Question
I would like to know how to prune an indoor pothos. I intially just cut the stem, and the stem turned brown, which led me to believe that I was completly wrong. I have now cut the stem just before a leaf (there is a node underneath the leaf)..is this the right way of doing it? thanks

Answer
Hi Martina,

Let me make sure you understand some basic principles first.

When you prune a Pothos vine, new growth will emerge just below the point of the stem where you make the pruning cut. Thus, if you prune off just the last two inches of a stem, for example, then soon that two inches will be replaced with two inches of new growth and you are right back where you started. Thus, it is better to prune a stem or vine way back to within a few inches of the soil. That way you will get new growth in the center of the plant and closer to the pot.

The node is the little bump that appears where the leaf stem joins the main stem or vine.

When you prune, it is best to cut the stem just above (after) the node or just past the last leaf that you want to remain on that vine. The idea is to leave as little visible stem stub as possible.

When you cut a healthy Pothos vine, the cut end will turn brown where it heals over. But that should be limited to the very end of the cut stem. If a lot more of the stem turns brown, then that probably means that the stem is not healthy.

If you plan to root the cuttings, then remove the leaf from the lowest node of the cutting and make sure that the lowest node is in constant contact with water or damp soil.

Nodes are remarkable because they can produce either new growth when left attached to the plant or roots when severed and left in contact with moisture.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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