How to Prune Philodendron Houseplants

06.06.2023 - 19:16 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren

One of the things that gardeners love most about philodendrons is that they’re pretty much foolproof.

They aren’t one of those species that is constantly teetering on the edge of disaster. And they don’t need tons of maintenance like regular pruning to keep them alive.

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But it sure doesn’t hurt things to give them a little snip-snip now and then.

While you don’t need to be an experienced cosmetologist to give your philodendron a haircut, doing it wrong can leave your plant looking like someone put on a blindfold and went to town with a pair of clippers.

To help you make your philodendrons look perfect, we’re going to go over the following:

There are dozens of species and cultivars in the Philodendron genus, and they can be terrestrial (growing in the ground), epiphytic (growing on other plants), or hemiepiphytic (both).

And that means the necessary care required can vary.

Heartleaf vines have different pruning requirements than something more upright like a horsehead philodendron.

Pay attention to the growth habit of your particular specimen before you commit to any cuts.

Remember, you don’t technically have to prune a philodendron. So why go to the trouble if it isn’t strictly necessary?

There are several reasons.

First, if your philodendron has dying, diseased, discolored, or pest-infested foliage or vines, it’s best to get rid of them to boost or protect the overall health of the plant.

Same goes for really leggy vines.

Really, any area that isn’t adding to the look of the plant can go.

But make sure you don’t overdo it – cutting back more than a quarter to a