Pruning a Tall Janet Craig Dracaena

My 'Janet Craig' dracaena has reached about 7 feet tall and is healthy, but it leans against a wall to stay upright. Can I cut it back to 2 or 3 feet?

Answer

Yes, you can prune it back as long as you leave some foliage below the cut. The plant will produce a new shoot near the cut end, though it may look a bit sparse until the new growth fills in. The fact that it needs support suggests the pot is too small for the top growth. Repotting into a larger container will encourage even taller growth unless you also prune the canopy.

You can propagate the removed top section by air layering. Wrap the stem with moist sphagnum moss and plastic for 2–4 weeks to encourage roots before severing it from the parent plant. Once roots form, pot the cutting in a well-draining potting mix. Search online for "air layering" for detailed instructions.

Good luck!