How To Prune Money Plant For Lush, Bushy Growth (And More Free

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Is your beloved money plant (Epipremnum aureum) looking a little… leggy? Are you seeing long, trailing vines with leaves spaced far apart, instead of the lush, bushy plant you envisioned? You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common challenges gardeners face with this otherwise easy-going houseplant.

But here’s the good news: the solution is simple, satisfying, and will make you feel like a true green thumb. I promise that by the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to prune money plant with confidence. You’ll not only transform your current plant into a fuller, healthier specimen but also learn the secret to creating countless new plants for free.

We’ll walk through everything together, from why pruning is so crucial to a detailed, step-by-step process. We’ll even cover what to do with those precious cuttings and troubleshoot any issues. Let’s get trimming!

Why Pruning Your Money Plant is a Game-Changer

Before we grab our scissors, let’s talk about the incredible benefits of how to prune money plant. This isn’t just about giving your plant a haircut; it’s a vital part of its long-term health and beauty. Think of it as a spa day for your green friend.

Here’s what a good trim can do:

  • Encourages Bushier Growth: When you snip the end of a vine, you’re removing the “apical bud,” which tells the plant to grow long and straight. This signals the plant to send energy to the dormant buds further down the stem, resulting in new side shoots and a much fuller, denser appearance.
  • Promotes a Healthier Plant: Pruning is your chance to remove any yellow, brown, or damaged leaves. This tidies up the plant and prevents it from wasting precious energy on dying foliage, redirecting that power to new, healthy growth.
  • Controls Size and Shape: Money plants can grow surprisingly fast! Regular pruning keeps them from taking over your shelf or desk, allowing you to maintain the perfect size and shape for your space. You are the sculptor of your plant’s destiny.
  • Creates New Plants (For Free!): This is the best part! Every piece you snip off can be easily propagated in water or soil to grow a brand-new money plant. It’s a wonderful, sustainable way to expand your indoor jungle or share with friends. This is a core part of any eco-friendly how to prune money plant approach.

Gearing Up: The Simple Tools You’ll Need

Don’t worry, you don’t need a fancy toolkit for this. One of the best how to prune money plant tips I can give is to keep your equipment simple and clean. Your plant’s health depends on it.

Here’s your short and sweet shopping list:

  1. Sharp Pruners or Scissors: A clean, sharp cut is essential for quick healing. A dull blade can crush the stem, making it more susceptible to rot and disease. A good pair of bypass pruners or even sharp craft scissors will do the trick.
  2. Rubbing Alcohol or Sanitizer: Before you make a single cut, you must sterilize your blade. A quick wipe with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball will kill any bacteria or fungal spores, preventing the spread of disease to your plant. This is a non-negotiable step in our how to prune money plant care guide.
  3. A Jar of Water (Optional): If you plan to propagate your cuttings (and you absolutely should!), have a small jar or vase of clean water ready to pop them into right away.

The Ultimate How to Prune Money Plant Guide: A Step-by-Step Method

Alright, you’ve got your tools and you’re ready to go. Take a deep breath—this is the fun part! We’re going to follow a simple, four-step process. I’ll walk you through exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Assess Your Plant

First, take a moment to really look at your money plant. Turn it around, gently lift its vines, and get a feel for its overall shape. Where does it look sparse? Which vines are the longest and most “leggy”? Identify any yellowing or dead leaves that need to go.

READ MORE  Chinese Money Plant Yellow Spots On Leaves - Your Complete Guide To

Your goal is to create a more balanced and full shape. Don’t be afraid to be decisive; you’re helping your plant thrive!

Step 2: Sterilize Your Tools

I know I’ve mentioned it, but it’s worth repeating. Take your scissors or pruners and wipe the blades thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. Let them air dry for a moment. This simple action is one of the most important how to prune money plant best practices to ensure a healthy outcome.

Step 3: Make the Cut

This is where the magic happens. To encourage new growth, you need to cut in the right spot. Look closely at a vine. You’ll see small brown bumps or nubs along the stem where the leaves emerge. These are called nodes, and they are where new roots and leaves will sprout.

Here’s how to make the perfect cut:

  1. Identify a long, leggy vine you want to shorten.
  2. Follow that vine down from the tip and locate a leaf node.
  3. Make your cut about a quarter-inch to a half-inch after a node (on the side away from the main plant base).
  4. By leaving the node on the main plant, you’re telling it, “Hey, grow a new branch here!” The cutting you just took also has nodes, which will be used to grow new roots. It’s a win-win!

A good rule of thumb is to not remove more than one-third of the plant’s total mass at one time. A light trim is always better than a drastic chop if you’re feeling nervous.

Step 4: Tidy Up

Once you’ve trimmed back the long vines, do a final pass. Snip off any individual yellow or brown leaves right at their base where they meet the vine. This little bit of housekeeping makes the plant look instantly fresher and healthier.

