helpful! I’m going to be brave and do it! Mine are just about there here in central MN.
I planted bushing sunflowers this year…I’m scared to pinch them, but I should right? Same general timeframe?
I actually don't pinch sunflowers, they'll branch naturally!
Thank you so much, this video is so helpful. Do you recommend pinching peonies?
I live in Scotland, where the summers are short and wet. So, I wanted to know how long it takes for a pinched dahlia plant to grow and give flowers. Thank you.
Thanks so much! I'm a new grower and my first dahlias I pinched taller and they have a hollow stem which makes me nervous! I have some new babies in my raised bed so I'm gonna pinch after that 3rd set of leaves come in! Also...do you pinch this way regardless of the variety???
Thanks!
Thank-you!
You're welcome!
Should I be pinching my strawflowers as well?
I planted my dalias in July will they bloom in late fall, in october
Hi Brie….do you have any information on pinching Lisianthus…..:)
Thanks so much.
Can you try to grow what is pinched by adding some rooting hormone?
Hi, I'm new to growing dahlias and I'm unsure if I've waited too long to pinch them. One plant is currently about 2 ft tall and has a bud that's about the size of a gumball. Please advise what to do - thanks so much in advance!
Great info. My dahlia will even do better now.👍👌👍
Yay more dahlias for all!!
Should I pinch my peonies?
I bought some Dahlia tubers that sprouted before i got them. Most are sending shutes upward fine, but I have a couple of them shooting straight out sideways instead of upright. I'm not sure how to correct this. It's difficult to plant with the way they're growing sideways without covering the old stem. It's my first time growing dahlias so I'm not sure what to do. One of the old necks are getting soft, the shoots themselves look great, but I'm worried about rotting. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you
With a clean craft knife you can cut off the sideways shoot and put them in a pot of sandy compost to root. When you take these cuttings you need to get a small bit of the tuber with it. The wound scabs over in a couple of days. Cover the pot of cuttings with a plastic bag and place somewhere bright, but not in direct sun. With a bit of luck you will get extra, free plants. I grow most of my dahlias from cuttings this way - they make better plants and I only have to buy one tuber.
After doing the first pinching; can you do it again?
Do you just pinch a dahlia plant once? Or do you continue pinching as they keep growing?
I have the same question
Just once!
Do you ever have trouble with 'scale' bugs on your dahlias? I got some and could not figure out how to get rid of them so I finally cut my dahlia to the dirt to let it regrow but I'm afraid it will still be in the soil and come back.
HI which vegtables plants can you pinch like cucumber, squash etc
Mostly just peppers and also basil!
do you feel like pinching creates a plant that's shorter than a non-pinched plant? I was reading that pinching can lead to shorter plants and want to make sure I have nice long stems, especially on my dahlias!
My pinched pants reach the same height as non-pinched, but are fuller and encourages more laterals. To promote the best blooms and longer stems you need to disbud and remover laterals, so you do sacrifice some blooms but definitely worth it if you are specifically after longer stems. It's also worth remembering some varieties naturally produce much longer stems than others.
Thank you! I have one Dahlia I forgot to pinch, and that main stem is hollow. Plant is about a foot tall. Could I pinch it and "cap off" the hollow stem with aluminum foil?
Yes you can! You could even just stuff a bit of leaf debris down the center to keep critters out. :)
You could even try to root all the different stems you cut off especially if you have some rooting hormone... So easy to get new tubers from cuttings
Do you pinch sunflowers
No :) the single stem ones shouldn’t be pinched and the branching ones will do so naturally.