Dead heading

This will prove that I really am a beginner.

How do I deadhead flowers ~ do I cut them or pinch then out? Help, before I kill them!

 

Hi Orchid.
I usualy just nip the heads off, you sometimes get more blooms on some plants or roses.
MEF750

[ 25. March 2007, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: mef750 ]

 

If you want to be fussy, cut the dead head off down to the next leaf joint. Me, I just nip them off - unless its late in the year, when I may leave dead flowers to provided seed heads and pods for winter interest and the birds. .

 

Hello mef750 and Fran,

Many thanks for your replies. That is what I did last year but then had an attack of the collywobbles thinking that it should have been a lot more technical than that!

Nice to know I did something right for a change!

 

There is a theory that if you crush a stem by nipping it with your finger and thumb nail it heals quicker than a clean cut with sharp scissors or knife.

Plants don't read books though so if you don't tell 'em they won't know 'cos either method seems to work :D

 

Hi Frogesque,

Very pleased to meet you.

What I'll go then, is try both methods on the same plant and see what happens! Many thanks