Deadheading spent flowers also typically results in larger blooms. You may have received this gardening advice but were a bit uncertain about where and how to make the cut on your plant. How to Grow Houseplants. I started my horticultural career in the interior landscape trade where we literally put thousands of these plants into offices, lobbies, hotels, banks, airports, and malls. Since everything from too much fertilizer or sunlight, sucking pests to not enough water can be the cause of your leaf problems, it’s best to try to figure out what caused the situation with the foliage in the first place. Last Updated: October 8, 2020 They'll root easily and you'll have a fuller plant. Additionally, diseased or damaged foliage or wood can be removed throughout the year. You just need to take your two fingers and pinch the very stem of it, being careful not to damage the plant. Green plants grown primarily for their foliage should also be tidied up in spring. You want to cut back the weakest of 2 crossing branches, or cut shorter 1/4 inch above a node. It won’t be perfect, but it’s as close as you are likely to get. Just be aware of some houseplants that dislike being moved such as Ficus benjamina. If the entire leaf is unsightly or dead, you can use clean scissors or hand pruners to trim off the entire leaf and stem from the branch. Avoid pinching more than two or three times during a single season. Do not cut off any leaves or limbs that still appear green and vibrant. Start by removing dead leaves, limbs, and flowers on the plants. However, there are exceptions to waiting until spring to do your pruning. Removing dead and dying flowers on the plant will encourage the growth of newer, more vibrant blooms. Plants normally kept in direct sunlight are best moved to. Treat the disease and prune away affected portions of the plant as soon as possible to eliminate the disease. During this time, the plant’s growth slows or almost stops and new growth won’t appear until conditions warm in spring. You can find garden shears for pruning online or at your local hardware store. Prune off any dead branches or stems at the base of the plant or to the main stem, when pruning trees. Pinching means you remove stem tips, either with your fingernails or pruners. As only small portions of stems are removed, the plant looks basically the same as it did before the stems were pinched. Some houseplants can also become quite top-heavy as when they become large, increasing the risk of toppling over. Houseplants are a staple in many homes, but they take quite a lot of love and care to thrive. If the houseplant has sections of old, diseased or awkwardly positioned growth, you can safely prune it off. This assures you won’t be transferring any diseases or pest problems to the plant. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Evergreens known for their tough nature like Ivy can be pruned year-round. This method of growing plants is known as hydroponic harvesting. Pinch out the tip of a stem and the topmost leaves to promote the growth of side buds. The term “pinching” comes from the fact that gardeners actually use their fingers (and fingernails if they have them) to pinch off the tender, new growth at the end of the stem. Some of the houseplants that benefit from pinching include: Instead of having a long stem, pinching promotes a bushier plant, as it develops additional side shoots and the production of more blooms, if the houseplant flowers. Do I pinch off all the tips, or just one or two? Give ‘em a pinch and make them grow fuller and more compact. In fact, you can even use your fingers to pinch off the tips of many fleshy plants. The vast majority of houseplants can be pruned, but there are some that you should avoid pruning whenever possible; otherwise, they will not grow back. How to Prune Houseplants: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow When we pinch off the top terminal shoot of a plant, the plant reacts to the injury by releasing more growth hormones. How to properly trim and pinch geranium for lush flowering. Pinch and Prune. How To Prune Houseplants: Most houseplants are best pruned little and often, while they are actively growing. If you have any soft-stemmed houseplants, like English ivy and philodendron, pinch the tips off the stems, just above a node, to help maintain the plant's busy shape. Some plants require regular pruning , while others only need it a couple of times of year. When it comes to proper pruning techniques and schedules, in regards to the vast majority of houseplants, there are some basic rules you can follow to assure you maintain a healthy and good-looking plant. Pinching works well for herbaceous plants, which includes various vines and climbers. Avoid excessively bright conditions. If the damage is due to other causes, there is no need to remove the affected part unless you wish to. Home Houseplants. Reduce the height of a schefflera plant by cutting an upright stem just above a growth node. