Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost
Answer from DaisyIAugust 26, 2017
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) does need good bright light (not sun) and water when the soil is dry an inch down. You can cut off its head to force it to branch but that is up to you. The stem will never be bushy and leafy. New branches will grow just below where ever you choose to cut but not lower down. After cutting, the plant may grow between 1 and 3 new branches at the top of the stem.
You can start new plants from the part you cut off and add them to your pot making the plant appear bushier. Cut the section you take off into pieces, leaving 2 or 3 nodes on each piece. Let the newly cut pieces sit overnight then plant them. If you remember which end was down on the mother plant, you can plant that end down. If you don't remember, plant the piece on its side just barely under the surface of the soil.
The pot size looks right to me. |
Name: Will Creed
NYC
Prof. plant consultant & educator
A comment from WillCAugust 27, 2017
| I endorse all that Daisy explained. Pay close attention to: " New branches will grow just below where ever you choose to cut but not lower down." That means that if you cut off just the top portion, you will still be left with a tall, bare lower stem. I think you are much better off cutting the stem about 6 inches above the pot. That will eliminate most of the bare stem and if you improve the light and watering, it will soon grow taller but will maintain more of its leaves along the lower stem. When Dieffenbachias get very tall, their stems tend to lean and bend under the weight of their leaves, so growing them really tall isn't such a great idea. |
