Pruning is not only for big garden shrubs. Indoor plants benefit from small, regular trims.
Pinching is the gentlest version. You remove the soft tip of a stem, about 2.5 cm (one inch) or less, just above a node, the slightly swollen point where a leaf joins the stem. The plant responds by growing side shoots from the nodes below, so one long stem becomes two or three, and the plant fills out. It works best on soft, green stems, such as those of many trailing plants.
Pruning removes a larger piece, a whole branch or stem, to shape the plant or keep it to size. Cut just above a node so there is no bare stub left to die back.
Tidying matters too. Remove yellowing leaves, dead stems and spent flowers, and trim dry brown leaf tips neatly with sharp scissors. Wipe dust off leaves with a damp cloth. Maryland Extension notes that well-groomed plants have fewer insect and disease problems, and you get a regular close look for pests while you are at it.
Key points
- Pinch soft tips just above a node to make a plant bushier.
- Cut above a node so no stub is left.
- Removing dead and yellow leaves keeps pests and rot down.
Try this
Pick one soft-stemmed plant and find a node near the tip of its longest stem. Pinch or snip just above it, and note the date to see where new shoots appear.
Check yourself
Read more in the reference
Sources
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