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. How to pinch a plant is actually pretty easy. Approved. How do I prune an overcrowded climbing plant? Hard pruning works well to make a plant more symmetrical, houseplants with bare stems bushier, and those that are too large more compact. Pruning gives you the ability to control the height, width and shape of your houseplants. Whatever you pinch off will take root in a glass of water and you can pot it in its own pot after about two weeks. Remove the affected section by making your cuts back into healthy sections of the wood. By removing overgrown foliage, you will improve airflow to the plant, and light will be better able to penetrate all portions of the plant. Unfortunately, not every person is born with a green thumb. The simplest way of getting rid of aphids on houseplants like the peace lily is to pinch them off with your fingers. How to properly trim and pinch geranium for lush flowering. As pruning houseplants will lead to additional stress, it is usually best to improve general care and fix any problems before pruning. If you are in doubt, under prune the plant and then reevaluate it a few weeks later. Some plant examples where hard pruning can help to maintain plant shape well include: If the vine is climbing on a structure, allow its woody central framework to remain as is and cut back the side shoots. To learn how to prune dead leaves and stems on your houseplants, read on! A pinch can be easily done with soft annuals and perennials. If pruning a completely bare branch or stem, make your cut above a leaf scar. The plant keeps its green good looks with the pruning barely noticeable when you pinch or snip off the tips of branches and stems throughout the year. Gently hold the stem near the tip’s end where you will be pinching off. Whether you should or not depends on the cause and on your preference. You can also use a sharp pair of pruning shears to pinch … However, woody indoor plants are an exception to this seasonal rule, requiring year-round pruning to remove dead leaves and branches. Take a look at your plant from all directions. When doing hard pruning, it’s best to wait until spring when the plant starts its active growth again. You can also use a sharp pair of pruning shears to pinch … You can prune houseplants any time of year, but radical pruning is best done in the spring at the start of the growing season. It’s OK to prune off dead or dying foliage, as well as dead, broken or diseased branches anytime throughout the year. This will encourage side shoots to form along the stem. Part of the series: Landscaping & Gardening with Jane Gates. Leave the main stem intact and remove branches shooting off of the stem at a 45 degree angle. However, if the houseplant is extremely overgrown and in need of some serious rejuvenation pruning to bring it back into shape, cutting back by more than half might be required. It is a way of growing your plants organically. There are four main types of pruning that we will cover. Although pruning objectives can vary, there are four basic reasons to prune houseplants. Reduce the height by cutting an upright stem just above a growth node. 8. Many times, it’s easy to see your houseplant isn’t the happiest camper on the block by looking at its leaves. In this tutorial, we learn how to properly pinch the stem of plants. Examples of climbers benefitting from hard pruning include: Removing spent flowers not only gives the plant a tidier appearance, but it also allows the plant to put all its energy into producing additional blooms instead of making seeds. Whether for cosmetic reasons or to improve the health of your houseplants, you’re likely to have to do some pruning sooner or later. This article was co-authored by Chai Saechao. Although hard pruning is stressful to the plant, the pruned bare branches and stems will fill in with new foliage quickly. ... Florida is a great place for growing “houseplants” outside. To learn how to prune dead leaves and stems on your houseplants, read on! It's hard to do, but if you can make yourself pinch your plants while they're small, you'll reap the rewards in many more blooms within a very few months. Houseplants should typically be pruned at the beginning of the growing season, which is late winter or early spring for many varieties. