Trust the Process: Why Pinching Your Dahlias Means MORE Abundant Blooms
The first time I showed someone how we "pinch" our Dahlia plants, they nearly swooned and fell over (true story!).
Once they recovered, they sputtered: "Why did you cut off the bud? You just ruined the plant!"
I get it. It seems SO counterintuitive to cut something back to make it grow more.
But trust me. This isn't my first rodeo… and I do this for a living. I've seen firsthand the power of pinching, and I can't wait to share it with you.
First, the WHY. It’s important to know the reasoning behind pinching.
Once you know the why, I’ll show you the HOW.
Why Pinching Works
Every plant has a lifecycle: grow, bloom, get pollinated, make seeds, drop seeds, die.
If you leave your Dahlias alone and let them do their thing, they'll race right through that lifecycle and stop blooming.
Want them to bloom longer and more abundantly? Of course you do!
So here’s what you’re going to do: You’re going to interrupt that cycle by:
1. Pinching the plants early in the season
2. And harvesting or deadheading the blooms throughout the season.
Dahlias tend to naturally grow in the shape of a Christmas tree. One central stem, one big bloom at the top.
That's... fine. But I'm guessing you want ARMLOADS of blooms from your Dahlias, not just a handful of blooms. (Same, friend. Same.)
Pinching redirects the plant's energy. Instead of focusing all its energy on that one big flower, it branches out, giving you multiple stems and multiple blooms, instead of just one.
There's also a practical reason for pinching: sometimes Dahlias start blooming on stems that are way too short and chunky for bouquets. For cut flower use, we need slim stems that are 18–24" long. An 8” stem will never work in a bouquet, so we pinch it off to send a clear message: "Nice try. Send up something longer."
And they will. After we’ve pinched back the Dahlia field, I can practically hear those plants talking back to me: “Challenge accepted. 👊 You just wait and see what we can do!”
Dahlia that was pinched (left) vs unpinched Dahlia (right). The stem on the right is too chunky and bulky to use in a bouquet!
The Secret Multiplier: Dahlia Math
Here's where it gets really fun.
Pinching is just the beginning. Once your Dahlias start producing, it’s your job to keep harvesting the blooms because the more you cut, the more they grow.
I call it Dahlia Math, and it's my favorite kind of math.
✂️ Cut one stem → the plant sends up two or more stems to replace it
✂️ Cut those → you get even more
✂️ Keep going all season long
The flip side is also true. If you don't cut:
❌ The blooms go to seed
❌ The plant thinks its job is done
❌ Production stops (cue the sad trombone)
Pinching is what causes the plants to branch and send up tons of blooms.
Harvesting is what keeps the blooms coming for months rather than just weeks.
Dahlia Nicholas
How to Pinch Your Dahlias (It's Easier Than You Think)
Step 1: Wait until the plant is 8–18" tall.
My personal measuring system? "Less than knee-high." I just measured my knee, and it's 18 inches. Turns out I've had a built-in measuring stick this whole time.
Step 2: Find the leaf sets.
Look for pairs of leaves growing opposite each other. Start from the bottom and count up 3–4 sets.
Step 3: Make the cut. *
Using sharp snips or pruning shears, cut off the top of the plant just above those 3–4 leaf sets. You're likely removing a few inches of growth — maybe 2–3 sets of leaves.
*Note: We do recommend sanitizing your snips between each plant with a 10% bleach solution. This helps to prevent spreading potential disease from plant to plant.
Step 4: Allow yourself to freak out and question everything.
It's okay. We all do this at first. It’s normal to feel a little sick to your stomach! But pretty soon you'll be gleefully chopping away, because you'll know that every pinch means more flowers.
Step 5: Wait two weeks and watch.
Where you made one cut, two (or more) stems will emerge. That's the plant branching out and getting ready to grow multiple blooms, instead of one.
Bushier plant = more stems = more blooms = happier YOU!
Still Skeptical? Try This Experiment
Don’t believe me? No worries.
Seeing is believing, so I want you to experiment. Pinch one plant. Leave another unpinched. Then compare them in late summer.
I promise the pinched plant will produce more blooms.
The Bottom Line
So many beginners are afraid they'll ruin their Dahlias by pinching them. But the reality is the opposite is true. NOT pinching is what limits your blooms.
Pinching makes plants more vigorous, more productive, and sturdier.
Your Dahlias can’t wait to show you what they can do!
Now, go grab your snips and pinch away. 🌸
