How to Prune Curry Leaf Plant (Full Guide)

Curry leaves are a great addition to any curry we prepare in the kitchen. It is a native of Asia and India and is also referred to as Murraya koenigii. It has a wide range of therapeutic characteristics. We need to prune it correctly if we want it to grow stronger, bushier, and better.

Curry leaf plants should not be pruned in the summer or winter; instead, they should be pruned in the spring (temperatures between 40 and 85 °F) or fall (temperatures below 80 °F). To make the plant stronger and bushier, start pruning with a sharp pruner by removing the old leaves and making a clean diagonal cut of at least 1/3 of the plant from the top (branch by 1/3).

I always prune my curry leaf plant every other year in the spring when the temperature is between 40 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit or in the fall when the temperature is below 80 degrees Fahrenheit to promote my plant’s growth of many branches and to produce more leaves for a nice harvest.

In order to provide my curry leaf plant with enough nutrients so that it can grow bushier and stronger, I fertilize it every third or fourth week. Grow on the ground rather than in a pot for quicker development.

Don’t fertilize in the winter because it will be dormant and that will slow down its growth.

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Curry Leaf Plant (Murraya koenigii)

Ever sat down to a bowl of yellow dal from a favorite restaurant and marveled at the subtle, citrusy taste?

Do you want to make herbaceous delights a part of your culinary repertoire? Consider growing your own curry leaves tree at home. The leaves can be used in cooking and are also beautiful as ornamentals.

The plant has a slender bush-like growth structure that makes it stand out in the garden. When you brush the leaves, they emit a pungent, spicy scent. The curry leaf tree, a tropical plant native to India and Sri Lanka, is called the curry leaf tree. It grows in pairs of pointed, oblong leaves.

It also features tubular white flowers in the summer that are extremely fragrant with a sweet, citrus-like fragrance. This plant is great for gardeners who don’t live in tropical regions. It can be grown indoors and outdoors during certain seasons.

It has been a decorative addition to my home for many years.

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What is the Curry Leaf Tree?

Let’s first clarify some things before we get started.

Murraya koenigii is a curry leaf species. It is different from Helichrysum italicum ornamental curry plant. Curry powder is a British invention that has no curry.

Italicum, a member of the daisy family, looks a little like lavender. It has a strong scent and small yellow flowers. However, it is not edible.

The curry leaf plant, also known as sweet neem or curry tree, hails from India. It is part of the Rutaceae family, which includes the rue or citrus families.

In its native tropics, it can reach 20 feet in height at maturity, but in cultivation, it is usually much smaller. There are many varieties and three sizes: regular, dwarf and miniature. All varieties are perennial.

It can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 8-12. If your climate isn’t ideal for miniature and dwarf plants, indoors can be done.

When to prune curry leaves plants

Curry leaves plants should be pruned in Spring (around40F to 85F temperatures) or Fall (below80 F temperature). They shouldn’t also be pruned during summer or winter season.

When the curry leaves plants are very small, pinch the top to encourage more growth.

How to Prune Curry Leaf Plant

Use a sharp pruning tool to remove any old leaves. Make a diagonal cut of at least 1/3rd from the top (branches by 1/3) in order to make the plant stronger and bushier.

The most important thing to do when making curry leaves bushy is to prune the plant branches. Pruning the plant will result in more branches. More leaves can be obtained by pruning.

When the branches are young, pinch the tips to make multiple branches. This will encourage the plant to produce curry leaves quickly and efficiently.

You will harvest more leaves when you harvest them.

For best growth, prune your curry leaves plants in spring. The more you harvest, the bushier the plant will be.

Repoting Curry: Before Pruning, place the plant in a larger pot so it can grow bigger

You are giving your plant enough space to grow if you use the next-sized pot.

Fertilizer is required if your plant was potted more than four months ago.

It will survive at least two winters. It will also be strong enough for the next winter.

After pruning, apply fertilizer to curry leaves plants

Young curry plants should not be given strong fertilizer. Apply fertilizer only to the pot’s rim if you are adding fertilizer.

