Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Assess the light levels in the current spot.
- Rotate the pot every week to ensure even growth.
- Prune back the longest stems to reset the shape.
Likely causes
Low light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves. The plant leans heavily toward the nearest light source.
What to do: Move the plant to a brighter area immediately. You can prune the long stems back to encourage the plant to grow fuller and more compact.
Lack of pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant has grown tall and sparse over time without any intervention. It looks top heavy.
What to do: Pinch back the growing tips of the stems regularly. This forces the plant to branch out instead of just growing upward.
Find out what's wrong with your cigar plant
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Some stretching is normal as the plant ages, but it should not look sparse. If the stems are weak and cannot support themselves, it is time to act.
Stopping it coming back
Provide bright light and pinch back the tips of new growth throughout the season to maintain a bushy shape.
Cigar plant: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your cigar plant and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Can I propagate the stems I prune off?
- Absolutely. You can root the cuttings in water or moist soil to start new plants.
- Will the stems fill back in?
- They will not fill in where leaves have already fallen off, but pruning will encourage new growth to sprout from lower down.
More problems with Cigar plant
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.