Dracaena, or dragon tree - a neat palm tree with narrow three-colored leaves. It does not grow too fast, and therefore the question of how to reproduce it sounds quite often.
Instruction manual
1
It is most convenient to propagate an existing plant by cutting off its top and rooting. In this case, in addition to the new plant, there will also be several new tops on the old one, which, in turn, can be rooted in 3-4 years. Subject to all conditions, it is not difficult to propagate the dracaena in this way. You can cut off the crown, provided that the plant is already more than 30 cm high, and a stump with a height of at least 15 cm will remain above the surface of the pot. Otherwise, dracaena may die without leaving a single new crown on its trunk.
2
It is best to choose an early spring for breeding dracaena. The top of the tree is cut with a sharp knife, if possible, without crushing the fiber of the trunk (therefore, scissors should not be used). The slice is immediately dusted with crushed charcoal, leaving a layer thick enough to avoid rot and drying. After that, you can activate the growth of dracaena with a hot shower by placing the pot in the bathroom and spilling for about 15-20 minutes with water at a temperature of 40-50 degrees. After a shower, dracaena should remain in the bathroom for at least another hour to cool and to drain all excess moisture into the tray. The cut is dusted with charcoal again and the pot is placed in its usual place. Most often, 2-3 new stems grow at the cut site, but the number can be different.
3
The cropped top needs to be rooted and this can be done in two traditional ways - by putting it in water or by planting it in the ground. When rooting in water, a warm enough place is required so that roots can form and so that cold water does not provoke stem rot. You can throw a couple of tablets of activated carbon into the water, this will disinfect it, and add one of the drugs that contribute to rooting. There are several such drugs, and the most famous of them are Kornevin, Epin, Zircon. The roots of dracaena will appear no earlier than in 2-3 weeks, at low temperatures, the period can drag on to a month or more. It can be planted in a permanent place when the roots are at least 3-5 cm long.
4
Rooting in the soil can take place in many ways. It is best to use a separate container and a special substrate for rooting. Moss-sphagnum, vermiculite and pure quartz sand have proven themselves in this matter. Putting the cuttings in a container filled with these substrates or their mixture, you need to take care of the ambient temperature and timely hydration. In favorable conditions, the roots appear after 2-3 weeks, if the temperature is too low or the moisture is not enough, rooting can be very delayed.
