From my perspective, pruning is not an attack but a form of communication. It is how you, my caretaker, speak to me about the shape and future of my growth. When you remove my older, lower leaves or a leggy stem, you are redirecting my precious energy. Instead of spending resources on maintaining parts of me that are not thriving, I can now focus my efforts on pushing out vibrant, new growth from the top and sides, making me fuller and more lush. It is a relief, much like a good stretch after being cramped for too long.
Timing is everything. Please initiate this conversation during my active growing season, which is in the late spring or early summer. This is when the sun is strong, and I am at my most vigorous. I am full of sap and energy, ready to heal any cuts you make quickly by producing new shoots and leaves. Pruning me in my dormant period (autumn and winter) is confusing and stressful. I am resting, my growth has slowed, and a wound will heal very slowly, leaving me vulnerable.
Before we begin, please ensure your tools are clean and sharp. I am susceptible to infections. Using dirty, blunt tools like household scissors can crush my stems and tear my bark, creating a ragged wound that is an open invitation for pests and disease. A clean, sharp pair of pruning shears or a knife will make a precise cut that I can seal over efficiently. Wiping the blades with rubbing alcohol before you start shows me you respect my well-being.
Look for the nodes—those small, bumpy rings on my stems where a leaf attaches. This is where my latent growth points are. When you make a cut, do so just above a node at a slight angle. This angled cut allows water to run off, preventing rot, and signals to the node directly below the cut that it is time to awaken and produce a new branch. If you are pruning to control my height, simply cut the main stem above a node at your desired height. For a bushier look, pinch off the tiny new tip growth at the end of a branch; this encourages lower nodes to activate.
After our pruning session, I will need a little extra care. Please place me back in my favorite spot with bright, indirect light. You may notice a white, sticky sap where you made the cuts; this is my natural latex, which I produce to seal the wound. You can gently wipe it away with a damp cloth. Hold off on watering for a few days to allow my cuts to callus over. In a few weeks, with the right light and care, you will see my response: fresh, new growth emerging from the nodes you left behind, shaping me into a more robust and beautiful version of myself.
