Nothing brightens up a live on space quite like hefty , thriving houseplants . And philodendrons are a peculiarly effective choice , given their low sustainment care requirements and striking good looks . These tropic evergreen are know and loved for their vining increase pattern and glossy heart - shaped leave-taking .
That said , philodendrons do run to participate a bit of a leggy , awkward teenage phase if they ’re left to their own devices for too long or if their needs are not fully met . The consequence is a works that looks a bit thin or thin in blank space alternatively of bushy and cluster , as is its norm in the state of nature .
To foreclose this and make a philodendron fuller , there are a few steps you may take ( with aftercare requirements ) that will keep your plants looking their bushy C. H. Best . In this clause , we ’ll outline everything you demand to know about pruning your philodendrons , preventing legginess , as well as how to boost branch .
quick ? permit ’s get to it !
Table of Contents
Easy Philodendron Care Guide 💚
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💧 Water : Water when the top 1 - 2 inches of soil feel dry . Philodendrons favour evenly moist soil but do n’t digest sitting in water .
🌱 Soil : apply a well - draining potting mix -I in person usethis potting mixing . A mix with peat or perlite , like this one , helps keep wet without waterlogging the roots .
☀ ️Light : Bright , indirect light is idealistic , but most Philodendrons can accommodate to lower light precondition . Avoid unmediated sun , which can scorch their leaves .
🌡 ️Temperature : Keep your Philodendron in a room between 65 - 80 ° F ( 18 - 27 ° C ) . Protect it from dusty draught and sudden temperature changes .
🌿 Fertilizer : Feed with a balanced , water - soluble plant food ( my top find fault isthis Miracle - Gro one ) once a month during outpouring and summer . Skip feed in drop and winter .
How tomake a philodendron fuller
The best way tomake a philodendron bushyis to ensure it is crop carefully and regularly , fertilized seasonally , and provided with sufficient light . Pruning , specifically , can better direct your plant toward a constellate growth habit rather than a rigorously vining one , which often results in a balding top .
As any houseplant partisan can certify , how you care for your plants directly touch on their growing aesthetic . in person , I go by my ruler of five , which entails keeping an eye on tripping , piddle , dirt , humidity , and feeding . Experience has taught me that if any of these needs are in a deficit , I ’ll terminate up with a sparse , leggy philodendron with fewer leaf and scraggly vines .
But that ’s not the end of the earthly concern . Being aware in your care regime can help oneself to foreclose the leggy stage quite easy and does n’t call for a ton of effort . Indeed , it ’s more a case of being conscientious about trim and understanding the biology of your works to ensure its best chance of thriving .
In the following section , I ’ll take you through my best practice for making my philodendron fuller , from preparing your pruning creature to how and when to bung your plants .
1. Prepare for pruning
In just a bit , we ’ll go into detail about pruning philodendrons and why it ’s so crucial for ensuring voluminous growth . But first , let ’s talk about hygienics .
When using tool interchangeably between plants , there ’s always a risk of transfer bacteria or fungi , making it a bad business organisation for all your green baby . And this is the last matter you want when you ’re seek to encourage new outgrowth .
Pro tip : To preclude this , it ’s essential that yousterilize and make clean your pruning tools between every horticulture session . I use scratch alcoholic beverage , take after by a good rinsing in hot water .
However , you could also apply adiluted solvent of one part bleach to nine parts water , provided you lave off your creature with simmering urine after the fact .
Once all your pawn are light , you’re able to get down to commercial enterprise .
2. Encourage bushier growth through pruning
Pruning is worthful for philodendron because it encourages unexampled development . Indeed , the natural course for any works is that , over clock time , existing leaves and stems get onetime and commence to disintegrate . When this happen , industrial plant waste Energy Department on quondam leafage that could be substantially drop on new bud and leaves .
So , when it come to making a philodendron good , regular pruning of dying leaves and leggy staunch redirects the plant life ’s energy to produce new vine from ascendent nodes . For a bushy look , cut back or pinching your long vine will boost more production from the flora ’s center .
On that note , always assure you clip just above healthy guest , lest you cease up with unsightly stem ends that will yellow and shrink . mildly laying lymph node against the soil in your plantation owner is also extremely effective for denser marrow growth – but more on this shortly .
You may also be interested in : What is a Philodendron ’s Growth Rate ( + How To produce It Faster ) ?
3. Prune your philodendrons during their growing season
Usually , pruning should be reserved for your plant ’ growing seasons , in the saltation and summertime . However , philodendrons can be pruned year - rotund , as long as you do n’t go too crazy on them ! In fact , your pruning should be so borderline that it ’s barely obtrusive . Think of it more as regular criminal maintenance .
