Rejuvenate Leggy Houseplants with Air Layering
Turn that leggy houseplant back into a beautiful indoor plant with air layering.
Leggy dieffenbachias and dracaenas are a common sight in many indoor gardens. Successfully improve the appearance of these and other thick stemmed plants by air layering them back into beautiful specimens.
Simply cut halfway into the stem just below the lowest leaf. Prop open the cut with a toothpick, sprinkle with a rooting hormone and pack with moist sphagnum moss. Cover the area with plastic.
Continue to provide proper care and watch for white roots to appear in the plastic covered area.
Once roots appear, remove the plastic and cut the stem below the rooted stem. Then plant the top, roots and all, in a well-drained potting mix. You now have a shorter more attractive plant. And save the original plant by cutting it down to several inches above the soil.
A bit more information: Create more plants from leggy dieffenbachias with cane cuttings. Once the leafy top is removed, cut the remaining stem into 2-inch sections. Fill a shallow container or flat with a well-drained potting mix. Lay the cuttings on their side, with the bud facing upward. Cover the bottom half of the cane cutting and water. Place in a bright location, keep soil moist and watch for sprouts in the next month.
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