Prune with a purpose

Use clean, sharp tools

Disinfect blades before moving between plants, especially when disease is suspected. Make a decisive cut rather than crushing the stem. Know whether the plant branches from a node before choosing the cut point.

Start with damaged growth

Remove dead leaves, collapsed stems and tissue that cannot recover. Brown leaf tips can be trimmed cosmetically, but the underlying watering, salt, humidity or root issue still needs attention.

Do not remove too much at once

Heavy pruning reduces the plant’s ability to make energy. Spread major shaping over time, especially for a stressed or recently moved plant.

Inspect while you prune

Check leaf undersides and stem joints for scale, mealybugs, mites or thrips. Isolate a suspicious plant and use only treatments whose labels match the plant and pest. Apply neem and other oils in the evening only—never in sunlight or daytime heat—and test one leaf before treating the whole plant.