How to keep your houseplant small?

As plant parents, we strive to ensure our green friends thrive, but sometimes the space in our urban jungles is limited. You might be wishing that your plants stay the exact size as they were when you bought them. While plants are naturally inclined to grow, there are effective strategies to keep them smaller. Curious about how to achieve this? Let’s dive into some practical tips!

Pruning

Pruning is one of the most direct methods to control your plant's size and shape. Regularly trim back excess growth to maintain the desired size. Be cautious though, pruning too much can stress the plant, potentially stunting its growth. While a bit of stress can be beneficial in keeping the plant small, excessive pruning might affect flowering or overall health. Aim for a balanced approach, prune moderately to shape the plant without causing harm.

Light conditions

The amount of light your plant receives significantly influences its growth rate. If your plant is positioned in bright light, try moving it slightly away from the window. Less light will naturally slow down growth. However, be careful not to move it too far, as insufficient light can lead to leggy growth with elongated stems and smaller leaves. A distance of about one metre from a bright window is often ideal for slowing growth without negatively affecting the plant’s health.

Type of plant

Some plants, like the Syngonium, are known to grow really fast! If you have a small spot for a plant, you can opt for a plant that grows slowly naturally. Some plants with a slower growth rate include ZZ plant, Snake plant, Pile, Cacti, Tillandsia, Peace lily and Ficus.

These plants naturally grow more slowly, making them ideal choices if you’re looking to manage plant size effectively.

Repotting

Typically, when repotting, it’s recommended to choose a pot that is about 20% larger than the previous one to accommodate the plant’s growth. However, if you want to keep your plant small, you can opt for a pot of similar or only slightly larger size. Avoid drastic increases in pot size to prevent encouraging excessive growth. Monitor your plant for signs of being root-bound and only repot when absolutely necessary.

And those are our tips for keeping your houseplants small. Are you going to try them out at home? We’d love to hear how these tips work for you! Share your green friends on Instagram by tagging us with #PLNTS, so we can see your plants in the spotlight. Feel free to explore our other blogs, there might be a topic that interests you. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, and we hope the rest of your day is absolutely wonderful!