In other words , should you notice ayellow folio on your philodendronor spindly stem , it ’s o.k. to snip it , even in the depths of winter . Just do n’t go wild and cut off Brobdingnagian glob of your philodendron that may result in shock and , by nonpayment , slack or unfirm growth .
4. Meet their light requirements for denser growth
At the philia of it , philodendrons are tropical industrial plant that enjoy bright , indirect light and plenty of humidity . If they are n’t have these two things in their relative quantities , it follow that their outgrowth will be on the scraggly side .
And if you ’re wondering what the connection between leggy outgrowth and sun is , the resolution is both sweet and straightforward . Vines and stems get long and slender when your works are reaching for the sun , trying to draw as much of it as possible ( we have to hand it to industrial plant – they ’re great communicator ) .
Therefore , from the get - go , it ’s good to cope with yourphilodendron ’s light requirementsby giving it at least 7 to 8 hours of sun daily by position them in an area close to a windowpane . In the winter , when it ’s coolheaded , you could supplement this ingestion with a few outside hours in a sunny spot on your balcony or patio . Or , if you ’re really not winning , gift in a grow light .
5. Provide sufficient fertilization to encourage fuller growth
In their lifelike environments , philodendrons grow in the shade of larger plant enjoy all the nutrients provided by the jungle floor ’s ground . This encompasses X of an intricate ecosystem design to keep wild flora flourish , which , regrettably , can never entirely be mirrored by even store - bought potting soil .
But this is why we have plant food .
periodic feeding with a slow - release plant food can boost new , fuller growth in your philodendron by put up them with a boot of auxiliary nutrient . This is first-class news if your plant life is long-legged despite your good efforts with pruning and ignition , as it may indicate a deficit of minerals in your soil .
Related : Fertilizing Your Philodendron : The Ultimate Guide
6. Adequately hydrate and provide general care
Even the hardiest of plant ( and philodendron are up there ! ) do n’t do well with inconsistent care , which becomes evident in how they mature . While these looker are middling drought - tolerant , leave them without piddle for long period will not be great for bushy growth and tends to result in lots of dead or dried - out leaves .
As a general formula of thumb , try towater your philodendronsas before long as their top inch of soil is dry . And do n’t fall into the trap of thinking that overwatering will help them , either .
Conversely , this suffocates their roots and preclude them from arise wholly , also often result in mortal infections likeroot molder in your philodendron .
How do you fix a leggy philodendron?
To fix a leggy philodendron , part by revisiting your forethought practices to ensure your plant receives enough light and nutrients while at the same time encourage fresh maturation through pruning . you could also replete in a sparse or balding flora with propagated stem cuttings to hike full growth from its center .
In the old part , we look at encouraging density in a philodendron . But what do you do if your honey oil - leaf ravisher is already long-legged ? How much of its growth habit can be undone ? No need to fret – there ’s a passel you’re able to do , and you should see results in under two months .
Pruning is the most obvious route , redirect your plant from grow lengthy stems by reign them in toward your mall . I usually prefer to reduce my stems close to the base of the plant , allowing node to lay just on top of the soil , where they are prepared to root and branch .
Another reparation I ’ve found that works wonders is recycling the fruit of my vine pruning into fore cuttings , lease mepropagate my philodendronthrough water rooting .
These cut are commonly short ( 2 inches / 5 cm ) , with one or two nodes and one or two leaves . I pop them into a small container with H2O for 3 to 4 weeks until they have their own little stem systems .
And once I have a few of these , all that ’s exit to do is plant them into the thin areas around the heart of my philodendron ’s infrastructure . In no time , they should start to sate in the gaps , making your plant look fuller than ever before .
How do you make a philodendron branch?
Branching your philodendrons will encourage them to grow multiple vines , lead in a fuller aesthetic . you may achieve this through stem pinching , which is the recitation of nipping off the end of vines with new leaves , thereby bolstering your flora to shoot out lateral stems in their position .
If your philodendron is grow foresighted , rummy vine , you may desire to consider trying to separate it out for a fuller increment substance abuse . These plant life are singular in how they respond to pruning and pinching , particularly when they ’re at their healthiest .
Stem pinching is a aboveboard mental process that wo n’t take you more than a bit . It ’s quite literally the practice of pinching off a spot with newfangled increment ( typically the end of a vine with new leaf ) so that your plant life energetically essay to interchange it .
That said , you need to leave seeable stem nodes in place , from where new growth can evolve . Two or three is preferable , as this is ideal for sidelong branching . And the closer you could get them to your soil , the better , as this will think extra nutrient and wet for coming roots .
