Marianne's Response
Spindly Coreopsis grandiflora Seedlings
My indoor-grown, now-potted and ready-to-be-transferred to the garden Large-Flowered Tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora) seedlings are about 8 inches tall and spindly with four sets of side shoots (also spindly). Would it be apt to fill out more along the main stem if I cut it back a couple inches? It is standing straight so far but it needs to fill out for support. Is there a way to help it do that? Many thanks for your expertise.
Posted by Doris Kennedy on May 15, 2021
Marianne's Response
I suggest you wait to decapitate your spindly seedlings until after you transplant them outdoors and give them a few weeks to gain strength. The idea is to pinch out the tip or top of the seedlings to encourage more branching. The sunshine may encourage lots of side growth as well so perhaps you can leave a few seedlings unpruned to see if your pinching made a big difference. Congrats on growing flowers from seed - a great skill to have. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
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