Should I Pinch My Dahlias?
This Jowey Winnie dahlia, sporting many blooming stems on one plant, was pinched.
June 2, 2025
âShould I pinch my dahlias?â âĶThis is a question Iâm asked so often as a flower farmer who does religiously pinch all 1,000 dahlias in our field. My short answer is: Absolutely pinch them, if you have time and want to! Whether you decide to pinch your dahlias is a personal choice, but it isnât required to grow lovely dahlias.
In this article, Iâll cover what pinching dahlias is, along with why, when and how to pinch dahlias for gorgeous, abundant blooms.
I wrote a book all about growing dahlias called Growing Gorgeous Dahlias: The Regenerative Growerâs Guide to Abundant Dahlias from Garden to Flower Farm. In Chapter 7: Maintaining Dahlias During the Season for Healthy Productive Plants, I discuss pinching dahlias. For an amazing, detailed overview of growing dahlias, I invite you to treat yourself to a copy â eBook or Paperback!
What does pinching dahlias even mean?
âPinchingâ is a word for removing the main growing tip of the dahlia plant. When this is done, it triggers the plant to develop side shoots and more stems with blooms. The easiest way to pinch is to use your thumb and forefinger â literally pinching out the growing tip.
Related: Storing Dahlia Tubers in Wood Pine Shavings
Why is pinching beneficial to dahlias?
Pinching dahlias causes more blooms. Pinching out the main growing stem of a dahlia plant will force the plant to produce more stems with blooms. More blooms makes for better garden displays! Pinching is super important for those of us selling dahlias as cut flowers because we need to produce as many stems as possible.
Pinching dahlias encourages thinner stems. The stems that grow from the side shoots will grow in thinner, making floral work and bouquets much easier to handle. On an unpinched plant, one main stem will grow, producing one flower on a thick, broomstick-like stem.
Pinching dahlias produces stockier, sturdier plants. Pinching out the main growing tip of the dahlia plant will encourage the plant to branch out and typically, the plant will grow bushier. Plants that are more bushy and stocky (as opposed to tall and lanky) will hold up better in wind storms.
Related: Why Buy Dahlia Tubers from a Small Farm vs. Big Online Retailer
Are there reasons to not pinch dahlias?
Although pinching dahlias produces a plethora more stems, pinching does delay blooming by about 2 weeks. If your growing space is partly shady, I would consider refraining from pinching because your dahlias will already grow more slowly in a part sun. Or, pinch a few and see what happens! Itâs always worth experimenting with your plants.
Related: How to Plant Hundreds of Dahlia Tubers
When should I pinch my dahlias?
Pinch dahlias when they are at least 8 inches tall with three sets of leaves.
How to pinch dahlias for the most blooms
Once your Dahlia plant is 8 inches tall with three sets of leaves, use your thumb and forefinger to pinch out the innermost growing tip on the plant. Thatâs it! You will not do this again â this one pinch is all thatâs needed to encourage your Dahlia plants to produce an absolute abundance of blooms. Refer to the photo below to watch me pinch out a dahlia plant on the farm.
1) This healthy dahlia plant is ready for pinching with 3+ sets of leaves.
2) Pinching out the main growing tip of the dahlia with my thumb and forefinger.
3) Pinched out growing tip. We just toss these back onto the soil to compost in place.
4) End result of a pinched dahlia plant.
Can I pinch my dahlias in pots?
Yes! If you are growing dahlias in pots, you can absolutely pinch them. Here is a great article on growing dahlias in pots.
Pinching is just one step to growing gorgeous dahliasâĶ
Mindful soil preparation, creating healthy habitat for natural insect control, along with planting and maintenance best practices are among the other ways to grow the most gorgeous, healthy dahlias. Learn with me by reading Growing Gorgeous Dahlias!
peace, love & pinching,
Fran Parrish