Dragon trees (Dracaena) are popular houseplants that can grow very old with good care. They grow vigorously in the process. Unfortunately, only one tuft of leaves forms on each trunk. The longer the stem gets over time, the less attractive that single tuft will look. The right time to shorten the dragon tree has come. Find out how here.
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useful information
Dragon trees are generally considered to be very tolerant of pruning. However, this must not tempt you to go to work indiscriminately and thoughtlessly. When cutting, two goals are pursued:
- shorten the plant to the chosen height
- Sprouts from dormant eyes on the trunk
Since the dragon tree belongs to the asparagus-like plants, it mainly has long trunks and few foliage. Even if the stalks appear bare, they have many dormant eyes from which new leaflets can develop. These shoots can be recognized by the small bulges on the trunk.
Instructions: shorten the dragon tree
1. The tool
Basically, as for all cutting work, the selected tool should be well sharpened and clean. This prevents excessive injury or bruising while protecting against pathogens that could easily enter the plant via the wound. If in doubt, the scissors should be disinfected again before use.
Choosing the right cutting tool:
- Scissors: commercial scissors are only suitable for thin shoot
- Secateurs: suitable for thick trunks
- Knives: Very thick logs are shortened with them or frayed cut surfaces are smoothed out
A good tree wax or other sealant from the garden supply store is also necessary if larger wounds are to be expected.
2. The timing
Dragon trees are uncomplicated and can be cut at any time. However, they sprout the fastest in the spring and at the same time cut injuries heal best during this time.
3. The shortening of the leaves
In addition to the radical pruning, there is also the possibility of pruning individual leaves of the Dracaena . This is particularly worthwhile if the dragon tree is not very large, but has brown leaves or leaves with spots. Dry spots or leaf tips can be cut off on otherwise healthy leaves. Completely dried leaves are removed at the base of the leaf.
4. Pruning the whole plant
The dragon tree can be shortened to any height. Put the pruning shears on the chosen spot and finally cut off the tuft of leaves. When cutting, you should injure the plant as little as possible.
5. Dress the woundIn the case of larger wounds, it makes sense to seal the surface of the dragon tree with tree wax after cutting it. This protects the shoot from drying out. If this step is omitted, the plant will usually sprout again, but it can take longer and the sprout is further below the cut point.
6. Use trimmings
If you don’t want to throw away the leftover stems and leaves of the dracaena, you can easily grow new plants from them. The leaf tuft itself is placed in a glass of water with a 10 to 20 cm long stalk.
The remaining trunk is cut into pieces, which should also be 10 to 20 cm long. Each piece should have recognizable eyes from which new leaves can sprout. In addition, the upper incision is sealed with wax.
The stem pieces can be rooted in a glass of water or planted straight away in potting soil. However, if you choose the latter, you will need to keep the logs warm and moist. To do this, simply pull a film over the planted pieces.
7. New growth
After 2 – 3 weeks, the plant will sprout again at the cutting point. Depending on how many sleeping eyes have been at the site, one or more new leaf tufts can form. In order to support the budding, the plant should be supplied with green plant fertilizer more frequently during this time.
Trimmings that are supposed to form roots also need several weeks to sprout. As soon as the first leaves appear, they can be planted in new flower pots. However, the new roots are very sensitive, they break off easily, so you have to be very careful with the plants.
