How to take stem cuttings from dracaena

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 23 October 2019 at 5:12 pm

Follow these easy steps to propagate dracaenas from stem cuttings.

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The practice of taking stem cuttings is useful for rejuvenating overgrown house plants such as dragon tree (Dracaena).

Dracaenas are striking architectural plants, native to western and tropical Africa. Plants produce bold rosettes of strap-like leaves at the tip of each shoot, as older leaves gradually fade and fall to leave bare stems at the base. Dracaenas rarely branch out, so cuttings of various heights are usually planted together for a bushier effect.

Each section of stem has the ability to develop roots from its base, while new shoots will emerge through the tip and sides.

Follow these easy steps to take stem cuttings from your own dracaenas.

You Will Need

Dracaena houseplant
Secateurs
Jar of water
Plant pots
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost

Step 1

Cutting the dracaena stem into sections

Chop up the stem into sections 20-30cm long. Note which end is the base and which is the top.

Step 2

Placing the dracaena stem into water

Place the base of each section in a jar of water and stand it in a warm position. Top up the water regularly.

Step 3

Dracaena stem roots

Check for white nodules around the base of the stem, which will develop into long roots.

Step 4

Swellings emerging from the bark

Look for swellings emerging and pushing through the bark.

Step 5

New leaf growth on dracaena

Leave the stems to develop shoots and form bushy new plants.

Step 6

Potted up dracaena cuttings

Once the stem sections are well rooted, pot each one up in a small container. Water and feed regularly. When the plants are root-bound, pot up several plants of different heights into a large container.

You can take stem cuttings from other houseplants, including rubber plants, tradescantia, pothos and yucca.

Secateurs

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