The idyllic image of lush hanging plants, cascading from the edge of the pot, isn’t always easy to achieve. At first they grow compact and balanced, but, over time, long stems often appear with leaves concentrated at the tips and the centre becoming increasingly empty.
This unsightly effect is not the fault of the caretaker, but a direct consequence of how these plants grow. Knowing this will not only make you feel reassured, but it’ll help you make better decisions when addressing the “problem”.
To achieve denser, more compact plants, we simply need to carry out some specific care.
Por qué las plantas colgantes se vacían por arriba
Hanging plants tend to grow towards the light and concentrate energy at the tips of their stems. It is a natural behaviour that prioritises survival and spread, but aesthetically it works against you.
As explained by expert Marta Rosique (@planteaenverde) on her social media, “hanging plants tend to grow towards the light and at the tips of the stems,” which causes the central part of the pot to progressively thin out. This directed growth causes the plant to invest resources in lengthening stems rather than branching from the base as we would like.
Over time, the result is a pot with visible gaps, bare stems at the top and leaves only at the tips. Although the plant remains alive and seemingly healthy, it loses volume and appeal.
The oldest (and most effective) trick to restore lushness
Frente a la tentación de abonar más, cambiarla de sitio o resignarse, Marta Rosique defiende un método clásico que sigue funcionando generación tras generación.
“The solution is very simple: cut a few stems and create cuttings,” she says. This gesture, which many plant enthusiasts do not undertake because they fear harming the plant, is precisely what triggers its recovery.
By cutting stems strategically not only is the ungainly look reduced, but a very powerful internal response is triggered. The plant stops concentrating all its energy at the tips and begins to activate lateral shoots, which leads to new branches and a much more compact shape.
When you cut, you break the apical dominance
The success of this trick has a technical explanation. By cutting the stems, you break the so-called apical dominance, a mechanism by which the plant prioritises vertical growth.
In the expert’s words, “in this way you break the dominance and force it to form new branches”. That is, you compel the plant to redistribute its energy.
As a consequence, new shoots appear near the base and along the remaining stems. This not only improves density, but restores the plant’s visual balance. Instead of tall, sparse growth, you obtain a fuller and more homogeneous structure.
Cuttings, the key step to fill in the gaps
The trick doesn’t end with the cut. The stems you remove are not discarded; they are used to make cuttings, i.e., they are rooted and become allies. Those cuttings allow you to fill the sparsely populated areas of the pot. “You can replant them into the bare spots and fill the entire surface,” explains Marta Rosique.
This step is essential to achieve that lush-from-above look sought after in hanging plants. By planting the cuttings in the same pot, you create the impression of a younger, more compact and abundant plant, even though it’s really the same plant, rejuvenated by a well-executed prune.
Cuándo aplicar este truco y qué resultados esperar
This method works particularly well on fast-growing hanging plants, such as pothos, tradescantias, ivies, or hanging philodendrons. There is no need to wait until they are badly deteriorated; the sooner you act, the better the results. In just a few weeks, the change becomes visible.
According to Marta Rosique, “with that trick, within a few weeks you will notice a much bushier and more uniform plant.” The key is not to do it once and forget about it, but to make it part of the regular maintenance. This helps prevent that central gap from reappearing.
