This is a topic that I have a hard time with, I go on instinct right now. If it looks like it needs pinched, I hold my breath and pinch.

Here is an agastache that I pinched.

Great advise. I tend to chicken out , but I realize some plants would do much better had I pinched. Verbena Imagination being one.
Thanks

I have never tried growing Verbena, so can't comment on that one.
Some plants just don't need the encouragement, I found out that the Avalanche petunias just branch out on their own.
We need more input from other seed starters.

When pinching seedlings I like to pinch after the stem has at least 2 good breaks in it to allow it to branch out. I think we all have a hard time pinching the little things but it usually pays off in the end.

I think I tend to go the other way, I pinch everything.

Coleus definitely do better when pinched. I could make a career of just pinching the coleus cuttings that I have propagating in the house now. I pinch something every time I pass them. It's an obsession.

The wave-type spreading petunias don't seem to need pinching. But the more old-fashioned type do seem to do better if pinched. Then I give them hard haircuts through summer.

Zinnias do better if pinched. The plant becomes bushier. (is that a word?)

A lot of established plants in my garden get pinched, too. Definitely hardy hibiscus. Definitely lobelia cardinalis.

Pinching can delay blooming, so it's sort of a trade off. A few stems of lobelia cardinalis blooming by the end of July? I'd rather pinch and have 3 or 4 times as many stems with flowers starting a week or two later.

Some just need to be cut back hard in summer for rebloom- like alyssum, petunias, coreopsis moonbeam, or butterfly weed.

Karen

I know osteospermum get bushier if I pinch ... but sometimes they didn't bloom until later... any advice?

I don't know that you can avoid the delayed blooming, except by sowing a little earlier.

Karen

I'm going to try pinching my impatiens and do the propagation by cuttings to increase the # of plants.

since I grew impatiens from NC Farms cuttings that should work great

Impatien cuttings are wonderful to root. I do them in water also. Never have much problem with rotting. Just simpler for me than potting them up. I know it is not the best way but it works for me. Somethings have to be done with rooting hormone and soil. I know rose cutting do.

Onewish1 I have been looking for some spoon daisies. Do you know where I can get some seed? Sorry, I know this is a bit off topic

Good advice on pinching here. I grew coleus from cutting for the first time this winter. I neglected to pinch my first batch; I started some new cuttings from the first ones and have been pinching vigorously--much better result. I'm sure there are other plants that would benefit from this same treatment. Any others people normally do?

Steph mine came from Thompson Morgan

Thank you I'll go look there

I don't know if we are trying to stick to the topic of pinching just seedlings or other established plants in our gardens. But I do pinch Mum up to July 4th. ( Rooting the good sized pinched part).
Sedium like Autumn Joy. And Tall garden phlox.
The sedium pinches can also be rooted. Never tried to root the phlox.