Question

cornplant1  

cornplant2   my plant is more than 12 ft. long, it is getting too big for my house. It is blocking the hand rail, and we have three old people living at this home.

I would like to cut it in smaller pieces, and re-pot them to get it off of the stairs.  My husband has had this plant for over 30 years, and is affraid that if I cut it, it will die.

Please give me some idea what to do to save this plant from breaking or dying.

Answer
Hi Nancy,

It is quite easy to prune back your Dracaena and pruning it will not harm it in any way.

I suggest that you use sharp pruners to cut off the longest stem that is hanging over the stair rail. Cut off approximately 3 to 4 feet or however much you want to remove. New growth will emerge on that cut stem starting just below the pruning cut and grow slowly upward from there.

The top cutting can be shortened further to about two feet and rooted in its own small pot or simply inserted in the base of the existing pot so that you will have two stems in the pot and some growth at the base.

I have written detailed articles on pruning and on Corn Plant care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected]. I have also written an indoor plant care book in a PDF format that I can sell you if you contact me at my email address.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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