Flowering Plants: How to Grow & Harvest
How to harvest and prune ornamental plants to support continuous flowering, compact growth, and overall plant health. This guide explains when to pick flowers and how to trim stems to encourage bushier growth and prevent legginess.
How to Harvest Ornamental Plants
Pick flowers when they’re fully open for the best color and form. You can harvest with or without the stem.
Always leave at least two-thirds of the blooms on the plant. This encourages new flowers to form and keeps the plant strong.
How to Prune Ornamental Plants
Early stage: Once new shoots appear, choose the strongest one and gently remove the others. This helps the plant focus its energy on one healthy, central stem.
After 4–6 weeks: Light pruning keeps the plant compact and blooming. Trim a few centimeters off the top, just above a leaf node. This encourages 2–3 side shoots per stem and creates a fuller, bushier shape.
If plants get leggy: You can cut back up to one-third of the plant. Trim each stem down to 4–6 leaves. Most ornamentals bounce back quickly, often blooming again within 3–4 weeks.
Want longer-lasting flowers and a fuller plant wall? Pruning little and often keeps your ornamental plants looking their best.
Marigold Orange Gem
The marigolds will sprout in 5-15 days and begin flowering within 40-60 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy their vibrant beauty for up to 12 weeks.