How to Best Handle a Peace Lily After Cutting It Down

The peace lily (Massangeana cane / Dracaena fragrans) has a fairly developed root system and strong sprouting ability, so under suitable growing conditions it tends to grow quickly and easily becomes lush and leafy. But sometimes, to control the height of the plant, we cut off the top, or after the trunk is broken by strong wind, we need to saw it off. But after sawing off the trunk, it must be treated promptly to reduce harm to the plant and avoid affecting its normal growth.

If the sawed-off trunk of the peace lily is fairly thick, then sawing it off will inevitably leave a relatively large wound. If we do not treat the wound promptly, not only is it easy for a large amount of water to be lost through the wound, but it is also easy for the wound to become infected. If we can handle the wound promptly and correctly, then these problems can be avoided, allowing the plant to quickly return to normal growth.

First, we need to seal the wound with wax, or apply some wound healing agent to the wound, so as to prevent water loss through the wound and also prevent wound infection. Moreover, the normal season for cutting off the top and truncating the trunk is usually before spring sprouting, and in early spring the temperature is sometimes unstable, so we might as well try bagging it, which can both keep it warm and keep it moist.

Of course, we cannot just put a bag over the plant and stop managing it. Instead, we need to regularly open the bag to let the air inside and outside exchange, while avoiding mold or rot caused by excessively high internal temperature, excessively high humidity and poor ventilation. Especially during the period when young buds are sprouting, excessively high temperature inside the bag can easily burn the new buds; if the inside is too dry, we should also water and spray promptly to avoid the young buds withering and dying from lack of water and dehydration.

However, if everyone finds this rather troublesome, then we can poke a few small holes in the bag to exchange air. And after the trunk sprouts again, if the ambient temperature returns to normal and the climate is fairly suitable, then it is recommended to remove the bag as early as possible, letting the plant receive some light, which is very helpful for promoting photosynthesis and forming nutrients, and can make the plant grow more vigorously.