How To Prune Monstera To Encourage Growth?
Monstera is a trendy indoor plant that is known for its beauty and its tropical leaves and is also known as the Swiss cheese plant, The Monstera is not difficult to raise as it requires a little bit of focus and it can flourish its growth in vivid and various circumstances and even in low-light conditions also, it can even grow in different temperatures and even in low light conditions. Due to all this stuff, it’s a more likable plant among gardeners.
we can see more of them in tropical rainforests of Central and South America, These leaves grow beautifully seen and are gradient green, and can reach up to two feet in height.
The plant’s stems are thick and robust, and it has aerial roots that help in absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air, it’s quite a friendly plant
from water, sunlight, and temperatures, pruning is also a very important aspect of plants’ life for their healthy growth.
Pruning your Monstera can be one of the effective ways to encourage growth and promote a fuller, more attractive plant. today from my personal experience I am laying out my personal guide for you guys to help with the process of pruning
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to prune your Monstera and helpful tips for pruning it in correct and efficient ways.
first, let us know what is pruning
Pruning is a horticultural practice involving the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots The main reason we do these activities is to remove unwanted branches, improve the plant’s structure, and improve, and fasten the plant’s growth, it is a very good process for the long-term health of your monstera plants.
Steps involved in pruning monstera plants
1. Identifying Monstera Plant Part To Be Pruned
The first step involved in pruning Monstera is to identify the parts which need pruning. look at stems, and branches that you want to prune. make sure to identify any damaged or diseased parts. You should also remove any stems which are blocking the light from reaching other parts of the plant. so from the roots, and upper region to the stem and leaves observe the damaged or diseased parts which require pruning.
2. Gathering Tools
choosing the right tools for pruning is very essential for effective and easy pruning the plants. gather Pruning shears, gloves, sterilizing solution, ladders( if required), and a trash bag which are all necessary tools that will make the job very easier.
Pruning shears: they are a type of scissors for plants that helps to cut or prune unwanted stem or leaves.
gloves: helps in avoiding and protecting your hands from sharp edges and damaging things which are present in soil.
sterilization solution: for avoiding the spread of disease from the diseased part after pruning.
thrash bag: to grab all pruned stuff and other unwanted material in soil.
3. Knowing When To Prune Monstera Plant
Knowing when to Prune our Monstera is very important. in the spring or summer, when it’s actively growing it’s a perfect time to prune them. Avoid pruning during the winter and when the plant is going dry. Pruning during the growing season in summer or spring will encourage and boost growth and help plants look healthy and grow efficiently
4. Avoid Too Much Cutting At Once
Prune selectively When pruning your Monstera, be more selective and avoid pruning too much all at once. Only prune stems that are overgrown, pluck or cut the damaged ones, or branches which are growing in the wrong direction. make sure you Avoid pruning healthy stems and leaves as this can affect the growth of your plant. think you’re pruning the plant to support them to grow.
5. Pruning Stems And Diseased Leaves
Pruning the stems of your Monstera is a very important part of keeping the plant healthy and helping its growth. stems may be overgrown, tangled themselves, or may have been damaged, and the pruning process can help us to remove this problem and encourage the plant’s growth. Here are some of my personal tips for pruning the stems of your Monstera plant
identify the stems that need to be pruned. Look for stems that have overgrown, tangled themselves, or growing in the wrong direction. also look for stems that have been damaged or diseased, as these can affect the healthy growth of the plant.
after identifying Use a clean, sharp tool ( pruning shears )to make a clean cut of unwanted things on the stem of Monstera. make sure you make a cut just above a leaf, to encourage the new growth of the branch, and Avoid cutting at an angle or leaving half-cut edges, as this will damage the plant tissue and introduce new diseases.
right angle cut, When pruning the stem of your Monstera, make sure to cut at a 45-degree angle. This will help to prevent water from pooling on the cut surface, which can lead to disease and this in avoiding the rot of other branches of leaves.
When you start pruning the stem of your Monstera, also consider the length and the number of leaves on the stem. If the stem is very long and has only a very few leaves on them, do not cut them until your stem is shorter and has many leaves, you may only need to trim the stem to only remove any overgrowth or damaged areas on the plant’s stem.
After pruning, and removing unwanted damaged branches and leaves you can use a pruning sealant to cover the cut surface of the stem. This can help to prevent disease and promote healing and faster growth. so make sure to Apply a very thin layer of sealant to the cut surface and allow the plant to dry before watering the plant again.
After pruning the stems monitor them for a week for signs of new branch growth, New leaves, and stems ( they should appear within a few weeks, this indicates that the plant is responding well to the pruning). If the plant doesn’t show any signs of growth, check the soil moisture and its light conditions, and make sure to water them properly.
Things to keep in mind while pruning:
a) It’s a very hardy plant in nature which can that can handle pruning and will likely benefit.
b) Prune your Monstera only during in the growing season, make sure to prune it in the spring and in the summer of the year. so that the plant gets time to recover and produce new growth before the winter.
c) start pruning from stem to prune, start with the oldest or most damaged stem branches, and work your way up.
d) Don’t remove more than 1/3rd of the plant at once. Removing too much can affect the plant and decrease its growth.
6. Use A Garbage Bin Or Cover
use a garbage cover to hold the pruned pieces of stuff and unwanted things so that later we can through them away.
Final Thoughts:
In summary, prune your Monstera plant selectively only damaged parts with a sharp tool, during the growing season which can encourage its new growth and promote a healthy plant. Be sure to remove dead leaves, to support the plant and monitor it for signs of new growth after pruning for two weeks.
