Help, Dieffenbachia needs assistance

Good Afternoon:



My name is Anita, and I was given this plant by my boss. I was supposed to take it home to Pennsylvania but it was too big for me to put in my husband’s car. I decided to keep it at the office. It started out being one large plant and we cut it in half and place the stem part in water. About a couple of months passed, it rooted. We planted it in a large pot. We cut it in half again and did the same thing we did the first time. This is the same plant that we cut so many pieces from. Now I need serious help because I do not know what to do. This is the first time dealing with plants and I have become good with them except now.





I have a couple of questions that I would like to ask of you.



1) Picture 035: Can I cut back where the limb is coming out from the stem of my dieffenbachia?

2) Picture 034: In this picture, I would like to know if I should cut the pods from the plant and plant it in its own pot?

3) Picture 027: As you can see, in photo I have a thick stem, and three stalks growing out of the soil, can I remove them and plant them in its own pot without killing the plant?

4) Picture 029: There is a limb that is growing out of the stem, can I cut the stem below the limb and place in water to root?



Thank you so much for taking time out to read my email and to give me tips.

I could not send the other images regarding the questions above. Sorry

I was not allowed to add all of the pictures taken. I will try to send them one by one.

You're doing it correctly. Reply to your posting and add pics as you get them.

Here's another one.

last one

Thanks Kwanjin, have a good day

Blu: I don't know why no one tried to answer your questions when you first posted this last month and I'm not sure if I'm understanding all of your questions correctly but I will try to help.

I have grown Dieffenbachia's over the years and find them very easy to propagate. I have cut branches/stems in half and rooted them and even cut one branch into five or six pieces and rooted them.

Although I root some plants in water, I've never tried rooting Dieffenbachia that way so I can't really offer advice on that method. Sometimes plants rooted in water, will form thin, watery roots and it is difficult to acclimate them to soil when you decide to pot them up but if it's worked for you in the past, then you are doing good.

Your second question was about pods and I'm not sure what you mean by pods?

In the photo where you have three stalks growing out of the soil, they may well be separate plants with roots of their own, and you definitely can pot them up separately.

Good luck with your lovely plant and don't hesitate to ask more questions if you need to.

I didn't know she posted this....By pods I am assuming you mean where it looks like a flower or leaf is coming out.....that is all that is...new leaves...if you want to cut them, then cut them at least 2" below the "pod" so you have enough to stick in soil...or water....whichever method works for you....your doing good as it is, from what we can tell, just be aware every cutting will need a pot, and every pot will need a home, which is how I ended up with over 200 houseplants...so if you like alot of plants then by all means cut away..and if you have too many of one type and want something different use the trade list to list what you have.....and when in doubt ASK! oh if only I knew about this site long ago...well I'd probably have twice as many plants! But maybe so many of the pricier ones wouldn't have died...Happy growing!

Thanks so much for the insight Plantladylin and Trinawitch. I really appreciate the feedback.