Hi,
Sorry if this is the wrong forum... I was hoping someone could help me identify this house plant... I'm sure it's probably very common, I just don't know what it is:
[url]https://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/462251629_f5ceeb2e32.jpg[/url]
[url]https://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/462251681_fd41bc49c8.jpg[/url]
[url]https://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/462251687_703c91a332.jpg[/url]
Overall, it seems healthy enough, the top part (grown over the past year that I've owned it) is fairly symmetrical and green. However the lower part is a bit patchy, it's lost several leaves leaving gaps and others are party dead and not healthy looking.
I love the look of the plant, but would really like the entire plant to be as attractive and uniform as the top half.
This was originally from an older relative who unfortunately ran out of space and so the poor plant was forced to live with very little light for a while which is why I think it's lost some of it's leaves, etc. She swears that you can cut it in half and root the cut top half in some very wet dirt or water and create a second plant from that and then the lower half will (eventually) continue on with new growth, she's apparently done this before as this is the 3rd plant from the original 1 she received decades ago as a gift.
Any thoughts as to how I could encourage the plant to start new growth lower on it's trunk without cutting it in half and starting a 2nd plant? If I do decide to go the cutting route, any tips on keeping everything alive?
This window receives good light all morning, and I rotate the pot every couple of weeks or so to try keep things balanced (although it currently requires a stake to keep itself upright!)