If cared for well, dieffenbachias are very fast-growing and can easily reach the size of a small bush. 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 it be pruned?”
How to shorten a Dieffenbachia?
Answer: The Dieffenbachia can be shortened by vigorous pruning. Use a sharp, clean knife and cut the plant about 20 cm above the ground during the main growing season (spring to early summer). Wear gloves as the plant is poisonous.
Keeping Dieffenbachia under control
If space is limited, you can always shorten the Dieffenbachia a little. Only cut out the top few centimeters of the trunk with the leaves.
However, this care measure has the disadvantage that the ornamental plant sometimes grows back even faster.
Strong pruning of the Dieffenbachia
Then it is better to shorten the Dieffenbachia a lot so that it sprouts again from below. The plants cope with this very well and present themselves in new beauty after just a short time.
However, you should not cut at some point, but only during the main growth period. This begins in spring and extends into early summer.
Do the following:
- 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.
- As Dieffenbachia is poisonous and can cause severe skin irritation, wear gloves.
- Cut the plant about twenty centimeters above the ground.
- It is not necessary to treat the wound areas.
What to do with the clippings?
Now you have many offshoots that are ideal for propagation. If you place them in fresh potting soil, small plants will develop within a few weeks. If you don't want to keep them all yourself, they make a lovely gift for plant lovers.
Tip
Sometimes the Dieffenbachia hasn't grown too big yet, but it becomes bald in the lower area. You don't necessarily have to cut the plant back. Dieffenbachias also thrive when planted under, for example, ivy or an ivy plant, which also belongs to the arum family.
