Did you know May 4 was Greenery Day? This Japanese national holiday fosters an appreciation of nature. In honor of Greenery Day, nature, and the fact that spring is here, we have tips for you to give your houseplants the TLC they deserve.

When you keep indoor foliage and succulent houseplants in your home, you know pruning can be a bit of a chore. It can also be really anxiety-inducing if you don’t know which parts of the plant to prune and what still looks healthy! We’re here to give you some pruning tips for your succulents and foliage plants from the Miles collection.

Why Prune Houseplants?

Pruning houseplants helps conserve energy in your plant. Why waste time sending energy to a wilted leaf or a dying vine, when you could save it up to grow a new, healthy leaf instead? Pruning sends a message to your plant to conserve energy for new growth (a very good life lesson, in our opinion).


How to Prune Houseplants

If your plant’s leaves are dried and blackened, droopy, yellow or discolored, or otherwise damaged (accidents happen, no judgment), simply snip off the affected area with clean scissors. If the whole leaf is bad, cut the leaf off at the base, taking care to not damage the main stalk.

For succulents, you can usually tell an unhealthy leaf right away on sight. They’ll either be over-plump and soggy from overwatering or dried up and crispy from underwatering. Remove succulent leaves from the bottom up. A slight pull should remove dying leaves easily, or you can cut them off with a clean knife. Avoid removing the very top of the succulent.

How to Dust Houseplants

If you notice your plant’s leaves are dusty or dirty, give them a quick shine! Water and a clean cloth is all you need. Just dampen your cloth (microfiber works great, but any washcloth or even a paper towel will do) and wipe the leaves gently to remove dust.

Happy Growing!

If you prune and shine your plants this week, send us a photo on Instagram! We can’t wait to see what you’ve done with the place.