Find out how trimming too much houseplant foliage can lead to root rot. Plants that are trimmed excessively will experience root dieback. Also discover what to do if you’ve pruned too much off your houseplant in order to prevent root rot.
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Today’s video is inspired by a viewer question from Get Schwifty Sales. They asked: “Can you explain how trimming too much foliage on top of a plant can cause root rot?” This is a great question, and it does happen.
Here we have a Ficus benjamina as an example. As I often say, don’t trim more than one-quarter to one-third of a plant’s top growth at a time. One reason is that removing too much foliage can actually lead to root rot. Why? Because when you prune a lot of the top, there’s less foliage to absorb and utilize the water taken up by the roots.
Even though you haven’t cut any roots, the root-to-foliage ratio becomes unbalanced. The plant responds by dropping some of its roots—it no longer needs as many, since there’s less foliage above. This is called root dieback. Now the remaining roots are sitting in overly moist soil, which creates the perfect environment for root rot.
If this has already happened to you, don’t worry. You can take action. Repot your plant into a smaller container. A good rule of thumb is maintaining a ratio of two-thirds foliage to one-third pot. This keeps things in balance.
There’s also another useful guideline, especially once root dieback has occurred. You want a ratio of two-thirds root mass to one-third potting soil in the new pot. This helps prevent excess moisture and supports healthy regrowth.
If you’ve recently over-pruned and there hasn’t been root dieback yet, still consider repotting into a container that keeps the two-thirds foliage to one-third pot ratio. For example, if you cut half the foliage from your plant, your current pot is likely too large. In this case, switch to a pot about half the size to maintain that ratio.
It may sound counterintuitive, but downsizing the pot after heavy pruning can save your plant from root rot and promote healthier future growth.
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Ficus Pruning and Root Rot FAQ
How can pruning too much foliage cause root rot?
When you remove too much top growth, the roots no longer have enough foliage to support, leading to root dieback and excess moisture that encourages root rot.
What’s the ideal pruning limit to avoid root rot?
Never prune more than one-quarter to one-third of the plant’s foliage at one time to keep the root-to-shoot ratio balanced.
How do I fix root rot caused by over-pruning?
Repot the plant into a smaller pot using the two-thirds foliage to one-third pot ratio, or two-thirds root to one-third potting soil if root dieback has occurred.
What size pot should I use after over-pruning?
Choose a pot that allows for two-thirds of the plant mass to be foliage and one-third pot. If roots have died back, match two-thirds root mass to one-third soil.
Why does excess soil contribute to root rot?
Too much soil retains excess moisture when root mass is reduced, creating poor drainage and increasing the risk of root rot.
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