If you’re holding scissors in one hand and Googling “can I kill my plant by cutting it?” with the other — relax. You’re not the first person to feel nervous about pruning your houseplants. But here’s the good news: a little trim here and there can actually help your plant thrive.

Let’s take the fear out of it. Here’s when to prune and how to do it without turning your plant into a disaster.

🌿 Why Should You Prune Houseplants?

Think of pruning as a little refresh for your plant. It’s like getting rid of split ends — your plant will look better, grow better, and feel better.

Here’s what pruning helps with:

Encouraging new, healthy growth

Shaping your plant and preventing leggy stems

Removing dead, yellowing, or damaged leaves

Boosting airflow and preventing pests and disease

⏰ When Is The Best Time to Prune My Houseplants?

✅ cut your houseplant stems and flowers when the weather is warm and you are noticing active growth:

When the days are longer, your plants are able to get more food (from the sunlight) and grow better. So, it means that when the weather is a bit warmer, you're totally fine to prune.

🚫 when it's cold and dark, hold off giving your houseplants the snip

Look, in most of Australia it never gets heaps of snow and temperatures consistently sub zero, but it's still good to hold off snipping your plants. Prune once the weather starts to turn. 

💡 Remember that tidying up your plants is totally ok!

Dead and yellow leaves in houseplants are unproductive; they zap energy and prevent your plant from staying healthy. If you notice any of the below, you're totally ok to trim:

Dead or yellow leaves

Crispy brown tips

Dried flowers

Sad-looking stems

✂️ Tips for pruning your houseplants

• Always cut towards the base of the stem
• Trimming stems can encourage more bushy growth
• Don't be afraid to give your plants a haircut, but always keep enough leaves for your plant to absorb light - that's unless your plant is on the brink of dying and needs a total overhaul
• inspect your houseplant to check if dying leaves are symptom of a bigger problem

🌱 How to trim popular houseplants

Devil’s Ivy (Pothos): Trim vines regularly to keep it bushy. Easy to grow cuttings too!

Fiddle Leaf Fig: make sure that there is adequate light when you are trimming. These guys want it warm with bright light. 

Peace Lily: Remove old flower stems and yellowing leaves at the base — don’t just chop the top off.

ZZ Plant: No regular pruning needed, but cut off yellowing stalks at the soil line when needed.