Pruning is a plant care technique gardeners use to control growth and shape of plants. Pruning is an essential requirement for removing diseased or damaged plant material and in the case of houseplants to reduce plant growth. When using the word growth here it is meant to mean width and height. The reason clarification is required; pruning will stimulate growth and corrects structural problems as well.

Often houseplants can be pinched this method is simply removing a stem end to promote side bud growth. Using this technique will keep plants bushy and full. Simply pinch off the stem back to a leaf. Those plants which appear elongated can easily be pinched back for a more compact look.

In some cases it maybe necessary to do some root pruning. This practice is used to hold back a plant's growth. In other words we are trying to keep a plant in a small container. One needs to remember that there are limits to how much of the root system one can remove. If a plant requires root pruning, be sure to remove some foliage so the remaining root system is not stressed.

If a homeowner would rather prune than pinch select a pair of by-pass pruners. These pruners make clean cuts and do not crush stems like anvil type pruners. Plant stems that are crushed take longer to recover. So pinch or prune those houseplants and your neighbors will be amazed at the healthy look your plants exhibit.