07/01/2022
If a houseplant becomes unwieldy or unbalanced, it’s probably time to give it a pruning. Pinching and pruning make your indoor garden more attractive and can correct structural problems while encouraging new growth.
The key to pruning houseplants is to do so before they become too leggy or unbalanced. Once some plants get rangy, it’s hard, but not impossible, to get them back into shape again.
Houseplants that grow best with regular pruning include coleus, ivy, pothos, polka dot plant, vining philodendron, Ficus, purple velvet / passion plant, African violet, lipstick plant and arrowhead plant (syngonium).
Done early enough, pinching and pruning will keep houseplants the right size and shape for their space.
Not all houseplants need pruning, but most benefit from at least some shaping and removal of dead leaves and damaged or diseased stems. Well-kept plants tend to get less pests and diseases.
Always use high-quality pruning tools, such as bypass pruners or very sharp garden scissors. Dull pruners and scissors crush and tear stems, opening them up to pests and disease.
Proceed slowly. Stop periodically to view your work as you go. Always prune to the natural growth habit of the plant. Shorten leggy stems and branches, cutting back to just before a leaf node, which is the bump on the branch or stem where new growth will appear. When removing large stems completely, cut as close to the main stem as possible or all the way to the base of the plant.
Know when to pinch back. Certain smaller and younger houseplants that have soft stems should be pinched back to shape and keep them full. Such plants are easy to prune with your thumb and forefinger nails, although if you prefer, you can use pruners or gardening scissors. These plants include the polka dot plant and young pothos, philodendron and coleus. Pinch off the growing tips of such plants, and they will grow bushy, rather than lanky.
Some plants require regular pruning, while others only need it a couple of times of year. When pruning flowering houseplants, familiarize yourself with the bloom cycle prior to pruning, or you might remove flower buds.