A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum plant ID and care help

My roommate moved out and abandoned her plants... I have no idea what they are but I have tried to care for them as best as I can (very little knowledge here) I was sitting here one afternoon and the plant actually fell over onto the floor, it bent at the base of the plant and landed like a tree being chopped down. I stood it back up as well as possible (leaning against a wall) and watered it... It seemed to revive a bit but still leaned. I then decided it needed a bigger pot (there were 6 plants in the pot with it) After repotting it with new potting soil it still seems to be leaning. I have a few pics as you can see before and after repotting. I also have no idea of the smaller plants that were also in the pot. There was an ivy that was dead and I threw that out but these spiky things seem to be thriving.









thanks everyone for your help

Welcome, hokieyank.
The big one is a Dieffenbachia or dumbcane plant. And the spiky ones are Dracaena marginata.
You can find the care of the Dieffenbachia by clicking here.

thank you for the help that is a big start for me... does anyone have any insight as to why it is leaning??

If you read that link I added, you should see that they naturally get top-heavy. You will either need to stake it or cut it back. But it is basically a healthy plant so you should do well.

Once again thank you... sorry if I jumped to soon on asking but I just dont want to lose the plant... thanks again

You didn't jump in too soon here - no worries. I have lots of those draceanas, and the reason I have many is that I cut the tops off when they get too long and scraggly and either pot up the piece I cut off in the same pot, or start a new pot. Usually I get one or 2 plants sprouting at the top of where it was cut off as well.

Good luck with your newfound plants!

For now I have it staked like a tomato plant. I have been reading on different pages on the best way to cut it down re pot it. I just put it in the current pot with all new miracle grow potting soil. any tips you can provide would be appreciated. I am very nervous about cutting the top off my plant it seems like I would be killing it. thanks again