When taking care of your plants, pruning is just another task that is vastly underrated but very important. You do not have to do this frequently, but you need to every once and a while to make sure your plant is as healthy as possible. It may not seem like the most important thing to do but it definitely has its benefits. Just like getting a haircut, pruning your plants will keep them healthy, neat and tidy. 
Why is pruning your houseplants important?
Too large
As can be the case with the Fiddle Fig Leaf plant, your plants can grow quite large. Depending on the pot your plant is in or the room size, you may need to trim your plants to keep them under control. Also, if you happen to have good lighting for plants, then you may be dealing with lots of overgrowth that needs trimming back!Discolored
If your plant has yellow or brown leaves, they are most likely dead leaves. In order to prevent this from affecting the plant, they need to be pruned off. Check out our guide on Why plant leaves turn yellow to see the different reasons your plant leaves are yellow and if pruning could help. Pruning a plant with shears via https://pxhere.com/en/photo/790951
Dying off
As you have your plants for longer and longer, the plants will eventually start dying off. This is natural but it is important to remove the dead parts of your plant as soon as you can. Pests are attracted to the dead plant matter, so removing it will prevent the pests from harming your plant. Dead leaves lying in the soil is a prime spot for mold to grow so make sure to remove those as well.Timing
Knowing when to prune your plants is almost just as important as pruning them in the first place. For indoor plants, pruning in the late winter or early spring is ideal as this is the start of the growing season. If your plant has flowers, it is smart to do it right after the flowering cycle to ensure you do not cut off any buds. For woody plants, it is good practice to prune dead branches and leaves when you see them.What tools do you need?
First off, you will need to figure out which tool is right for which part of the plant.Scissors
Small Gardening Scissors from Magnolia Network
Sharp scissors can be good for cutting back thinner stems. These parts of the plant are usually spindly and wiry, so scissors should easily be able to cut through.Shears
Hand Pruner/Shear from Gemplers
Shears are good for thicker parts like branches or tree trunks. The curved blade on the shears allows for cleaner cuts.
