The only trick to this is knowing how far down the stem to cut the flower off. And generally speaking, you remove the stem from where it started as a shoot from the plant.

So if we’re speaking of removing a geranium blossom, then the entire flower stalk is removed right down to the main stem of the plant.

If we speak of removing a perennial bloom, then the same thing happens �?the flower and the stem are removed right to where the stem joins the main plant.

In bulbs, remove the flower head and stem as far down into the foliage as you can go without removing foliage. You require that foliage to stay green and intact to provide the energy to the bulb for next year’s flower.

In roses, and this is where there is some debate and research going on, remove the flower and some of the stem. I usually remove up to 12-inches of the stem and try to cut this stem back so the cut is made right above an outward facing bud. If I have to go 8-inches to get to this bud, I make the cut at 8-inches. If I have to go 15-inches, then I go that distance as well. There’s no hard and fast “rule�?that says only go “this�?far and no further. There are two research evaluations that I’m aware of that say contradictory things about the length of the cut. One says a longer cut promotes extra growth and the other says it reduces growth. All I know is that the 12-inch length rule of thumb (sometimes a bit longer, sometimes a bit shorter) deadheading works in practice for me.