How to stop a plant getting too big

A plant growing tall and bushy is something many plant parents celebrate. It means your plant is really happy and loving life. Sometimes, though, you may think a plant has got a bit too big for its spot or it’s threatening to turn your whole home into a jungle. 

If you’d prefer to keep your plant compact, there are a few things you can do:

• Prune it, cutting off any bits you don’t want
• Move it into a spot with lower light
• Divide it, if it’s a plant that divides well
• Move it somewhere more suitable
• Send it to a new home

The simplest way to reduce the size of a plant is to prune it, which means cutting back its growth until it’s a size you’re happy with. You’ll need some secateurs to make neat cuts. Read our complete guide to pruning here. 

Keep in mind that you’ll need to prune your plant regularly, as it will want to reach its full height again.

A plant in bright light will grow quicker than one in lower light. If you want to slow down the rate of growth, you could move a plant slightly further from a window.

However, you should only move it a very small amount. A plant with less than perfect light conditions will still grow, but more slowly. A plant that’s not getting enough light to survive will suffer and eventually die.

Some plants, like ferns and peace lilies, can be split into multiple plants when they get too big. You’ll need to take them out of their pot and divide the roots, which is much easier than it sounds. See our guide here.

Once divided, you’ll have smaller plants, which you can either use elsewhere in your home or give to friends.

A plant that’s too big for its original space may be perfect if moved somewhere new. One of the joys of plants is that you can rearrange them at will. Before deciding a plant is too big, consider whether it just needs somewhere new to shine.

If a plant has outgrown your home, consider giving it to someone who will love it and give it the space it needs.

It’s a fun thing to swap plants and we can guarantee you that someone will be thrilled to receive the plant you no longer want.