How to prune costus woodsonii

Year-round for dead stem removal; early spring for shaping. Use clean, sharp shears to cut spent or dead canes down to soil level. To thin a congested clump or control height, remove the oldest or tallest canes at the base in spring. Leave healthy canes intact — new growth and flowers emerge from these.

As needed for dead growth; light shaping once a year in spring. Costus woodsonii (Red Button Ginger) is a robust tropical that needs only light maintenance pruning. Remove dead, damaged, or spent flowering stems at the base throughout the year. To maintain a bushy appearance, cut any excessively tall or congested canes back to the base in early spring. No heavy pruning is required for healthy plants.

Use clean, sharp shears to cut spent or dead canes down to soil level. To thin a congested clump or control height, remove the oldest or tallest canes at the base in spring. Leave healthy canes intact — new growth and flowers emerge from these.