It can be grown in the ground by adding fertilizer to the canopy of the curry leaves.

For more growth, fertilize your curry leaves plants every 3-4 weeks with a liquid fertilizer.

Keep your foliage healthy by giving 3 tablespoons of iron sulfurate or 1 teaspoon iron chelate every 4 to 5 weeks.

For faster growth of curry leaves, dissolve 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt into 1 liter of water. Then feed the fertilizer. It is best to give it once every three months. This will ensure that the plant has green leaves all through the summer, spring, and fall.

Buttermilk can be used as fertilizer. Diluted curd is the best homemade fertilizer to fertilize curry leaf plants.

For faster growth, plant curry leaves on the ground after pruning

Potted plants have less growth than those that are planted in the ground.

We get more leaves and branches the larger the plant.

Even if the plant is in a pot, or is planted on the ground, it still needs to be fertilized and pruned.

To give your curry leaves plants more energy, Pruning is the next step.

When the flower buds are growing in the branches of the plant, you can remove them.

This conserves the energy of curry leaves and allows for new growth.

If it does, the plant will produce more flowers than leaves (which is not what we want).

Take good care of your winter curry leaves plants after you have finished pruning in spring

1. Winter Dormancy

Winter Dormancy is the term used to describe plants that grow curry leaves.

Winter is the reason why curry leaf plants don’t get enough sunlight.

Chlorosis is when leaves turn yellow. This is a sign that the plant is in Winter Dormancy.

All leaves can fall off the plant when it is colder. This is how to fix it.

Winter Dormancy: Preparing the Curry plant Reduce watering until the winter season’s end

You should reduce the amount of water you give to your plants until the winter season ends.

This will allow the plant to rest in a relaxed state.

2. Move your plant Indoor

You can save curry leaves by moving your plant indoors, or increasing the temperature.

It is better to place the plant in a sunny window and move it indoors. This will provide sufficient sunlight and a warm environment for the plant to thrive.

If the plant is not allowed to be taken indoors, You can cover the root (pot) with a black cover, or anything that increases temperature by five degrees.

3. Temperature increase

Increase temperatures, reduce winter Dormancy, and save curry plants’ leaves.

You can place the curry leaves plant outdoors during the day, and you can bring it inside at night to keep it warm.

You can forget to bring the plant inside and it will die regardless of how well you take care. Be careful not to forget.

You must take care of your curry plant if there are no leaves and the stem is gone. The plant could die if it is not taken care of.

The best way to increase the temperature is to move your plant indoors and give it enough sunlight by placing it near a window.

To reduce the temperature of the plant by five degrees, cover it with a black covering.

Ask a friend to care for your plant while you’re away or on vacation.

4. Use warm water to replace the cold.

This will keep the curry leaves warm.

2. Reduced Sunlight Exposure

If you provide less sunlight, curry leaves can curl and bend down.

Experts recommend that curry leaves be grown in full sun and at temperatures above 40F for best results.

When we take into account the climate conditions, the Curry leaf plant will experience a shorter winter dormancy.

A curry plant is susceptible to cold temperatures so it needs to be given enough sunlight.

You should consider providing artificial white light to your plants if you live in cold climates.

3. Lower Temperature

If the temperature of the plant’s atmosphere drops, then the leaves can snap, bend down and drop all their leaves. These leaves are vital for the plant’s survival during winter.

How to solve the low-temperature problem in Curry plants. Avoid overwatering plants

We have already discussed the importance of reducing watering during winter. The plants will be at rest.

You should not cut back on watering curry leaf plants. Root rot can occur and the plants could eventually die.

1. Use hot water instead of cold

To increase the temperature of your plant, heat some water.

2. Indoor plants are best.

As we have discussed, you should move your plants indoors when it is warm enough to plant. Or keep the pot covered with a black cover to reduce the in-plant temperature.

3. Provide enough sunlight or artificial lighting

You can revive a plant that is experiencing low temperatures by giving it enough sunlight.

