Hi, do you have a Malabar spinach in your kitchen garden, I must say pruning Malabar spinach has been really helpful for me, though it’s not absolutely necessary. That said, I’ve found it makes a big difference in how the plant grows and how easy it is to manage. Here’s what I’ve learned about pruning and why I think it’s a good practice, let’s find them.
Why I Prune Malabar Spinach?
Encourages Bushier Growth: By pinching back the growing tips, I’ve found that my Malabar spinach grows fuller and bushier rather than getting long and leggy. This gives me more leaves to harvest and helps keep the plant compact, which is especially important because I’m growing it in a pot.
Prevents Overgrowth: Malabar spinach grows really fast, and without pruning, it can quickly get out of control. Pruning helps keep the plant neat and manageable, so I don’t have vines spreading everywhere.
Improves Air Circulation: I’ve noticed that pruning helps with air circulation around the plant, which can reduce the chance of fungal diseases. It’s a simple way to keep the plant healthy especially when you grow your Malabar Spanich indoors.
Better Harvests: By regular pruning, the plant produces more new shoots and more leaves, so I can harvest more often. It’s like encouraging the plant to keep giving.
How I Prune Malabar Spinach?
Pinch Back the Tips: The easiest way I prune my Malabar spinach is by pinching back the tips of the vines. When the plant starts getting too long, I just pinch off the growing tip at the top of the vine. This helps the plant send out more lateral branches, making it grow bushier.
Remove Dead or Yellowing Leaves: I always keep an eye out for yellowing, damaged, or dead leaves and remove them as soon as I spot them. This helps improve the overall health of the plant and keeps it looking neat.
Thin Out Excess Growth: Sometimes, the plant gets so dense that the leaves are crowded. When that happens, I thin out the interior vines to allow lighter and air to reach the centre of the plant.
Harvesting is a Form of Pruning: When I harvest the leaves, I usually cut off the older, larger leaves and leave the younger, tender ones to keep growing. Harvesting also encourages the plant to continue producing fresh leaves, so it’s like a little pruning session every time I pick some!
When I Prune MY Malabar Spinach?
During Active Growth: I usually prune my Malabar spinach during its active growing season, which is typically in spring and summer. This is when the plant is putting out the newest growth, so it recovers quickly from pruning.
Regular Pruning: I try to prune my plant every couple of weeks or whenever it starts to look leggy or overcrowded. Regular pruning helps keep it under control and encourages fresh growth.
Avoid Pruning in Winter: In the winter, I prune less because the plant’s growth slows down. During this time, I mostly focus on removing any dead or damaged parts but don’t do heavy pruning.
Tools I Use for Pruning My Malabar Spinach
Clean Scissors or Pruners: I always use sharp, clean scissors or pruners for pruning. Clean cuts help the plant heal faster and prevent any infections.
Disinfecting My Tools: After cutting away any diseased or damaged parts, I make sure to disinfect my pruning tools to avoid spreading any potential issues to other plants.
What Happens if I Don’t Prune My Malabar Spinach?
Leggy Growth: If I don’t prune, the plant tends to grow long and thin, with fewer leaves. This can make it look scraggly and less productive.
Less Branching: Without pinching back the growing tips, the plant won’t produce as many side shoots, meaning I’ll get fewer leaves to harvest.
Space Issues: If I’m growing it indoors or in a confined space, not pruning can cause the plant to sprawl everywhere, taking up too much room.
I Prune My Malabar Spinach for Propagation
If I want to propagate my Malabar spinach, pruning is a great way to get stem cuttings. I just cut a healthy stem below a leaf node (making sure it’s about 4-6 inches long) and root it in water or soil. This is a great way to grow new plants from my existing ones.
In Summary,
Pruning my Malabar spinach isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s definitely helped keep my plant healthier, more productive, and easier to manage. By regularly pinching back the growing tips, removing any dead leaves, and thinning out overcrowded areas, I’ve been able to encourage fuller growth and maximize my harvests. Plus, it makes the plant easier to handle, especially when growing indoors. If you’re growing Malabar spinach, I highly recommend giving it a little trim now and then—it’ll reward you with fresh, tender leaves all season long!
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.