Image – Wikimedia/David J. Stang
The drácena, or dracaena, is a plant that we usually have in our homes, either indoors or at the entrance. In places where there are no frosts or if they are so weak that it is practically impossible for it to snow, we even dare to plant it in gardens.
But of course, when it is kept in pots for example, or in a corner of the plot where the available space is rather limited, it is important to ask the following question: how to prune the dracaena?
Contents
When should you prune Dracaena?
Although you don’t believe me, the dracaena is not a plant that needs to be pruned every year. In fact, in some cases it is totally inadvisable to do so, for example if we have planted it in the ground and it has enough space to develop normally. But there are others in which we will have to take a pruning tool, such as a handsaw or scissors like these.
The ideal time to do this is between mid-spring and early summer.. We must take into account that our protagonist is a heat-loving plant, and that the cold stops its growth as well as slows down the circulation of the sap, so if we had to remove a branch in winter, it would cost much more to reseal the wound ; And not only that, but by doing so, its microscopic enemies (fungi, viruses, bacteria) could enter your body and make you sick.
How is the dracaena pruned?
Sometimes we have a dracaena that grows so much that, for example, it reaches the roof of the house or slightly prevents other plants from having normal development. In these circumstances, the best option is to prune it, but how? Good, when working with plants, we cannot miss something that, in my opinion, is the most important: patience.
And it is that we generally want to see results now, immediately, and that with plants is impossible, since they follow a different rhythm. If you cut a main stem of a dracaena, it will take a few weeks to see new leaves germinate. It shouldn’t even surprise us -although it’s not usual if the specimen is healthy- that said stem is a bit damaged.
Therefore, if we are going to prune, we must do it well, ensuring that the plant can heal its wounds well. So that We advise you to follow the following steps:
- The first is to move away from the dracaena a little to see it well, as a whole. You have to see what its development is for the size to be adequate.
- Now, if it grows a lot in height, we will proceed to cut about ten centimeters of stem. With this we will achieve, after a few weeks, that said stem branches further down.
- Then, if you want the plant to branch more, you will cut some stems, not all of them, because you have to think that the dracaena produces leaves in a rosette at the end of the stems. Also, if you have, for example, five stems, it would be better to prune only two, and if you have less, 1.
- Finally, we will cover the wounds with a healing paste like this.
Related article:
How to revive a Dracaena
How to cut a cutting from a dracaena?
If you want to create a plant from your dracaena, it’s as simple as cutting a stem with leaves about 15-20 centimeters long. Then just put it in a glass of water and keep it away from direct light.
Now you will only have to change the water and wash the glass every day. Once it has produced its own roots, it’s time to plant it in a pot with universal soil.
What is the care of the dracaena after its pruning?
Now that we have pruned the dracaena, should we give it any special care? Well, the truth is… it wouldn’t hurt. But don’t worry: the only thing that changes from the care you’ve given him so far is that it is advisable to go and see his injuries. If the tools you used were clean and you disinfected them, your plant will surely recover well, but it still doesn’t hurt to inspect its stems and leaves, to make sure all is well.
And also, watch out for the sun. If exposed, stems that have been cut can burn more easily than those left intact. Moreover, of all the species of dracaena that exist, only a few tolerate direct sun, such as the drake dracaena (Canarian dragon tree), or the Dracaena cinnabari (Dragon of Socotra). Others like the Dracaena fragrans (water stick, brazil trunk), Dracaena reflexa (dracaena marginata), or the Dracaena braunii (lucky bamboo), prefer a protected exposure.
Related article:
7 types of Dracaena for your home
Sizing is a very important task, but since it can sometimes be complicated, we hope that what we have told you in this article will help you.