Also, avoid shining too bright light on the plants as this can shock them. You should gradually increase the amount of light.

4. Fertilizing.

Fertilizer is required if your plant was potted more than four months ago.

It will survive at least two winters. It will also be strong enough for the next winter.

Consider these things when you are repotting your curry leaf plant.

For a pot to drain well, we need to use a quality potting mix.

When repotting, you should also consider the next size pot and ensure it has drainage holes at the bottom.

Use sanitized tools when pruning roots. Otherwise, your plants could be affected by an old plant that had a disease.

Use Baked salt or Epsom Salt twice a month to fertilize the plants for better results

5. Over-watered (How to Fix Overwatered Curry leaf Plant)

Root rot is most common in curry leaves that have been over-watered. Root rot can be caused by frequent watering.

Root rot is caused by not allowing the water to drain out of the soil, or if there isn’t a proper drainage hole in a pot. This will eventually cause the plant to die.

1. Prepare the Curry Leaf Plant

Take the plant out of the pot. Clean-cut any roots that are brown or rotten.

Allow the plant to rest for a few days so that the roots can heal.

2. Repot with the right soil

You must clean the container before you plant the soil.

You should boil your soil first before you plan to plant old soil. This kills any bacteria that could be harmful to plants.

You can pot the plant with a well-drained potting mix.

3. Limit water supply to plants until roots heal

After you have planted, wait at least one week before you water. Roots need to heal and adapt to the new environment.

4. Provide enough sun to maintain the temperature

Place your new pot inside. Give it plenty of sun. Don’t leave the plant unattended.

6. Not enough water

Curry leaf plants that are not well-watered look like yellow, bent leaves.

You should not prune leaves that are yellow, even if they aren’t.

Tips:

• To improve the growth of your Curry leaf plants, add a tablespoon of Epsom salt (which is magnesium-rich) or baked salt to yogurt or 1 gallon water twice per month (every 15 day). Overdosing can cause the plant to burn. This is what my grandmother taught me.
• Buttermilk can be fed to plants during the warmer months to increase growth (when there isn’t mold).
• To grow healthy, you can remove the seed-bearing portion.

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FAQ

Natural fertilizer that will grow curry leaves

Buttermilk or diluted curd is the best fertilizer to use for curry leaf plants. For best results, it is important to wait for the soil to dry completely before adding fertilizer. Mix two tablespoons of sour cream in one gallon of water and then pour it into the base of your curry leaves the plant.

How to prune curry leaves

The best time to prune curry leaves is in spring (40F to 85F temperatures) or fall (below 80 F temperatures). Summer and winter should not be used. To make your plant stronger and bushier, start by removing any old leaves.

Why is my curry leaf plant not growing

Curry plants Winter dormancy, cold temperatures, and insufficient sunshine are all contributing factors in plants’ inability to develop. Poor soil and excessive or insufficient watering of plants are additional causes. In general, these plants develop slowly.

How can you grow curry leaves quicker?

Pruning is essential to growing curry leaves quickly. This encourages the growth of multiple branches and allows for more leaves to be harvested. To give the plant enough nutrients, fertilize (liquid fertilizer), every 3rd-4th week. You can encourage faster growth by placing your curry leaves plant in a ground pot instead.

What is the best time to prune the curry leaf plant

The curry leaves plant should only be pruned in spring (40F to 85F temperature), or fall (below 80 F temperature). It shouldn’t be pruned during summer or winter. To make your plant stronger and bushier, start by removing any old leaves.

Conclusion

The curry plant is a great houseplant or garden plant. It also makes a delicious addition to your cooking. The brightly colored leaves and lush flowers are a wonderful addition to any herb garden or ornamental garden.

The flavor of the leaves is another important aspect. You won’t realize what you are missing until you have tried a leaf fresh in your mouth and tasted the crisp green bursts of citrus. You can grow curry leaves at home and enjoy the many benefits that this plant offers all year.

Have you ever tried pruning curry leaves plants? Please share your stories in the comments!