From Scraps to Saplings: Propagating Your Cuttings

Don’t you dare throw those cuttings away! This is your reward for pruning. Learning how to propagate is a key part of any sustainable how to prune money plant routine. You’re turning waste into new life.

Propagating in Water

This is the easiest and most visually rewarding method. It’s perfect for beginners!

  • Take your cuttings and remove the lowest leaf or two, ensuring at least one or two nodes are bare at the bottom of the stem.
  • Place the cuttings in a clear jar or vase filled with room-temperature water.
  • Make sure the bare nodes are submerged, but try to keep the remaining leaves out of the water.
  • Place the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light.
  • Change the water every 3-5 days to keep it fresh and oxygenated. In a few weeks, you’ll see little white roots begin to sprout from the nodes!

Propagating in Soil

You can also plant your cuttings directly into soil.

  • Prepare a small pot with a well-draining potting mix.
  • As before, remove the lowest leaves from your cutting.
  • For a better chance of success, you can dip the cut end in a rooting hormone powder (this is optional but helps!).
  • Gently push the cut end into the soil, ensuring at least one node is buried.
  • Water the soil lightly and keep it consistently moist (but not waterlogged). Roots will form in about a month.

Money Plant Pruning Best Practices for Year-Round Health

Now that you know the basics, let’s cover a few pro tips to keep your plant looking its best. This is your go-to how to prune money plant care guide for the long run.

When is the Best Time to Prune?

The ideal time for a significant pruning is during the growing season—spring and summer. Your plant has the most energy during this time and will recover and push out new growth quickly.

However, you can perform light trimming and remove dead leaves any time of the year. Your plant will thank you for the cleanup no matter the season.

How Often Should I Prune?

This depends on how fast your plant grows and the look you want. For a super bushy plant, you might do a light trim every month or two during the growing season. For general maintenance, a good pruning 2-3 times a year is usually sufficient.

The “Pinch Back” Technique for Beginners

If a full pruning feels too intimidating, try “pinching back.” Simply use your fingers to pinch off the very newest leaf at the tip of a vine. This does the same thing as cutting—it removes the apical bud and encourages side shoots—but on a much smaller scale. It’s a great way to keep your plant full without a major trim.

READ MORE  Can Pilea Peperomioides Grow Outside - The Ultimate Patio & Balcony

Troubleshooting Common Problems with How to Prune Money Plant

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned. Don’t worry! Here are solutions to a few common problems with how to prune money plant.

My Plant Looks Bare After Pruning!

It’s normal for the plant to look a bit sparse immediately after a good trim. Have patience! As long as you pruned correctly (just after a node), you should see new leaves and shoots begin to emerge within a few weeks. Give it good light and proper water, and it will fill in beautifully.

The Cuttings Aren’t Rooting.

If your cuttings are sitting in water without any action, check a few things. First, did you ensure the cutting has at least one node submerged? The roots grow from the nodes. Second, are you changing the water regularly? Stale water lacks oxygen. Finally, make sure it’s getting enough bright, indirect light.

Yellow Leaves Keep Appearing.

If you’ve pruned away old yellow leaves but new ones keep appearing, the issue might be with your care routine rather than a need for pruning. The most common culprit for yellowing leaves on a money plant is overwatering. Check that the soil is drying out between waterings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pruning Money Plants

Can I prune a money plant that is growing in water?

Absolutely! The same principles apply. Trim the vines to your desired length, making sure to cut after a node. This will encourage the plant to branch out even in a hydroponic setup and keep it from getting too stringy.

How much can I cut back my money plant at once?

A safe guideline is to never remove more than one-third of the plant’s total foliage at a single time. This ensures the plant has enough leaves left to photosynthesize and recover from the stress of pruning.

Will pruning make my money plant grow faster?

Yes and no. It won’t make the individual vines grow longer, faster. In fact, it does the opposite. But it will stimulate the plant to produce more branches and leaves, leading to faster overall growth in terms of fullness and density.

What do I do with the long, leafless vines?

Sometimes you’ll have a long section of vine near the base that has lost its leaves. You can either trim this vine all the way back to the soil to encourage new shoots from the base, or you can try a technique called “pinning.” Gently loop the bare vine back onto the soil surface and use a small pin (like a bobby pin) to hold a node in contact with the soil. Keep it moist, and it may sprout new roots and leaves right there!

Your Path to a Fuller Plant Starts Now!

You’ve done it! You now have all the knowledge and confidence you need. You know why pruning is so beneficial, what tools to use, and the exact step-by-step process to follow. Pruning isn’t just a chore; it’s an act of care that strengthens your bond with your plant.

Remember, the goal is a healthier, bushier plant and the amazing bonus of creating new life from your cuttings. So go ahead, grab your sterilized scissors, and give your money plant the revitalizing trim it deserves.

Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
Latest posts by Rimon Chowdhury (see all)

Similar Posts