Question
dumbI have a huge diefenbachhia/dumb cane, I have  been growing from a stem, for about 3 years now. It is now about 10 feet tall and hitting the ceiling and the upper leaves are curling as it knows it is cramped. How do I cut it back? The stems are very thick, about 2 3/4 inches in diameter, almost 6 in. in circumference. The leaves on  are very large 20"long by 10" wide. It has grown quite full, no bare spots on the stem. It must really like the environment here.
thanks
Dawn

Answer
Dawn,

Air layering is the safest way to take the top off the plant if you want to guarantee you can use the top portion as another plant. If your plant grew that large that fast you have it in too lare a pot and you must be fertilizing it a lot. I reccommend that you air layer the top 3 feet off first and put it in the same pot beside the original plant.

Air layering instructions are at the following website: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/ornamentals/airlayer/airlayer.html

After that you can air layer another three feet section off and put it in the pot also and have 3 plants in 1 pot. That will slow the growth of all of them and they will not grow to the ceiling so quickly. Each section will grow a new top including the old base of the plant. Good luck. If you have more questions feel free to write again.

Darlene