Lesson 4
Disbudding — for show flowers
For one big show bloom per stem, remove all side buds and the leaves around the main bud as it swells. Leave nothing competing.
For spray flowers (recommended for cutting), do the opposite: remove ONLY the central bud and let the side buds open as a cluster.
Disbud weekly from mid-August once buds are pea-sized. By the time they show colour it's too late — the energy has already split.
Which buds to remove
- Show single bloom: keep central bud, snap off all side buds AND axillary buds in the top leaves.
- Spray cluster: snap off ONLY the central bud; let the ring of side buds open together.
- Garden display (no disbudding): leave everything; the plant decides.
- Disbud before any bud reaches pea size — once they swell, you steal too much energy.