Pruning Succulents
Why Do Succulents Need to Be Pruned?
The most common reason to prune a succulent is to keep it from getting too large, or because you want to change the shape of the plant. You might also prune a succulent in order to propagate the plant, or to remove damaged or diseased parts of the plant.
When Should Succulents Be Pruned?
The best time to prune a succulent is in the late spring or early summer, because this gives the plant enough time to recover with plenty of sunlight and warm weather. During the autumn and winter, succulents are already in an inactive state and should not be given any additional stress.
Steps to Proper Pruning
- Choose which parts of the plant you want to prune. Generally, you should not remove more than a fourth of the volume of the plant at one time to avoid causing the plant to go into shock.
- Prepare your tools. You will need a sharp cutting tool (scissors or a knife) that is sterilized prior to use. Sterilizing the tool limits the chance of introducing fungus or bacteria into the plant when you cut it. Ethanol or isopropyl alcohol are inexpensive and easy to use for sterilizing tools.
- Cut cleanly through the stem at a 45-degree angle (this helps new growth to develop correctly). Repeat for as many cuts as you need to make. Be sure to sterilize your tool in between cuts if you are pruning to remove disease or fungus.
- After pruning, care for your plant as usual.
Removing Dead or Dying leaves
Older leaves will naturally die off as the plant grows and matures. These will usually be on the lower part of the plant, so there is no need to be alarmed if some of the bottom leaves on your succulent start to look unhealthy. It is a good idea to pull these off as soon as you notice that they are looking yellow or drying up. You should be able to remove these without cutting the plant, just by tugging gently at the leaf. It is good practice to do this as part of your regular plant maintenance.
