One of the easiest ways to keep pests from attacking your houseplants is to clean them up on a regular basis. Not cleaning up plants will cause them to attract pests and to grow more slowly. They may even die back in the areas that need cleaning up.
#healthyhouseplants #plantcaretips #indoorplants #houseplantpruning #pestprevention
Welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in The Great Indoors! 🌿
If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today, I’m going to talk about why it’s important to keep your houseplants cleaned up.
Besides improving appearance, regular cleanup is essential because it prevents pests and diseases.
Pests are naturally drawn to decaying plant matter, such as old leaves, broken stems, or dying flowers. These parts are already breaking down, making it easier for pests to feed. In nature, pests help decompose decaying plant material—like fallen leaves or branches—so indoors, we want to avoid offering them that opportunity.
If you already have indoor pests—or even just a few—you don’t want to give them a “free meal” by leaving decaying vegetation on your houseplants.
So, keep your plants pruned and healthy. In this video, I’m pruning this plant before repotting. Always prune before repotting, and also inspect your plant for hidden dead leaves. Look around inside the plant, at the top of the soil, and remove anything browning or decaying.
For example, this leaf here is looking a bit brown, so I’ll remove it.
Make a habit of going through your plants regularly. Remove anything that is dying or decaying. For African violets, once the flowers are done, get those out too. (I have a full video on how to prune African violets—linked below—along with related videos.)
So again, why prune regularly?
It prevents pest and disease infections.
It encourages new growth wherever you’ve pruned.
It helps create a balanced and full plant shape.
If a plant has a decaying area for a while, it stops growing there. That part won’t photosynthesize, and energy won’t go to that section—leading to dieback. If you’ve ever waited too long to prune a browning stem, you might have noticed a whole area dying back, and then needing more extensive pruning.
Regular pruning and pinching with sharp pruners keeps your plant growing evenly all around.
Thanks for stopping by!
Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see.
Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and click the bell to be notified of new videos.
Houseplant Cleaning and Pruning FAQs
Why should I keep my houseplants clean and pruned?
Keeping your houseplants pruned not only improves appearance but also helps prevent pests and diseases by removing decaying matter that attracts insects.
What kind of plant material should I remove?
Remove dead or decaying leaves, browned stems, and faded flowers, especially before repotting. Check both inside the plant and the soil surface.
How often should I prune my houseplants?
Regularly check your houseplants for any dying or browning parts and prune as needed to maintain even growth and prevent dieback.
Does pruning help with plant growth?
Yes, pruning encourages new growth by directing energy to healthy parts of the plant, ensuring fuller and more balanced development.
Can dead leaves cause pest problems indoors?
Yes, pests are attracted to decaying matter. Leaving dead leaves or stems can create a food source for them, increasing the risk of infestations.
Patreon: 
/ healthyhouseplants
One-time donation: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g1PCSH
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn commissions for purchases made through the links below.
Microfiber cloths for cleaning houseplants: https://amzn.to/4aBHbKI