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Prune your houseplants to … If you have enough patience, your seedling will eventually turn into an attractive little specimen with glossy, oval leaves 4 to 8 inches long. Image Credits: Guide-To-Houseplants Removing these not only makes your houseplant look better, but reduces the risk of further problems down the line. Chai Saechao is the Founder and Owner of Plant Therapy, an indoor-plant store founded in 2018 based in San Francisco, California. Pinching Technique for Plants. Hard pruning is used to significantly cut back an overgrown plant, reshape a plant, or remove branches that have become leggy or grown out from the body of the plant. Longer term, it’s best to try to identify why your houseplant is getting leaf problems and take steps to fix these, so that new growth will stay lush and healthy. Not all the basic rules for proper pruning always fit every variety of plant and some have special pruning requirements to keep their growth robust and healthy. Plants NOT to be Pruned. Or maybe you do have a garden already, but you’re looking for ways to bring some of that beautiful greenery into your home as well. Keep in mind you are able to use a few of your cuttings to start new plants. For other problems with plant care, or if you identify a pest infestation, fix these issues first before you even think about pruning. The roots are an especially delicate part of the plant and you may accidentally kill the plant if you cut them the wrong way. How To Prune Houseplants - Complete Guide, Poinsettia Plant Care - How To Look After Your Poinsettia, Areca Palm Care - How To Grow Dypsis Lutescens, How To Prune A Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata). Do not cut off any nodules on the plants as you prune, which are new buds that have not bloomed or opened yet. If you are pruning for a bushier plant, start slow by pruning the leggy branches back by no more than 10 to 20 percent. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This is surely useful.". If you cut into healthy leaf, a brown edge will often appear, so I would advise trimming most of the affected section off, but leave a small margin of brown or yellow. However, some flowering plants like hibiscus are self-cleaning and the flower drops from the plant once spent, so there’s no need to deadhead. You should also maintain the plants by fertilizing them and watering them regularly so they stay healthy and happy. However, plants like Wandering Jew and Coleus that require pinching frequently can be pinched throughout the entire growing season. This is what I tend to do. Many types of houseplants will never require pruning other than maybe to remove a dead leaf here and there. Of course, the leaf problems leave your houseplant looking anything but attractive. Growing Houseplants in Water. In addition, some foliage plants like Aglaonema are grown primarily for their colorful or elaborate leaves, producing only insignificant blooms. You will put the plant through less stress if you start small and incrementally prune over a few weeks or months. Use loppers or a pruning saw for larger branches. How should I cut a plant that is too tall and needs to be replanted? Houseplants Aren’t the Only Way to Bring Nature Inside Science confirms the calming power of the great outdoors. You can prune houseplants to achieve a more compact specimen by pruning out some of the branches to reduce the tree’s overall width and height. Remove the remainder of the affected leaves over time. By using our site, you agree to our. Pruning produces short-term stress for the plant, so it is important to avoid causing additional stress with other aspects of care. You can easily sterilize your tool’s blades by wiping them off with alcohol or a household disinfectant. How many inches of stem should I take as I pinch? "I don't want to hurt my plants. Cutting each stem or branch back by one-quarter to one-third is standard practice and causes the least amount of stress to the houseplant. But if the stem is woody and tough you’ll need a tool. I’m here to share my experience and help you have more success and enjoyment growing plants. The vast majority of plants grown indoors and outside go through a period of dormancy starting in fall and lasting through winter. 7. Pinch off the growing tips of such plants, and they will grow bushy, rather than lanky. If you plan cutting a plant back severely, it’s probably best to wait until spring when the plant is no longer dormant to do the pruning. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The exception to this is when a plant has a disease. Plants will either require bright or direct light (sunlight from a south-facing window) or indirect or filtered light (sunlight through a … Other short-lived annuals and some perennials are discarded after the blooming ceases. Plant Specialist. Home Houseplants. As a self-described plant doctor, he believes in the therapeutic power of plants, hoping to keep sharing his love of plants with anyone willing to listen and learn. Watch for signs of overwatering, such as young and old leaves that fall, mushy, brown roots at the bottom of the pot, moldy flowers, and leaves with brown, soft patches that do not grow. While there are several different training techniques that can help ganja farmers yield high quantities of fat, dense nugs , pinching is possibly the easiest method a … If they're blooming plants, only after they bloom, otherwise any time a little trim will help them get bigger. If pinching isn’t done, the plant will have an anemic appearance, and the branches will elongate and become thin, instead of being vigorous and frequent. If you have thicker … How