Pruning Alternanthera is a relatively simple process. It is important to cut the plant back to a node, which is the area where a leaf meets the stem. This will stimulate new growth. It's also important to keep in mind that there are two types of nodes: apical and axillary. Apical nodes are located at the tips of stems and axillary nodes are located on lateral branches. Pruning should always be done at apical nodes, but axillary nodes can be used for aesthetic purposes or for creating new plants from cuttings.