How do you prune lemon balm? Trim once a week and it grows more vigorously the more you cut it, plus care tips

Lemon balm is a very popular indoor potted plant; it is not only attractive but also absorbs toxic gases indoors. It is native to the southern coast of the Mediterranean in Europe, and can be found in Europe, Central Asia, North America and Asia, with its main production area in France. The plant is about 50 cm tall, its stems and leaves have a soap-like fragrance, and it bears white labiate flowers. It is heat-tolerant, cold-tolerant and shade-tolerant, tolerant of both drought and waterlogging, and especially tolerant of pruning. In winter it can withstand low temperatures below 0°C, while in summer growth is limited above 30°C, and its most suitable growing temperature is between 10~20°C. Precisely because it grows fast and easily fills out a pot, pruning is the key to keeping it looking good. Below, the methods and care tips are explained all at once.

How do you prune lemon balm? Remember three key points

First, let me put your mind at ease: lemon balm is a plant that grows more vigorously the more you cut it, so there is no need to worry about pruning it wrong. When the environment is suitable, it easily runs wild and fills out the pot, and not pruning it actually affects its appearance, so regular pruning is very necessary.

The specific way to cut: lemon balm grows fast, so during the growing season it is recommended to prune once a week, cutting just above the new leaves on the higher nodes. In summer, when water and fertilizer are abundant, it tends to grow leggy and run wild, so overly long branches and overly dense branches should be cut off; diseased branches and dead branches should also be removed promptly, taking care not to damage the main branches. If the leaves develop black edges or there are old leaves at the base, there is no need to worry; just pull them off directly.

Seasonal notes: in winter it grows slowly, so prune as little as possible, and after pruning place it in a spot with plenty of sunlight; pruning once before the Start of Winter can help it survive the winter safely.

How should watering, light and temperature be managed?

Watering: just water it with clean water or rice-washing water every 3~5 days. If the branches and leaves wilt from lack of water, replenishing water immediately will let it recover quickly; if you want to add fertilizer, an ordinary plant nutrient solution will do.

Light and ventilation: lemon balm likes bright light. If the room has good lighting, just place it in a spot that receives sunlight and keep normal indoor ventilation; if it is a place with poor lighting such as a bathroom or kitchen, after placing it in the room for 72 hours, move it to a spot with plenty of sunlight for 72 hours before putting it back, and rotate it this way. When the weather is not cold, it can also be moved outside to get light and fresh air.

Temperature: it has low temperature requirements. In winter it can withstand low temperatures below 0°C, but in summer growth is limited above 30°C, and it grows best between 10~20°C.

Want to grow a few more pots? Three propagation methods

Lemon balm propagates easily, whether by sowing, cuttings or division. When sowing, the seeds are light-loving, so no soil covering is needed after sowing, and the germination rate is about 50%. For cuttings, choose 5 cm long terminal buds and insert them into a clean medium; they root very easily, and can be transplanted in about 2~3 weeks. However, its leaves are thin, so it must be watered frequently to keep moist and shaded at 50%, otherwise the cuttings will dry out and die before they even root. Division is even easier: the parts of the stems touching the ground easily grow roots, so just cut them off and replant.

To sum up, growing lemon balm is all about frequent pruning, reasonable watering and plenty of light. Do these few things, and even beginners can grow it into a plant with lush foliage that looks great.