People tend to choose Pothos houseplants because they need to be easy to grow and maintain. While these plants generally live up to their reputation, there are a few things you need to know to get the most out of them. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to pothos houseplant pruning.
How to Prune Indoor Pothos Plants: Start by locating damaged, discolored, dead and dying leaves. Use sterile pruning shears to cut them from the stem just below a healthy leaf node. Then take care of the overgrown parts and shape the plant as desired.
Pothos plants are very popular and can stay with you for a long time if you learn how to care for them properly. Pruning a pothos houseplant is essential not only for the appearance of the plant, but also to keep it healthy and thriving.
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Everything you need to know about pothos houseplant pruning
As popular as it is as a houseplant, Pothos is considered an invasive species and has earned the rather unflattering nickname Devil’s Ivy. This delightful trailing plant looks great in a hanging basket or pot on the table or floor, but as it grows it easily wiggles around almost anything in its path.
While this growth certainly adds to its charm, it is often seen as both a blessing and a curse. Left unattended, a Pothos houseplant grows tall, lush, and spreads quickly, giving your home or office a jungle feel. This is why it is so important to learn how to prune pothos houseplants.
Pothos pruning is a fairly simple process, but there are some steps you need to follow to ensure it’s done correctly. With a little knowledge, you’ll develop your skills and build your confidence so you’ll also become more comfortable pruning Pothos and your other houseplants.
When to Prune Pothos Houseplants?
One of the first things to consider is not to prune your Pothos plant. Fortunately, Pothos are considerably hardier than many other houseplants, but it’s always best to prune when actively growing. Pruning at the wrong time can result in bare stems and vines or a stressed plant.
It’s best to prune your Pothos only during the growing season, usually spring to early fall. This allows Pothos to recover quickly from the stress of pruning and quickly establish new growth.
Why do Pothos houseplants need pruning?
With the right growing conditions, Pothos plants grow quickly and can grow quite tall over time. The main reason for pruning, rather than the health of the plant, is to maintain the size of the plant according to its location in the house.
Pruning also helps encourage new growth and can help thicken foliage if you want more compact growth for your plant. Some people prefer to grow Pothos in pots, so compact growth is more desirable. Others prefer a climbing habit, so pruning non-dominant stems can help concentrate growth on longer stems and extend the overall length of the plant.
What equipment do you need?
The equipment is quite basic. All you need is a sharp pair of scissors and a few sheets of paper towel or newspaper to place under the plant so you don’t mess up the area where you’re pruning your plant.
Make sure your pruner is clean and sterile. Pruning is a common way of spreading disease from one houseplant to another, so take a few minutes to clean your pruners with rubbing alcohol or clean them with warm, soapy water.
How to prune pothos houseplants?
Now let’s get to the last detail. The pruning process begins with a careful examination of the plant. Look for any damaged, discolored, dead, and dying leaves and stems you can find. These should begin before pruning healthy leaves or stems.
To encourage new growth and maintain the health of your plant, it’s best to find a spot where the stem is vigorous. Cut the stem just below a healthy leaf node. To clarify, you need to leave the knot on the plant. For those who don’t know what a leaf node looks like, it’s just a small bump on the stem where new growth develops.
Remove at least an inch of healthy stem, along with unhealthy stem and foliage. This reduces the risk of the cut end developing the same problem.
In addition to taking care of the diseased parts of your Pothos, you will probably also need to take care of some parts of healthy vines that have overgrown. You do this the same way, but start by planning exactly what you want your plant to look like when you’re done.
There are many ways to prune your Pothos and each is attractive in its own way. Just be careful not to overdo it in any particular area and do careful planning ahead of time.
Once you have an idea of what you want your plant to look like, start trimming the stems and shaping the plant into the general shape you want before refining it later.
You may want to remove a few whole, healthy stems down to the ground. To do this correctly, carefully trace each vine down to the ground, cutting it two to four inches from the soil surface. If possible, make your cut just after a leaf node.
Once you’ve done this and your Pothos is properly pruned, it’s a good idea to quickly inspect your plant for signs of insects. Pruning is a great opportunity to carefully inspect the foliage for insects or other problems.
If you find one, try treating your plant with one of these natural options to eradicate them.
Is there a way to make a Pothos fuller?
As I mentioned, pothos tend to grow quickly, so they usually don’t need much help. But if you want them to look nice and full, there are a few things you can do. The most important thing is to prune the plant well as this stimulates growth and keeps the plant healthy.
Maintaining proper care, including providing adequate light, water, and fertilizer, can also ensure a full and healthy plant. In general, I don’t recommend fertilizing Pothos plants immediately after pruning. Fertilizing can sometimes stress the plant, especially if applied in excess, and in addition to the stress of pruning, it can do more harm than good.
Give the plant more sun. This is usually enough to stimulate a pothos to become greener and fuller. Make sure they get plenty of water and maintain a temperature of 65-85°F or 19-29°C.
Can I propagate Pothos cuttings?
Pruning is the perfect time to take pothos cuttings for propagation. Pothos can be easily propagated in soil or water. Simply cut a section of stem 4-6 inches long, with several leaves. Make sure the bottom two inches of the stem are leafless and place that end in clean water or a prepared pot with suitable potting soil.
Within a few weeks, your Pothos cuttings will have developed roots and can grow new leaves. Without much effort, you can create an endless supply of Pothos for your home or to gift to friends.
Why are pothos houseplants so popular?
There are many reasons why these plants are such a common houseplant. First of all, Pothos plants are quite inexpensive. In fact, a six-inch pothos only costs about $10 to $15. That’s not all, it lasts a long time with proper care, making it one of the best deals in houseplants. interior.
Compared to other indoor plants, they are very easy to care for. Pothos houseplants don’t need a lot of water or light to thrive indoors. That said, it’s still important to watch them carefully to make sure they’re healthy. Watch for small leaves, lack of growth, or little or no variety in leaf color. These are signs of lack of light and water.
Too much light and water are not good either. Prolonged exposure to light causes scorched leaves and too much water can cause root rot. When it comes to watering these plants, experts agree that it’s best to keep the soil on the drier side, so it’s best to wait for the top half of the soil to dry out before watering again. .
How long this takes will depend on temperature, pot size, and light exposure, and can take anywhere from four to seven days. You should also keep your Pothos away from heating and cooling ducts, although these plants are hardy enough to survive and thrive in a wide range of temperatures.
Is a Pothos a good beginner plant?
Yes! It is a beautiful plant that is easy to prune and does not require much maintenance. Make sure there is plenty of water and sun and this plant should thrive. It is also a good option if you want to learn more about plant propagation. The skills you learn caring for a pothos will come in handy later when you pick up plants that need a little more care.