The Ultimate Guide to Plant Pruning

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Including the best time to prune 30+ houseplants
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Pruning involves trimming away dead, dormant, and old growth from a plant to help it flourish and produce new, healthy growth in the future. It’s an easy but important way to keep your indoor plants in great shape, too: all you need to do is look for dead leaves, remove any dead flower blossoms, and trim away any unnecessary or unwieldy stems and branches. We’ll walk you through the entire process, so you can confidently keep your indoor plants in great shape for months and years.

How do you prune a plant?

Clean your pruning shears with 70% rubbing alcohol. Remove any dying leaves, plant matter, and dead flowers from houseplants that have blossomed already. To remove overgrowth or encourage more growth, snip above the node on a branch or stem, cutting away up to 25% of your stems, vines, or branches.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Prune Plants

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  1. Clean and sterilize your pruning equipment with rubbing alcohol. Clean the surface of your pruning equipment with warm, soapy water. Then, soak a clean cloth in 70% concentration isopropyl alcohol and carefully rub down the blades of your pruning shears . If you plan on pruning multiple houseplants, sanitize your shears before switching to a new plant. [1]
    • If you’re pruning plants with woody stems that are between 1 ⁄ 4 to 3 ⁄ 4  in (0.64 to 1.91 cm) thick, use lopping shears instead. Use a pruning saw for branches thicker than 3 ⁄ 4  in (1.9 cm). [2]
    • Larger pruning tools (like loppers) might be easier to disinfect with a diluted bleach solution (with water and bleach mixed at a 9:1 ratio). [3]
  2. Inspect each plant: do all the leaves and vegetation look healthy, or do some seem to be dying or dormant? Pull off any dying plant material, or use your pruning equipment. [4]
    • What if only part of the leaf is dying? Trim the dying portions from otherwise healthy leaves using a sanitized pair of scissors rather than pruning the entire leaf. [5]
    • Plant specialist Andi Xoch agrees that “most plants benefit from pruning,” and “most of the time you want to do it when the leaf is turning yellow.” [6]
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  3. Using your pointer finger and thumb, pinch off (or “deadhead”) any flowers that look wilted and past their prime, which forces the plant to focus more on its healthy blossoms. If the plant has a strong stem, snip off the entire flower and upper portion of the stem with pruning equipment, pausing above the next flower bud down. [7]
    • Check on your plants regularly (or even daily) to see if they need to be deadheaded.
  4. Prune back areas that look overgrown or that you’d like to see some future growth in. To do this, angle your pruning shears above the stem’s node (the bump on the side) by ½ inch (1 cm). [8] Keep in mind that pruned plants generate 2 new shoots from a trimmed spot, which is helpful to consider when you’re trying to nurture new growth. [9]
    • Woody trees: Use pruning shears or loppers to cut 1 cm above a node. Don’t worry about cutting at an angle unless your plant could be exposed to rainfall. [10]
    • Viney plants: Prune the plant back to a robust section of wood (if it’s sick/damaged), or trim it to a branch or bud. [11]
    • Did you know? American landscaping standards require landscapers to remove no more than 25% of a tree or shrub throughout the growing season. [12] Even if you don’t have a woody houseplant, this guideline is helpful to keep in mind.
  5. Stick your leafy cutting (e.g., pothos, umbrella plant, philodendron, etc.) in a glass of water for about 3 weeks, or until visible roots are growing from the bottom and are about the same length as the plant cutting. Then, transplant the cutting into some soil. [13]
    • Dump out and replace the water if it starts looking dirty.
    • Check that the bottom-most node (or more) is always submerged in the water.
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Section 2 of 4:

When to Prune

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  1. Houseplants don’t all have a cut-and-dry time when they should be pruned—it depends on the growing season. [14] Many plants should be pruned in spring, while others can be pruned in later months. [15] Beyond seasonal pruning, it’s important to check in on your houseplants throughout the week and make sure the plant looks healthy and happy (e.g., no yellowing or dying leaves). [16]
Type of Plant When to Prune
When to Prune Houseplants
African violets Anytime after it’s bloomed
Air plant Pruning isn’t necessary
Aloe plant During spring or summer
Areca palm During spring or summer
Basil Throughout the summer
Black velvet alocasia During spring or summer
Bird’s nest anthurium As necessary
Bonsai Every 2 months (and as necessary)
Boston fern During spring/summer
Bromeliad As necessary
Cactus As necessary
Calathea plant During spring or summer
Chinese evergreen During spring or early summer
Chinese money plant During spring or summer
Croton During spring
Dragon tree During spring or summer
Dumb cane plant During late winter or spring
English ivy During early spring
Fiddle leaf fig During spring
Golden pothos During spring
Grape ivy During spring
Homalomena selby During spring or autumn
Jade plant During spring or summer
Jasmine plant During late summer or early autumn
Kalanchoe During late winter or early spring
Lucky bamboo As necessary
Moth orchid After it flowers
Money tree During spring or summer
Monstera deliciosa During early spring
Oyster leaf During spring or summer
Peace lily During early spring
Peperomia During spring or summer
Philodendron During spring or autumn
Polka dot begonia During late autumn or spring
Ponytail palm During spring or summer
Rosemary During spring or early summer
Rubber plant As necessary
Snake plant During spring or early summer
Spider plant During spring or early summer
String of pearls During spring or early summer
Sweetheart plant During late winter or early spring
Umbrella plant During spring
ZZ plant During early spring
Section 3 of 4:

Pruning Best Practices

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  1. Imagine how your plants will grow before you trim off any stems or branches. When you trim around ½ in (1 cm) above the node, you have the opportunity to grow your plant in a new direction. [17] Plants typically generate two off-shoots after being pruned, which is helpful to keep in mind as you envision the future shape of your houseplant. [18]
    • Gardener Steve Masley explains how “pruning controls the growth [of plants] of forces side shoots to develop. For example, pinching the top of [a] basil plant creates a shorter, bushier plant that doesn’t get as tall and floppy.” [19]
  2. Plant leaves can collect dust, interfering with photosynthesis like any other stationary item in your home. While you’re pruning your plants, give any dusty leaves a quick wipe-down using a slightly moist sponge. [20]
  3. If your plant looks healthy but cramped, plan to put it in a pot that’s 1 in (2.5 cm) wider than its old home. Fill the bottom and inner walls of the pot with 1 in (2.5 cm) of fresh soil, and center the plant in its new home. Make sure there’s at last 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of space between the surface of the soil and the pot rim (for watering purposes). [21]
    • Alternative: Root-prune the plant rather than repotting it. [22] Root-pruning involves removing the existing plant from its pot, scraping away the extra soil from the roots, and snipping away the outer portions of the root ball (up to 33%). Then, plant it back in its original pot. [23]
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Section 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting Houseplant Issues

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Symptom Diagnosis What to Do
Common Houseplant Problems
Lack of flowers
 Poor lighting Move plants to a better, more well-lit spot
Lack of flowers
 Too much fertilizer Apply recommended amount according to packaging
Whitened leaves
 Too much sun Transition your plants gradually to sunnier locations
Wilting
 Too much or not enough water Switch to well-draining potting mix
Wilting
 Root rot Snip away bad roots and repot the plant
Wilting & stem discoloration
 Stem cankers Trim away infected parts of the plant
Yellowed leaves
 Pests Clean plants with water and a houseplant spray
Yellowed leaves
 Root rot Snip away bad roots and repot the plant
Yellowed leaves
 Fertilizer toxicity Filter the soil several times with fresh water

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Should you prune roots if they start sticking out of the soil?
    Chai Saechao
    Plant Specialist
    Chai Saechao is the Founder and Owner of Plant Therapy, an indoor-plant store founded in 2018 based in San Francisco, California. 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.
    Chai Saechao
    Plant Specialist
    Expert Answer
    No, you really don't want to go that route. The roots are an especially delicate part of the plant and you may accidentally kill the plant if you cut them the wrong way. If the roots are sticking out of the soil, it's a sign that your plant is too big for the container it's in. Whatever your current pot size is, go up at least 2 sizes and transfer your plant to a new container.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How should I cut a plant that is too tall and needs to be replanted?
    Community Answer
    Reduce the height by cutting an upright stem just above a growth node. In other words, trim it right above where a leaf has sprouted. Trimming off the growing tip of a stem will prevent it from quickly gaining height and will promote a fuller appearance in the area you cut.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    What's the best time to prune my house plants?
    Community Answer
    If they're blooming plants, only after they bloom, otherwise any time a little trim will help them get bigger.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/clean-and-disinfect-gardening-tools#rubbing-alcohol-%28isopropyl-alcohol%2C-70%25-concentration%29-2148063
      2. ↑ https://udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/fact-sheets/pruning-woody-plants/
      3. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/clean-and-disinfect-gardening-tools#bleach-%28525%25-sodium-hypochlorite%29-2148062
      4. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/weekend-project-plant-pruning-36626019
      5. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/grooming-indoor-plants/
      6. ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
      7. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-jobs/deadheading-plants
      8. ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/seven-pruning-mistakes-to-avoid/
      9. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/features/how-to-take-care-of-plants
      1. ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-prune-your-plants/
      2. ↑ https://www.bbg.org/article/pruning_plants_that_ascend
      3. ↑ https://sullivansisland.sc.gov/sites/sullivansisland/files/Documents/Tree%20Preservation/ANSI%20300-%20Pruning%20Standards.pdf
      4. ↑ https://gsc.upenn.edu/propagating-plants-cuttings
      5. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=growing-indoor-plants-with-success#Pruning
      6. ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/plants-to-prune-in-spring/
      7. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/weekend-project-plant-pruning-36626019
      8. ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/seven-pruning-mistakes-to-avoid/
      9. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/features/how-to-take-care-of-plants
      10. ↑ Steve Masley. Home & Garden Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 June 2019.
      11. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=growing-indoor-plants-with-success#Pruning
      12. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=growing-indoor-plants-with-success#Pruning
      13. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=growing-indoor-plants-with-success#Pruning
      14. ↑ https://www.finegardening.com/project-guides/container-gardening/root-pruning-container-plants

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To prune houseplants that are overgrown, wait until the beginning of their growing season and after they've already bloomed. Then, use sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears to cut back half of the longest branches on the plants so they're a third of their original length. You should also cut back any long, leggy stems to one-third of their length. 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. To learn how to prune dead leaves and stems on your houseplants, read on!

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