I have a corn plant that I just recently wanted to shorten, so I cut the two shoots that produce leaves(as directed by a web site) to make another shorter plant. I put the clippings in soil to root (as directed), but it's been a little over a week and the bottom leaves are starting to yellow, and the tree looks wilted.(keeping soil moist not soggy) Should I cut more of the stock off the clippings and try to root in water first(which I've started doing), or should I cut the tops off the clippings and start the plant over. I wanted to keep some of the height, but I don't want to sacrifice the whole plant for height. There are no noticable nodes anywhere on the the plant, not even the original trunk which I was told would also regrow after the cutting. Is this true, or should I throw out the trunck(pic 3). Any ideas to help this plant stay alive? Thank you in advance, Stephanie p.s. the first pic is of the cuttings, the second pic is how I tried rooting in soil, and the thrid pic is the maine stock the clippings were cut from. I have since transfered the shoots to a jar of water to root as you can see in the first pic. Will the main stock sprout, and will the clippings live and how? I have also moved the plant from a sunny, warm, southside window where it has been for two years, back to the well lit cooler northside window since the clipping. The plant spent most of it's life in the warm well lit areas until it grew too big...I just wonder if, sunny and warm is too much for it right now while it's using energy to regenerate? The cooler area is not drafty just out of the direct, afternoon, south side sun. I know this is a lot of info...I just keep thinking of things as I go
roots aren't going to start growing within a weeks time in soil and disturbing it to check to see what's happening is only going to extend the process. moving it to a completely new location that has different light and heat conditions, than it's used to, will just add to the stress it's already going through with being pruned (all plants will do some bit of drooping and/or losing leaves after pruning or repotting as well as when changing lighting or heat conditions). i'd let it dry out from being in the water, repot it and put all containers back in the previous location - maintain the same watering schedule (that you had before doing this split) for the original stalk and put the new cuttings on the same schedule. the cut pieces will send out roots and the original piece will send out new shoots...it will take a bit of time though. for future, wait until a little further along in spring before doing things like re-potting or cutting to start new plants...most things are just starting to come out of whatever dormancy they go into for winter (some only go partly dormant and others completely), so, doing your pruning now is a bit early. so, just a little patience - every piece will get re-situated; just doesn't happen over night :)
Thanks so much for your reply... I really didn't expect that it would be rooted by now:)...I reverted to what I know has worked on clippings of other plants in the past and that is putting them in water to root then transplanting. I paniced :o when I saw the clippings wilting and yellowing...I thought for sure it was starting to rot. I will use your advice and put it back in the soil and it's location and leave it alone...I don't mind waiting I just didn't want to wait until it was too late and I killed it before I asked for help. Do you think I should make a fresh cut to the bottom of the shoots before I return them to the soil? Thanks again for your help and prompt reply Stephanie :)
a fresh cut wouldn't hurt - you can also dip the end in rooting hormone. that should help jumpstart the new roots to get started growing. the wilting would be somewhat normal since you topped it off to make a new plant...moving it to completely different growing conditions right afterward just aggravated the situation. yes, most regular plants can be rooted in water quite successfully. most succulent types are best rooted in soil and most things that have stalks, like your draceana, do best when rooted in soil. it's all just one of those 'learn as you go' things. you did the right thing...when in doubt ask a question... there are plenty of folks around here that have really good experience/knowledge and we're always willing to help!!
in the second pic.... theres some darkining of the stems. Give it a light squeeze. If its soft, you have over watered the stems and they have cane rot. I think you may be able to try rooting a dence piece. Can any one enllighten us?
How long are the cuttings? I'd cut them to about 10 inches, dip in Rootone or similar, place in a large baggie with a cup or two of potting soil in the corner. (dependes how big around these cuttings are) and use a clothes pin or something and just clip the corner opposite the soil to the edge of the mother pot. Leave the top of the baggie mostly open and put it all back in it's happy (same) location. On or near the top of the original stem eventually you should see one possibly two new shoots. The Dracaena family is very easy to reroot this way. barb
Sorry...that was deceiving...I had just pulled it out of the jar of water. That was the wet part of the stalk.
No it wasn't soft at all... I was mostly worried about the yellowing of the leaves, but I keep cutting off the ones that yellow, and so far since I've planted it back in the soil and put it back where it was, the yellowing has slowed down. It still looks a little weepy on the bottom leaves, but the top looks great. Only time will tell. Tks for your concern and help
the loss of the leaves would definitely be something to expect to happen since the stalk doesn't have roots to feed the plant at the moment. if the yellowing has slowed/stopped, then planting it in the soil when you did was soon enough after the water-dip to avoid damage...i'm sure you'll be seeing new growth at the top within a month - the roots will have formed by then and the plant will go back to spending time making new leaves rather than making roots. please post pics again in a month or two so we can see the progress of all the pieces!
I've been wondering lately about when you take a cutting, and there is the inevitable leaf loss during the rooting process. Is it possible that the plant is using the nutrients from the leaves that are dying, to produce roots? If this is the case, then should you leave the yellowing/dying leaves on the plant until they dry up and shrivel, to help promote faster/healthier root development?
you will loose leaves, and it will look bad for a few weeks. They almost always, if done properly, come back.
