Epipremnum aureum (generally referred to as pothos) is among the hottest houseplants.
Its look is like Philodendron, and the 2 are sometimes confused.
Pothos vegetation:
- Are straightforward to look after
- Face minimal illness and pest issues
- Have few soil and water necessities.
All Pothos sorts develop greatest in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11. Nonetheless, they’re extra generally grown indoors as a consequence of their potential to adapt to various levels of sunshine, even fluorescent lighting, incomes it the nickname “satan’s ivy.”
There are dozens of pothos species and cultivars out there. A number of the commonest embody:
How Do You Prune Pothos?
As a common rule, pothos doesn’t want quite a lot of upkeep to look nice. However, there are a couple of instances you need to prune your plant. These causes embody:
- Shaping
- Progress regulation
- Revitalization
- Pest and illness management
- Slicing vines for propagation
The most effective time to prune is throughout its rising season so new development can are available rapidly.
- Use sterile instruments and put on gloves to keep away from potential pores and skin irritation.
- Make cuts beneath leaf nodes (the place roots begin) when planning to propagate.
- Get rid of any diseased cuttings to keep away from additional contamination.
Strategies of Pruning Pothos Houseplant
Whereas the process is similar, the explanations for trimming and pruning may have some minor variations.
Correct Care Begins With Pruning for Form
As with many vegetation, pothos may be pruned for compact development, to develop thicker and extra sturdy.
That is particularly helpful as a result of vegetation can develop into leggy and get too lengthy.
Pruning for Measurement
Pothos can attain 50′ toes within the wild, however home vegetation are a lot shorter. However,
the “branches” can nonetheless get fairly lengthy and should even begin turning into leggy if not pruned again.
Pruning a dangling pothos is helpful in the event you’re fearful a pet could possibly attain it, because the plant is poisonous if ingested.
Pruning to Revitalize
As soon as your pothos has been round as an indoor plant for a couple of years, it might start to get leggy or develop quite a lot of naked spots.
It’s potential to prune again pothos stems way back to about 2” inches from the soil. This drastic pruning permits the plant to regrow as if it had been a younger plant once more.
Propagating Pothos
Cuttings make the most effective methodology for creating extra pothos vegetation. Regulate your pruning strategies to develop some good cuttings when you’re at it’s a snap. Begin Pothos stems in water or potting soil.
Associated: How To Propagate Pothos
The Pruning Methodology
No matter why you intend to prune a pothos, the steps are straightforward and are adjusted as you go.
- Sterilize your pruning shears or sharp scissors and placed on some protecting gloves to keep away from potential pores and skin irritation.
- Some like to maneuver their pothos to a shady spot to prune. It ensures no pets are tempted when pruning the greenery. It additionally retains any sap from “bleeding” onto furnishings or materials.
- Resolve how far you want to prune. Propagation and revitalization want extra particular lengths. Shaping or shortening is a matter of non-public choice.
- Take the stems and look at them as you prune. Take away any diseased stems or stems which have misplaced most or all of their leaves.
- Within the case of diseased stems – Get rid of them instantly. Keep away from bringing the shears in touch with wholesome vines till you’ve sterilized them once more.
- As you progress to the wholesome stems, sterilize your shears (if wanted) and resolve how far again you want to prune.
- While you discover the spot, measure about ¼” inch above the closest leaf and make your minimize. Be aware that cuttings used for propagation ought to have a minimum of 4 wholesome leaves on them.
- Repeat the method for each stem till you’re happy.
- Place the plant again in its ordinary oblique mild as soon as the injuries have dried.
Pruning Pothos to Fight Illness or Infestation
Whether or not your unique concept was to eliminate an an infection or infestation, otherwise you seen one as you pruned the pothos for different causes, you’ll want to observe some further care in eradicating the affected components.
Within the case of an insect infestation. Earlier than pruning begins think about cleansing or spraying the plant with:
- Rubbing alcohol answer
- Neem oil
- Insecticidal cleaning soap
You should definitely spray the undersides of leaves and any nooks or crannies. Preserve a watch out for potential escapees.
As you prune, attempt to isolate the weak stems from the wholesome ones. Reduce stems again far sufficient to take away all traces of the an infection.
Get rid of any diseased chopping instantly. Keep away from letting it come into contact with wholesome foliage.
You might need to sterilize your shears after every minimize. This isn’t vital till you start work on wholesome limbs.
After you end pruning, transfer the plant and sterilize the work floor with a rubbing alcohol answer.
