Pinching or cutting off secondary buds along a stem so the plant directs all its nutrients and water into a single terminal bud. Growers use this technique heavily in competitive flower growing and high-end fruit production to yield massive, perfect specimens rather than a cluster of smaller ones.
Heard on the job
Make sure you disbud the exhibition chrysanthemums this week or the main flowers will be too small.
Do not mix it up with
- Deadhead: Disbudding removes unopen buds to increase size, while deadheading removes finished flowers to encourage more blooms.