How to Prune Houseplants So They Flourish for Years, According to Gardening Experts

It's easy to get wrapped up in making sure your houseplants have the proper lighting conditions, good soil quality, and appropriate humidity levels needed to thrive. With all of these factors at top of mind, pruning is one area of houseplant care that is sometimes overlooked—but it shouldn't be. Pruning plays an important part in the overall health of many houseplants. Below, our gardening experts share their best tips for how and when to prune houseplants. 

When to Prune Houseplants

Generally, the best time to prune houseplants is in spring when new growth is forming. "Pruning during the plant's active growing season encourages new growth, versus slower to no growth when the plant is dormant," says houseplant expert Lee Miller. But there are other reasons you may want to prune houseplants outside of the growing season.

If you put a container plant outdoors during summer and bring it back inside for winter, you may find that it needs cutting back. "Some people prune their houseplants before they bring them inside in the fall mostly because they need room, and they need to prune them so they fit better in the space they have for them," says Steinkopf. This is often the care for large houseplants and potted trees.

How to Prune Houseplants

How you prune houseplants depends on the variety you're cutting back, but there are some overall rules to follow.

Prune for Shape and Size

Before you pick up your pruners, visualize the final plant you would like to end up with. This mental image can help you achieve the basic shape and size that you're aiming for as you make cuts.

Prune in Small Amounts

Prune houseplants in small amounts to avoid causing stress. Prune no more than 20 to 30 percent of the plant at one time. "Any more can cause severe damage and possibly death," Miller. That said, some flowering houseplants can tolerate more aggressive pruning, which can help them produce more blooms the following year.

Know Where to Cut

Pruning is more complex than just cutting off a few branches here and there. Cutting your houseplants in the wrong place can impede future growth. Prune just above a node (the area of the stem where leaves grow), cutting at a 45-degree angle. "Be sure to angle your cut away from the node to prevent water from sitting and the possibility of disease," says Miller.

Sanitize Your Tools

Clean your pruning tools with alcohol or bleach before using them to cut back your plants. Not doing so can spread diseases or insects to your houseplants.

Provide Adequate Care After Pruning

Although pruning is essential for many plants, it can be a stressful process. To ensure the overall health of your houseplants, make sure you support them properly after cutting them back. "Give the plants the right light and water to ensure they recover well," says Steinkopf.

Houseplants That Need to Be Pruned

Many houseplants benefit from being pruned from time to time. "Occasional pruning of these plants helps to maintain fullness and strength and in some cases promotes further blooming," says Miller. Here are some specific houseplants that can benefit from pruning:

• Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera spp.): For Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus, Miller recommends the following steps: "Pinch back leggy foliage after blooming to increase fullness, overall strength and to encourage more blooms."
• Jade plant (Crassula ovata): Regularly cutting back leggy growth on jade plant maintains the overall look and strength of the plant and helps to prevent insects such as mealybugs. "Cuttings from each of these plants can easily be propagated in soil or water," says Miller.
• Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica): If the beautiful, glossy-leaved rubber plant is part of your houseplant collection, consider pruning it occasionally. "Prune rubber plant to reduce height [and] overweight branches and to create a fuller, bushier plant," says Miller.

Houseplants to Never Prune

Not all houseplants are candidates for pruning and should only be tidied up to remove damaged, yellowing, browning or dead parts to prevent disease, says Miller. These include:

• Snake plant (Sansevieria): Snake plants grow slowly and do not grow back once cut from the top. Avoid cutting healthy shoots unless necessary, says Miller.
• ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): Like snake plants, ZZ plants are slow growers that do not grow back once they're cut, says Miller. If you want to control the size of this plant, consider propagating it instead.
• Palm plants (Arecaceae spp.): Palm plants like areca palm, parlor palm, and majesty palm grow from a central growth point called the crown. Cutting the main stem or too many fronds can permanently damage or even kill the plant, says Miller, adding that you should only remove fully browned or dead fronds.