Do you know that you can prune snake plant?
It’s true, and I know it might be shocking for most of you…
… because we tend to let snake plants grow in neglect.
But yes, you should also prune your snake plant!
Hear it from Hannah!
I have a snake plant that I love…
But my toddler, being the kid she is, accidentally broke a leaf…
I was really worried that the break will eventually die the leaf off…
… do I decided to cut where the bent is with all my anxiety kicking in.
I was so afraid that cutting it will make the growth worse…
… but it turned out the opposite!
It was as if I’m pruning the snake plant too…
… since most of the leaves had grown too tall.
I was very glad that after several months, my snake plant was doing just fine…
That’s a relief…
Pruning snake plants helps them grow bushier, like all houseplants…
By pruning the plant, you can remove some of the extra leaves without affecting the plant’s growth…
Proper pruning can offer trees several benefits. It can increase flowering, fruit production, promote healthy new growth, increase sun light and air circulation, and maintain a desired shape and/or size…It is necessary to prune trees that are over-grown, crowd other plants, or limits the view from windows. Plants damaged by insects, diseases, or freezing injury generally benefit from corrective pruning…It is important to learn and understand the three T’s of proper pruning: tools, timing, and technique.
Bob Polomski, PhD, Associate Extension Specialist and Debbie Shaughnessy, Former HGIC Information Specialist of Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center
The snake plant may have brown or yellow leaves…
It is possible that some rhizomes are going in the wrong direction…
Snake plants might become stunted if they haven’t been pruned…
When To Prune A Snake Plant?
It is generally recommended to prune snake plants anytime of the year, since they are hardy and slow growing…
However, to give your plant the best chance of thriving after pruning…
… do it in early spring or early summer, when it is actively growing.
Snake plants are stressed by pruning…
So if your snake plant is in poor health, it is better first to boost its general care…
Encourage new healthy growth, and then prune it, to promote rapid recovery…
What Equipment Do I Need
Fortunately, not much. To keep things as simple as possible, here are the tools you will use…
Cutting tools, like a knife or pruners. In order to prune leaves in the central portion of the plant…
… usually you should have a pair of scissors or pruners as well as a knife handy.
The knife helps me cut leaves off right near the soil line…
The scissors or pruners make pruning leaves in the outer portions easier.
To sterilize your tools, use boiling water or rubbing alcohol, even if they’re cosmetically clean…
If you’re pruning your houseplants, make sure your tools are sterile, since spreading disease is easy…
How To Prune A Snake Plant?
Snake plants are fairly easy to prune. Start by checking the health, shape, and size of your plant…
Imagine what the snake plant will look like at the end of the process…
Your pruning effort will be more targeted this way…
How to prune snake plant involves these three steps:
Reduce the Spread of Your Snake Plant
If you wish to prune to reduce the plant size rather than just remove damaged leaves…
… begin by pruning the leaves around the edge of the plant.
Cut each leaf as close as possible to the soil line with a sharp knife…
You can improve the cosmetic appearance of your snake plant…
… by removing leaves as close to the base as possible.
Stubby leaf stumps do not generally look great…
… so it is worth the extra effort to cut the leaves off as low down as possible.
Holding the top of the leaf, applying upward pressure, holding the knife parallel to the soil…
Then cutting across the leaf is the best method for doing so.
It can be difficult to cut through snake plant leaves because they are quite tough…
Instead of making a series of jagged cuts, try to make one clean cut…
When leaf edges are ragged, diseases can enter the cut leaf stump…
Reduce the Height of Your Snake Plant
As soon as the outer leaves have been removed to your satisfaction, look at the plant height…
Cut off the leaves that are higher than you desire the plant to be…
Using pruners or scissors is easier than a knife when cutting leaves from the interior of the plant…
… but cutting the leaf right at the base is more difficult.
The leaf stumps will not be visible to the outside eye, so your plant will still look stunning…
Remove Damaged Leaves
As soon as you have trimmed your snake plant down to the desired size…
… identify any damaged or deformed leaves that you would like to prune to improve its appearance.
If you remove them, make sure your plant doesn’t look lopsided or sparse…
You don’t have to get rid of every single imperfection on a houseplant…
When pruning your snake plant, try not to reduce the size of the plant by more than one third at a time…
Snake plants can be stressed upon pruning, and a large amount of pruning may damage the plant…
… leaving it vulnerable to disease, or it may suffer for a while after the prune if you go too far.
It is also not a good idea to prune leaves in parts…
When you cut off brown tips from leaves…
… the ends tend to become brown themselves, increasing the plant’s risk of disease.
In addition to becoming brown, the cut end can also lead to disease development…
Well, that’s not how to prune snake plant properly…
To sum it up…
Yes, you can prune a snake plant…
It is really helpful, especially if your snake plant…
… have too tall leaves, damaged leaves, or too wide of a spread.
It’s all a matter of preference though, because pruning is not a must…
For those of you plant lovers that dedicate most of their time gardening…
… pruning is a great grooming treat for your plants.
If you’re not, then that’s totally fine too…
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of soil should I use for my snake plant?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question; the soil needs of a snake plant will vary depending on the specific plant’s growing conditions and preferences. In general, however, snake plants are happiest when grown in well-drained soils with a moderate amount of organic matter (fertilize according to plant needs).
How do I know when it’s time to repot my snake plant?
The best way to know when it’s time to repot your snake plant is to consult the plant’s care guide or manufacturer.
What are the proper steps to take when pruning a snake plant?
Snake plant care can be easily achieved by following the steps below: -Remove the faded leaves from the stem. -Prune the tips of new growth. -Check the plant for pests and remove any that are found.
What should I do if my snake plant starts to yellow or loose leaves?
If your snake plant starts to yellow or lose leaves, the most likely cause is dry soil. Water the plant well and add a light potting soil mixture to the soil.
Is it safe to leave a snake plant unattended while pruning?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the snake plant and the individual caretaker. Some snake plants may be relatively easy to care for if left unattended, while others may require more attention and care than can be provided while the plant is pruned. The best way to determine the care needs of a particular snake plant is to speak with a knowledgeable caretaker or plant expert.
What are the best times of the year to prune a snake plant?
Prune snake plant in the springtime when new growth is beginning.
What are some of the benefits of pruning a snake plant?
Pruning a snake plant can help improve the plant’s appearance, increase water and fertilizer uptake, and reduce the number of pests.
Conclusion
If you still have any questions on the matter…
Feel free to reach us out!
You can comment down below or contact us…
Have an awesome gardening journey!