Question
I have what I think is a dracanea massangeana, she is 25 years old and is now 2m 40 cm high. She has reached the ceiling and has no more room to grow so I know that she'll need cutting back a bit but I don't know the best place to do it.

How far down from the top of the plant should I trim her?  Where exactly on the stem?  Is there a best time of year to do it?  Do I need to seal the stem after cutting or will it heal?   I'm very nervous as she was my very first plant, but I don't think its going to do her any good pushed up against the ceiling.

Thanks very much in advance for any advice  

Answer
Hi Catherine,

Corn plants can be pruned back to any point on the stem as long as the plant is healthy. The only thing to keep in mind in deciding where to cut is that new leaf growth will emerge on the stem just below where you make the cut and grow up from there. So you decide where you would like to see new growth start to come in and prune it at that point.

Pruning is really quite easy. It can be done at any time of the year using sharp scissors or pruners. The angle of the cut does not matter and you should not put anything on the wound to make it heal - it heals best when exposed to the air. Pruning will never harm the plant - it will only alter its appearance.

So plunge in!

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