Our 1st shipment (7/14/08) of rooted cuttings for 10" pots came in very healthy, good roots, and with 7-9 internodes. They were planted 7/14 and 7/15.

We pinched them on 7/28.

They had 10-12 internodes when we pinched. We left 5-7 internodes.

My concern is the lower of the internodes would be hardened and new breaks not occurring there.

MY TWO QUESTIONS:

Is it correct you should obtain good roots prior to a pinch or a Florel spray?

What would be the correct timing for the pinch and the "before and after" Florel spray IN THIS SITUATION?

Thanks Ecke,

tn

It is important to allow the roots to establish and at least reach the edge of the pot before pinch. This is important because the cuttings are going to put all its energy to rooting first because it needs to in order to take up water and nutrients. If you pinch before the roots are established you will be compromising the quality of the breaks coming out if the cuttings isn't ready to put energy towards shoot growth.

There really isn't an exact answer for the correct timing to pinch because pinch timing will vary depending on environmental conditions, how well the plants establish, and the variety in particular. Normally for a 10" in Tennessee on a medium vigor variety (Prestige, Freedom) we would recommend about 20-25 days of establishing before Florel is applied and the plants are pinched. You plants may be ready to pinch earlier if they establish fast and stretch is starting to occur. It is better to pinch when the plants are ready to be pinched than to delay the pinch and go by the calendar. Timing for the Florel "sandwich" technique would be 3 days before and 5-7 days after pinch.