Question
I am inquiring about cutting back a "corn plant". I am unsure of its name,however it looks like a large dk.green corn stalk. It has reached the ceiling and I would like to cut it back but I would like to re-root the piece that I take off. What is the correct way to do this. I tried it with a variegated version but it didin't survive. Any advice would be extremely helpful and much appreciated. Thanks Kathy

Answer
Kathy,

You should have done it in the spring between April 15th and June 15th, that is the best time of year to do it when the days are getting longer and the roots are actively growing. Purchase a bottle of rooting hormone at your nearest garden center. Cut off at least a 2-3 foot section of the plant, remove the lower leaves, dip the cut end in the rooting hormone in a small bowl. insert the cutting in a fresh pot of soil. Treat the cutting just like you treat the plant you cut it off of. Water it whe the soil is toatally dry. Do not keep it excessively wet. It should root within 6-8 weeks. Good luck.

Darlene