Okay, so the other day I looked at my Chinese Evergreen, and I was like, “Whoa, girl, you are getting BUSHY.” It was taking over the whole corner of my living room. Time for a haircut! I’ve pruned plenty of plants before, but never a Chinese Evergreen, so I did a little digging online first. Turns out, it’s pretty straightforward.
Getting Started
First, I gathered my tools. I made sure I had:
- Sharp, clean pruning shears. I wiped the blades down with some rubbing alcohol – gotta prevent any nasty plant diseases!
- Gloves. Just in case, you know, sometimes plant sap can be irritating.
- A trash bag or bin for the clippings.
The Pruning Process
I put on my gloves and took a good look at the plant. My main goal was to thin it out and give it a more manageable shape. I started by identifying any yellow, brown, or damaged leaves. Those were the first to go. I just snipped them off at the base of the stem, close to the soil.
Then, I looked for stems that were growing outwards too much, or crossing over other stems. These were making the plant look messy. I followed those stems back to where they branched off from a healthier stem, and made a clean cut there. It’s important not to just cut randomly in the middle of a stem – always cut back to a node (where a leaf or another stem grows) or to the base.
I kept stepping back to check the overall shape as I went. You don’t want to get carried away and end up with a lopsided plant! I rotated the pot a few times to make sure I was getting a good view from all angles.
I didn’t want to remove more than about a third of the plant at once. That can stress it out too much. It took me a while to find which third of the plant was ok to be removed. Patience is key!
The Aftermath
After I was done, I cleaned up all the clippings. I gave the plant a good watering, too. Pruning can be a little stressful for plants, so a drink helps them recover.
My Chinese Evergreen looks SO much better now! It’s still full and lush, but it’s not trying to take over the whole room anymore. Plus, by removing the older, less healthy leaves, I’ve encouraged it to put energy into new growth. It’s already looking perkier! I’m pretty proud of myself. This stuff is easy and fun!
