Pinching out

I've got two trailing begonias about 6" tall for hanging baskets. Not sure if I should 'pinch out' and if so, how/where?

Also, same question for trailing geraniums (about the same size)?

 

I would say yes to the trailing geraniums but not the begonias. Others may have different ideas.
Welcome to Gardeners Corner - thanks for the piccie,
Jenny namaste.

 

I agree, I have never had to pinch out begoinas, but have found that doing so to trailing pearlagoniums helps make them bushier.

 

Hi

I grow these in baskets ever year trailing begonias , and yes you should pinch out the tip you should also take off the flowers as you want the plant to put all the energy in growing at the moment , when are you putting in baskets ?? same with the geraniums it will make them produce more side shoots so you will get more flowers ....


ps only take the tip shoot out of both plants

 

What type of trailing Begonia is that Peter ?

 

Hi H

You pinch your out as well ?, I also read if they become a tangle in the basket dont water for a couple of days and when they go limp you can re arrange them

 

Hi Spruce, I have never pinched out yet but was about to try it on my B. Santa Cruz . Do you just pinch out the top growing section ?
My other trailing begonias are all illumination type and they seem to branch like crazy . One last year went really leggy and I cut that back by half about now and it became a nice plant.

 

Hi H

yes on anything that trails in a basket it always has the pinch just the top leader shoot but every shoot needs pinching at the same time on each plant .

It holds back the flowering but over the summer it may flower a couple of weeks late but will much longer than plants not pinched out

 

Harry
Sorry for the delayed response - it's a Begonia Waterfall Encanto Falls - that's what is says on the pot.

 

Hi Peter

That plant has several commercial names but it is a "Boliviensis Hybrid" did you pinch them out and remove the flowers , I will wait another two weeks with my baskets before they go out permanent, hows your doing ?

Spruce

 

I have pinched out and removed most of the flowers. Haven't put into baskets test as I'm waiting for some of the smaller plants to 'catch up' (Bacopa, Petunia, Lobelia, Verbena, Dichondra and some Fuchsias); then I can make up my mind what to put in with what and where (I've got approx. 25 baskets to fill and lots of floor standing pots).

 

I have my Begonia baskets planted and in the GH , like Spruce they will go out in about 2 weeks.
B. Boliviensis is my favourite type of trailing begonia , but for some reason I have only seen them for sale in GC's twice . My local nursery sell hanging baskets of them ( B. Million kisses ) but don't sell them as singles.

 

Hi H

I dont like the (Million series) the colour is washed out , plus the newer varieties perform so much better