Question
My diffenbachia is getting away from me.  the largest one has gone up to the ceiling, around the corner and across the ceiling at the top of the wall to the next corner about 20 feet now.  The next largest one seems to be racing to catch up.  There are 4 of them coming up from the same large pot.  It obviously likes the amount of light it's getting, it is across the room from the windows.  There are 56 leaves on them now.  It reaches for the light but I hold them back and up with rope from hooks in the ceiling near the wall.  I'm wondering if I were to cut the big ones up into sections say 8 to 10 inches long, and potted each section, would each of them start a new plant?    Thx.   Joe Stover

Answer
Hi Joe,

The short answer is yes.

Any stem section can be rooted as long as there is at least one node in contact with water or moist soil and at least one other node exposed to the air.

A node is the ring on a stem where a leaf formerly was attached to the stem. It is from these nodes that either roots or new leaves emerge.

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

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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