How to Prune Houseplants
Houseplants need the same type of care that their outdoor cousins do, including occasional pruning. Pruning must be done to maintain the overall shape of a plant, to prevent fungal diseases and to remove any dead, diseased or damaged stems or foliage.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Check for any broken branches. This is the first step in any kind of pruning. Broken branches will sap the energy from a plant as it tries to repair the damaged area.
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2
Remove any diseased or weak branches. Make sure your garden shears are sharp and clean; dip the shears in a 10 percent bleach solution between cuts to prevent the spread of diseases, which are identified by discolored or malformed foliage.
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3
Cut any stems or branches that cross through the center of the plant. You want air to circulate through the plant to discourage fungal disease. Cut the center-crossing branches flush with the main stem to prevent bushy growth from forming on the stubs of the branches.
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4
Remove any tall or straggly growth that doesn't suit the overall form of the plant. Cut tall stems to a point just below the rest of the foliage.
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5
Use the tips of your clippers to tip prune the ends of all of the branches. Tip pruning encourages bushy growth by forcing the new growth to push out lower down on the stems. One or more of the dormant growth buds will come into action after the main tip has been removed.
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6
Try to keep your plants in good shape by frequent pinching rather than major pruning.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Provide the ideal growing conditions for each variety of plant to keep it healthy. Use a plant encyclopedia to find the ideal conditions.
Save the prunings to grow new plants from the stem cuttings.
Plants grow toward light. If your plant is stretching toward a window, you may need to provide a supplemental light source.
Pruning shears may spread disease to other plants unless they're thoroughly cleaned between uses. Dip the shears into a 10 percent solution of bleach, allow to dry completely, oil the moving parts and store in a dry location.
