gasrocks said:Yes, be nice to it and don't shock it any more. Take those plant spikes out of the pot. Does not need them. It will not fill out. Grow on top, yes. Cutting off the top and then planting the top piece is very iffy. Bottom part will put out new growth. Is it ugly to you? Gene
WillC said:Grandma knows best! Dieffenbachias are notorious for growing very tall and then starting to lean and flop over under the weight of their very large leaves.
New growth will only emerge at the end of a stem. It does not branch. By pruning the stems back, you control just how far down the new growth will be. Pruning is the only way to eliminate bare, leggy stems. I prefer to cut the stems back to 6-12 inches above the soil.
Pruning the stems will no more shock the plant than will your getting a haircut shock your system. It will alter its appearance, however. It is a non-seasonal plant so the pruning can be done at any time of year.
Remove the fertilizer spikes, as Gens advised.
The top cuttings can be rooted in water, in separate pots or at the base of the existing plant.
WillC said:Don't worry about the spikes if they are not easy to find.
One or both of the stems can be cut back to a height of 3-4 inches above the soil. New growth will then slowly emerge at that height and grow upward from there.
In addition, you can take the tip cuttings and insert them in the same pot. Eventually, you will have four stems growing from the soil and none of them very tall - more like Grandma's.