Why you should cut your houseplants regularly
Lush green leaves, maybe even pretty flowers, have just formed and now you should reach for the scissors? Do not be fooled, pruning can be very beneficial for the plant:
- better growth thanks to more light
- more compact growth
- Plant does not waste energy on dead shoots
- more branches
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time
Aside from the dormant period in winter, you can cut back your houseplants all year round. Only when the plant draws its juices back inside does it recover more poorly from the cuts.
Different pruning types
There are plenty of reasons to prune a houseplant, although it certainly doesn't compare to pruning a crop grown outdoors. But there are also several types of pruning for indoor plants:
Utils
To make cutting easier, you should adapt the tool to the growth of the plant:
- use a sharp knife for unwooded shoots
- for woody shoots the Secateurs use
- use one for thick branches Loppers or a small handsaw
The ordinary cut back
With a slight pruning, you stimulate the branching of the houseplant. How to do it:
- Scissors just above the top one eye apply
- You can recognize this by the curvature of the handle
- the cuts usually heal very quickly
The powerful cut back
- in doing so, you are also shortening the lower part of the plant
- nevertheless, at least one eye must be preserved
- otherwise the plant will die
Break out shoots
The breaking out of the shoots is comparable to a slight pruning. However, even more length of a plant part is retained, as they only remove 1 to 3 cm from the tip of the shoot. This method is particularly recommended for strong cuttings, as they consequently grow more branched. Use your thumb and index finger to pry open. If you cannot cut the shoot with your hands, use a sharp knife or scissors.