Question
Dear Ms. Kittle,  I have a 7 year old plus dumb cane that is touching the ceiling. I was told that i could cut it back, and it would be just fine.It is a very healthy plant with 12 leaves. Is this true? How do i go about it ? I dont want to mess up my plant.  Thank you.  Roger Austin

Answer
Roger,

This is a fairly typical problem. The best way to cut it back is to air layer it. Doing this you end up with 2 plants. A new one from the top part and your old original one will sprout new leaves and grow toward the ceiling again. You can find full instructions for air layering dieffenbachias at this site:http://www.thegardenhelper.com/Dieffenbachia.html

If you are not worried about rooting the top part you just pick a good point just above a leaf and cut with a sharp knife. You can at that point dip the part you cut off into rooting hormone and insert it in a new pot of soil and you have a 50/50 chance that it will grow. What do you have to loose? The top will make a nice gift for a friend if you don't have a place to use it.  Just treat the bottom as you always have and it will be a beautiful plant again in short order. Good luck.
                                   Darlene