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How To Prune A Monstera In 8 Easy Steps

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Is your Monstera plant in need of some TLC? Monstera deliciosa is a beautiful climber native to Central and South American jungles that grow aggressively and quickly.

Therefore, they must be pruned regularly to maintain them looking their best. Pruning, on the other hand, is crucial for managing the size of a monstera. This plant grows to be enormous!

Monsteras can reach a height of 30 feet outdoors and 10 feet indoors, which is important if you live in an apartment with 8-foot ceilings. This article will discuss stepwise: How To Prune A Monstera.

Pruning is an integral element of any plant care routine. Pruning is the process of removing leaves that are no longer beneficial to the plant but are still consuming its resources.

This frees up energy to assist the new development and healthy leaves! Pruning can also be used to manage the growth and shape of a plant. So make sure your Monstera is pruned!

Pruning can also assist you in managing where your plant puts out new leaves and encourage them to flourish (and, in the case of some plants, branches). Pruning is especially crucial for your Monstera because it occasionally requires extra assistance in removing dead or dying leaves.

How To Prune A Monstera
Monstera deliciosa via Flickr

Cuttings properly cut from the plant can also be reproduced, ensuring a steady supply of young Monsteras. Pruning should occur in the early spring before the Monstera’s growing season begins.

The frequency with which you prune your Monstera will be determined by its age and size. A young Monstera will usually require pruning once a year. A more mature and denser plant may need to be pruned regularly to maintain a uniform shape.

Things You’ll Need

  • Sharp knife or Pruning shears
  • Thick gloves
  • Protective Goggles

How To Prune A Monstera?

Pruning a monstera is fortunately quite straightforward. Because they’re resilient plants, they don’t need to be pruned meticulously. In other words, even if you don’t perform a great job, your plant will most likely survive.

Step 1: Select the Appropriate Pruning Season

  • It’s critical to trim your Monstera at the proper time of year, especially before the spring growing season.
  • This is the optimum time to trim it to retain its shape or manage its size.
  • It helps your houseplant recover quickly.
  • You can prune the Monstera at any moment during the growing season if it has yellow leaves or a broken stem.

Step 2: Sanitize Your Pruning Tools

  • Before you begin this project, use alcohol to sterilize your garden cutting equipment, such as scissors and pruning shears.
  • Dirty utensils spread infections and hazardous bacteria to your houseplant.
  • As a result, cleaning the tools with an alcohol-soaked towel is recommended.
  • If your pruning shears or scissors are particularly dirty, the easiest way to smooth out the muck is to soak them in water for a bit.
  • After that, you may carefully clean and disinfect these tools.

Step 3: Put on your protective gloves

  •  Calcium oxalates are found in the sap of the Swiss cheese plant, which can cause skin irritation and rashes.
  • As a result, put on some protective gloves to avoid this health hazard.
  • Keep it out of the reach of youngsters and pets.
  • If the sap gets into contact with your skin, wash it off promptly with mild soapy water and avoid getting it in your eyes.
  • If feasible, goggles should be worn to protect your face and eyes.

Step 4: Determine the location of Monstera Nodes

  • Before you prune your plant, you must first locate the node. This will help you decide where to prune the plant.
  • The section of the Monstera from which new leaves, stems, and aerial roots will sprout are known as nodes.
  • Look for lighter patches on the stem and rise higher than the rest of the stem to identify Monstera nodes.
  • Although a node may only have one leaf, many huge plants have multiple leaves sprouting from a single node.

Step 5: Remove any dead, yellow, or dried leaves

  • Before you start trimming your plant, make a list of the parts you want to save, such as yellow or dead leaves and brown stems.
  • Soft spots are also a symptom of decay.
  • Use brightly colored yarn to indicate the parts of large outdoor monsteras that need to be clipped.
  • As a result, clip them with sanitized scissors or garden shears whenever you see leaves with these characteristics.
  • When your plant’s leaves turn yellow, it’s a sign that it’s been overwatered.
  • Trim them at the stem’s base to maintain the appropriate height.

Step 6: Trim the Stems

  • Look for tangled branches and don’t have a lot of leaves.
  • Cut off the branches at the stem’s base with sterile scissors.
  • This fosters the growth of new, strong leaves and stems on your houseplant.
  • You can cut below the node if you don’t want to remove the entire branch.
  • Make a flat cut to get rid of the stalks and stems.
  • You can, however, cut your indoor plant to the point where the branch meets the parent stem.

Step 7: Cut Off The Roots

  • If you detect roots sprouting out of the drainage holes in the container, carefully pull it out and slacken the roots with your fingers.
  • Using disinfected garden tools, cut out 14 of the roots.
  • Repot your newly trimmed plant in fresh, well-aerated, and well-drained soil.
  • Root stress and yellow leaves should be avoided.
  • To avoid root rot, do not overwater it.
  • Trimming your roots encourages them to develop strong and healthy, providing consistent support for the entire plant.

Step 8: Dispose Of

  • After you’ve pruned your plant, you may either burn the cuttings or toss them in the garbage to add to your compost.
  • Because the Swiss cheese plant is dangerous, it should be properly disposed of.
  • As its oxalic acid causes skin irritation, you should handle this houseplant with caution.

>> Related Post: When Do Monstera Leaves Split – A Brief Guide


Final Remarks

The beautiful green leaves of Monstera are well-known. It can reach a maximum height of almost 8.5 inches. So, if it begins to take over your living space, trim it to manage the shape and size while still making it appear fantastic.

Pruning your Monstera can make it happy. You’ll be able to see new growth and maintain your living area looking nice. It’s also a great strategy to keep the disease from spreading from one contaminated leaf to another.

The cut-off processes are the same for all types of Swiss cheese plants. It only requires minor upkeep. The steps outlined above will make pruning your houseplant a breeze.

Early spring is the optimum time if you want to prune your Monstera. Avoid doing so during the dormant season, as it may cause more harm than good to the plant.

You won’t kill your monstera deliciosa by pruning it at the wrong time of year, but it might reduce the likelihood of successful growth, especially during propagation.

After pruning it, please pay close attention to it to avoid shock and disease invasion. Drooping, yellowing leaves and withering are never a good sign, so keep an eye on your Monstera to make sure it’s getting enough humidity, sunlight, and water.