to Pinch a Plant. BRIDAL VEIL This is one of my all-time favourite indoor plants. Use sharp, sterile pruners and cut back to just before leaf nodes. Cut it back as far as you want it. Expert Interview. However, there are times when a bit of pruning tames an overgrown plant, improves the looks of an ailing one or will make a houseplant look better. Always use a new sponge or rag on each plant so pests are not transferred from one plant to another. This article has been viewed 213,679 times. Do not make your cut too close to a leaf node or bud to prevent damage. Ensure good care after pruning to promote rapid recovery. If you notice problems, use our helpful tips on houseplant care to solve them before they get serious. Can I prune off deformed leaves if they're still green? It is better not to pinch more than one or two big shoots, and 3-4 small shoots at a time in a plant. May 18, 2018 Share: Gardens are great, but not everyone has the available outdoor space to plant one. A proper pruning is needed for flowering, and they only flower on new growth. Pelargonium, or more familiar to us the name of the plant - geranium, is particularly loved by domestic growers. You can pinch big plants too, but when its stem is soft and new growth. It also helps to prevent the growth of leggy stems. Make the cuts just above a healthy leaf, and cut at a 45-degree angle. Foliage can show the effects through brown leaf tips, as well as entire leaves turning brown or yellow. Pruning the vertical branches promotes the development of lateral ones, leading to a fuller and more attractive specimen. Thank you. Plant stress from improper environmental conditions and care, as well as pest or disease problems, can show up on the foliage. In other words, trim it right above where a leaf has sprouted. When the desired growing conditions of the pruned plant are met, pruning should produce new healthy growth. Always be sure to sterilize your pruning tool blades before you prune houseplants. Then, cut back overgrown branches and stems on the plants. How to Pinch a Plant. For softer stemmed plants, you can just pinch the growing tips as well. Pinch out the tip of a stem and the topmost leaves to encourage growth of side buds. This will result in a bushier houseplant. smartgardenguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon stores worldwide. Pinch and Prune To keep the health of your indoor plants, it’s finest to routinely get rid of dead leaves and stems. The larger and beefier blades will make a quick and clean cut through the larger areas of bark. Hi, I’m Andrew, and Smart Garden Guide is my website all about indoor gardening and houseplants. The term “pinching” comes from the fact that gardeners actually use their fingers (and fingernails if they have them) to pinch off the tender, new growth at the end of the stem. Cost $ Skill Level ... Once new shoots have two sets of leaves, pinch out growing tips to encourage branching, and continue doing this on subsequent branches. It is less stressful for your houseplant to be pruned a little at a time rather than doing one extreme prune because the plant was allowed to become severely overgrown. For example, Aglaonema blooms hold little appeal and are pruned off so the plant can put its energy into the developing foliage. A floral snip works great for most houseplants as it can reach into hard to reach places for the pruning. ", "Very good examples. If the tips or small sections of the leaves are turning brown or yellow, you may consider trimming the affected section off. Pelargonium, or more familiar to us the name of the plant - geranium, is particularly loved by domestic growers. Use this general advice, along with any specific instructions for individual plants to keep your indoor plants well-groomed and looking great. Looking for a hanging houseplant which trails like crazy and is a snap to maintain? How to pinch a plant is actually pretty easy. Many types of foliage plants are grown primarily for their striking leaves and although they might bloom, the flowers are usually insignificant and don’t hold a candle to the elaborate foliage. What's the best time to prune my house plants? Plants that grow rapidly often look best with frequent pinching to keep them compact and fuller. This is all about pothos care – the easiest and toughest trailing houseplant now and back then. 20 February 2019. The following tips will assure the area around the cut remains healthy and productive: If your houseplant requires quite a bit of trimming, giving it appropriate aftercare assures its quick recovery and production of new growth. The flowers are usually pruned off so the plant can put all its energy into developing the eye-catching foliage. % of people told us that this article helped them. Pinching techniques for plants refers to pinching a plant so that they bush out better than they have been. Unless you are growing larger houseplants that develop into trees or shrubs, you don’t need a large arsenal of tools to prune houseplants.