I have a Draceana that my husband gave me for Mother's Day 18 years ago!! It has flourished longer than I ever thought it would, but recently the leaves have started to turn brown and fall off. It is looking very scraggly. Prior to this occuring my husband was setting the plant outside on the porch. I am afraid it may have been to hot for it. I have gone ahead and cut it down, putting the cuttings in water to root. Is this correct?? Also, should I take some stem cuttings??? thank you so much for any help in this matter

If you are taking cuttings, maybe a rooting agent, or hormone, can speed that up.
As a matter of fact, just today, I went out to the hardware store and bought a rooting agent for my aloe, who's root system has seemed to fail... I've heard that this stuff is very good to use: Rootone
This is what I bought. It's cheap, and, like I said, supposidly very effective.

Good luck!

--Mark--

18 years? WOW that beats my personal record of 16 years!!

rather than stem cuttings, if the stem is healthy, make nicks, about a third of the way around, on several different ones of the bands. do some just above, and some just below, all on different bands, 'cause i don't remember which makes it sprout. but that way, your original plant will grow more "arms"