Question

heavy leaf plant   I received this plant a year ago when it was very small. It has grown very big and overlapped the container. I don't know it's name, and I'm not sure if I need to re-pot it into a different type of pot. I had it growing on a book shelf near a window.

The stem is very thin as it comes out of the ground, but looped and spiraled around to a thick stiff stem with heavy leaves. I'm afraid it will break off. What should I do?

There are also long dark stem emerging from beneath some leaves. What should I do with those? Can I cut some off and get them to grow roots?

Answer
Heather,

I have the same plant and I have never been able to identify it except to say that it is in the wandering jew family. Like wandering jew it looks better if you have several in a pot together, either in a hanging basket or in a pot on a plant stand or pedestal.

To start it from a cutting you need to cut off about half of that main stalk. Remove the lower leaves and dip the cutting in rooting hormone then insert it in the soil beside the old base. It will grow roots and the old plant will grow 2 new tops. As they all grow you can take more cuttings until your pot is full. Then as the plant outgrows the pot you can take more cuttings and fill another pot to either give away or to replace the original as it gets old and not as attractive.

The thin stems will eventually become larger stems or flower stalks. You can leave them on the plant to develop or take them off. It is optional. Good luck.

Darlene