Inducing A Geranium (Pelargonium) To Branch

Now we have sorted out the watering and the plant has had time to settle down and become familiar with its new surroundings, we can start to shape it how we want. Since each branch has the potential to end in a flower, and since we want lots of flowers (at least, I do), we need to induce it to branch.

To do this, we remove the young growing tips at the end of each stem, since these contain the apical meristems . This will remove their dominance effect and allow the axillary buds in the leaf axils lower down the stem to develop into side shoots. It's the same process as pinching out a fuchsia.

Were we really keen to produce new green growth, we could remove the flower bud as well. But there's no hurry. The plant already has three stems, and the flowers should give us some pleasure as it matures.

It is often difficult to know exactly where the meristem is. Although the newest leaf has been removed, this is not, in fact the meristem. This is in the tiny (youngest) mass of tissue attached to it. So, just to make sure I have removed everything, I have removed this newest leaf, as well.

Branching could have been induced later, but it's a good idea to start it as close to the base as possible.

Note: You need to be able to see the axillary buds in the leaf axils - they are not always present.