How To Prune Your Plants

Insructions for Pruning

Pruning houseplants is an essential part of their care, promoting healthy growth and maintaining their appearance

Gather Your Tools:

  • Secatuers: Ideal for thicker branches.
  • Kitchen Scissors: Suitable for slender stems.
  • Deadheading Snips: Perfect for removing dead flowers

1. Observe Your Plant

Take a moment to assess your plant’s overall health and shape:

  • Look for spindly growth or areas that are fuller on one side.
  • Identify any dead, damaged, or diseased foliage that needs removal.

2. Remove Dead Foliage

Start by clipping off any dead leaves and stems. If you find stems that have rotted at the root, pull them out and allow the soil to dry before watering again.

3. Deadhead Flowers

For flowering plants, remove any dead flowers by pinching or clipping them back close to the main stem. This process helps redirect energy from dying flowers into new growth.

4. Making Cuts

  • Cut just before a leaf node to encourage new growth.
  • For larger stems, cut as close to the main stem as possible.
  • Follow the 1/3 rule: do not remove more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the plant’s mass at one time to avoid stunted growth.

5. Propagate Healthy Cuttings

Most houseplant cuttings can be saved and propagated:

  • Root cuttings in a cup of water or plant succulent clippings directly in moist soil.

6. Clean Tools

Cleanliness is crucial when pruning:

  • Keep your tools sharp and disinfect them between uses with hot soapy water.

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