With good care, Dieffenbachia are very vigorous and can easily reach the size of a small shrub. At the latest when the plant has grown so large that the upper leaves touch the ceiling, many plant lovers ask themselves the question: "Can the Dieffenbachia be shortened and how should a pruning be done?"
The Dieffenbachia tolerates pruning very well
Keep the Dieffenbachia in check
If space is limited, you can always shorten the Dieffenbachia a little. Only cut out the top centimeters of the trunk with the leaves.
However, this care measure has the disadvantage that the ornamental plant sometimes grows back all the faster.
Heavy pruning of the Dieffenbachia
Then it is better to shorten the Dieffenbachia once, so that it sprout again from below. The plants cope very well and present themselves in new beauty after only a short time.
However, you should not do the pruning at any time, only during the main growing season. This starts in spring and lasts until early summer.
Follow these steps:
- A very sharp knife is suitable as a cutting tool.
- Clean the blade well and disinfect it if necessary, so that no pathogens penetrate through the cut surface.
- Because the Dieffenbachia is poisonous and can cause severe skin irritation, wear gloves.
- Cut the plant about eight inches above the ground.
- It is not necessary to treat the wound surfaces.
What to do with the clippings?
Now you have many offshoots that are excellent for propagation. Put them in fresh potting soil and small plants will develop within a few weeks. If you don't want to keep them all for yourself, they make a nice gift for plant lovers.
tips
Sometimes the Dieffenbachia hasn't grown too big yet, but bare in the lower area. You don't necessarily have to cut the plant back. Dieffenbachia also thrive well underplanted, for example with ivy or ivy, which also belongs to the aroid family.