Written by Administrator | 01 March 2004

Pruning is the necessary process of snipping, cutting,  trimming, or pinching away part of a plant to make it not only more shapely, but also to spur growth. You always want to remove any dead leaves, stems,  or branches from plants. Each time you prune out a shoot, you actually stimulate the plant to branch more abuntantly and become fuller.  Where the plant had just one stem, it may soon have two or  three. You actually end up with a fuller plant. To accomplish ideal plant shape does take some practice, but you will quickly figure out what looks best for you. Generally you will want all of the stems to be the same length, or your more bushy plants and trees to have a “ball-like” shape to them.  A word of warning: Some houseplants, like euphorbias, oleanders, and figs (ficus), produce a clear or milky white sap when you prune them. This is normal. Spray the plants with water, or dust the wound with powdered charcoal. Either way, the sap coagulates. (A quick method is to dab a wet sponge over the wound.) The milky sap from many plants is toxic.  Some contain poisons that can be deadly if you swallow them.  Others merely cause a burning sensation in the mouth,  result in rashes, or can irritate your eyes.  Be sure to keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth while pruning, and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.  Some people even wear gloves and goggles when they prune plants with sap.