Grooming indoor plants is an essential part of taking care of indoor plants. There are several benefits of grooming indoor plants.
Rids plants of damaged leaves and stems
Infected, dead leaves and stalks reduce the plant’s energy. They utilize the plant’s water and nutrients while adding to the plant’s overall health. Plants get rid of these leave eventually. You are saving them that time by pruning them beforehand. Energy and nutrients are diverted to healthier parts of the plant instead of the dying parts.
Decreases crowded areas
Plants need airflow and space. Leaves of plants in overcrowded areas rub against each other resulting in damage, and reduction in space. Often fungi start to grow in these areas. Mildew can show up due to poor air circulation affecting the plant’s health. Pruning can help avoid this problem
Plants do not end up growing too big
Indoor plants grow toward the sun. This makes them grow too tall or big, often crowding up their space. Pruning keeps them small and compact.
Provides plant balance
Rotate the plant periodically so it does not grow unevenly in one direction towards the sun.
How to prune plants
Plants receive more sunlight and grow more during the summer and spring months. This is the best time to actively prune indoor plants. During spring, plants receive enough sunlight to regenerate after a good prune.
Use sharp tools to prune plants. Dull pruning shears crush plants’ stems and damage plants.
Good pair of gloves work well while pruning large plants such as the Ficus tree. This prevents any irritants to pass onto your hands from the plant. Certain plants secrete a sap that may be sticky and difficult to get off and can also be irritating to the skin.
Disinfecting your tools before pruning is essential as cuts done on plants from infected tools cause infections in plants. Wash shears in soap and water before use.
It is a good idea to plan which parts of your plant you want to be pruned. This can be done beforehand.
Pruning in any plant causes shock to the plant. Some plants take it better than others. Educate yourself about the type of plant and the effects of pruning on it before you begin pruning. The Ficus tree is a good example of such a shock-prone plants.
Start by removing about 10% of the plant. Target sick, yellow, and dying parts of the plant first for pruning. Then focus on overcrowded areas. Post-it notes can be stuck on areas of the plant that you find are overcrowded.
Decide on the shape of your plant after pruning. Focus on superfluous areas while pruning.
Use a cloth, newspaper, or any sheet that you want to collect cuttings onto during the prune. You can use healthy cuttings for propagation or use them in organic compost if you have one.
Post Pruning
After pruning is complete, your plants may droop for a few days. this is perfectly normal if it’s only for a few days. When pruning is done in the right way, plants bounce back after a few days. Fertilize and water plants for a few days until it recovers.
Conclusion
When done right, pruning rejuvenates a plant’s growth and keeps it healthy for many years to come.
If you are interested in knowing more about the care of indoor plants, visit our section on indoor plants.
