It’s Time to Prune Your Houseplants: Here’s How the Experts Do It
Bloomscape’s resident “Plant Mom,” AKA horticulturalist Joyce Mast, gives us the scoop on how to prep your plant buddies for their dormant season.
After a long summer of sun and growth, it might be time to check in on your houseplants. We talked to direct-to-consumer plant shop Bloomscape to get their expertise on keeping your blooms in tip-top shape as they settle down for the colder months.
Gather Your Supplies
Photo: Bloomscape
You’ll need a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears.
Remove Any Dead or Dying Leaves
This living room is filled with an array of plants that include a moss wall, an air plant wall, Staghorn Ferns, a variety of potted plants, hanging ceiling plants, and trees.
Photo: Kate Glicksberg
Toss any fallen leaves from the soil (they can attract pests and create an environment for mold), and locate all yellowing or brown crispy leaves. Cut the leaves that are brown or yellow at the base, which is either near the stem or at the soil. For brown or yellowing tips, remove just the affected edge or spots.
Trim Healthy Leaves to Encourage New Growth
In place of "unnecessary" decorative items, the designers opted to fill rooms with houseplants.
Photo: IKEA
Look for a leaf node, and cut about ¼-inch above that scar at an angle (you can keep these cuttings to propagate later).
Check the Length of Trailing Plants
Whether you’ve given up on houseplants after past failures, are totally new to the green thumb game, or just want to get a refresher course on the hardiest plants out there, this list is for you.
Photo: Kate Glicksberg
For trailing plants, you’ll want to cut about four to six inches back on each vine.
Trim Dead Growth to Keep Your Plant Vibrant
General contractor S Construction collaborated with Shively and Kokkino on the remodel. The colorful apartment pays homage to the midcentury building, a 1968 high-rise in the Edgewater neighborhood, but it also has a more subdued side. The master bedroom is an all-white sanctuary filled with houseplants. The Rudd International oak sideboard is a vintage piece from the 1970s.
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Chicago, Illinois
Dwell Magazine : September / October 2017
Photo: Mike Schwartz
When removing dead growth, cut as close to the base of the brown or yellow stem as possible. For brown or yellowing leaf tips, remove just the affected edge or spots.
More Plant Mom Tips:
- Use houseplant snips if possible; they’re easy to manipulate into little nooks and crannies, and are sharper and more accurate than outdoor pruners.
- Wipe the blades of your scissors/shears with rubbing alcohol between each snip.
- Be careful not to remove more than 20% of the entire plant while pruning; you may need to prune in stages to avoid removing too many leaves at once.
Looking to expand your houseplant collection? Here’s what you need to start your indoor jungle.
Bloomscape Pothos Collection
Fun and lively collection of three trailing pothos plants. Pothos Collection is a fun, easy collection consisting of three unique varieties of pothos. Each is unique in their leaf coloring and variegation, all pairing well together. They are very easy to care for, and won’t mind if you miss an occasional watering. These plants can adapt to low light, making them great for an office. These plants will eventually trail and spill beautifully over their pots, making them a great option for a stand or shelf that can showcase their long vines.
ShopBloomscape Tough Stuff Collection
Three easy and adaptable plants, including a Sansevieria, ZZ Plant, and Hoya variety. Whether you’re starting your plant family or adding to it, these hand-selected easy plants are perfect for less-than-ideal conditions. Each of these three plants is incredibly easy, will adapt to nearly any available light, and are extremely forgiving. Their easy-going nature makes them perfect for office spaces, dorm rooms, and beginners.
ShopBloomscape Bamboo Palm
With dense foliage and lush fronds, the Bamboo Palm makes a statement. An air-purifying plant adaptable to low light, this palm can reach heights of up to 8 feet tall in the right conditions.
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