You can also cut off any stem tips that are longer than you want them to be. Steps for Pruning Dracaena Plants. Step back a few feet between cuts to accurately assess the overall shape, then re-trim as needed for the most pleasing aesthetic. Interacting with plants has always been a significant part of my life. To remove brown or dead tips, rein in unruly growth, or create a more uniform appearance, trim the leaf tips to form a symmetrical arc, starting at the top then moving down the back, front, and sides. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. While some people like that look, other Dracaena owners would rather have more compact, filled-in foliage. 5. Try to avoid trimming back a Dracaena when its already stressed, such as after moving its location or allowing it to get too cold. Once your Dracaena cuttings are potted up, water them well and then place them in a bright, indirect light. This gives your plant the best chance to produce Over the years, my passion for indoor gardening has grown, leading me to learn extensively about different plant species, their care requirements, and the benefits they offer. However, individual leaves tend to fade and die within two or three years, at most, so the plant is constantly renewing itself. Your cutting tool should be sharp enough and big enough to handle the task. How Much Water Does Draceana Plant Watering, How to Get Rid of Borers on Draceana Plant, Draceana Plant Soil: How to Choose the Right Type, How to Get Rid of Fungus on Draceana Plant, How to Get Rid of Mosquito Larvae in Draceana Plant Water, What Are The Little Bugs on My Draceana Plant, What Are the Different Types of Draceana Plant. Trimming a Dracaena this way concentrates the foliage lower on the stem and also encourages the stem to branch out. Web1. Want to learn more about South Florida planting, watering, fertilizing and dealing with weeds and pests? Be sure your cutting blade is sharp so cuts will be clean and even. By pruning off old or damaged leaves, you allow new leaves to develop in their place. I'm the creator of Indooplants.com, an online blog dedicated to providing valuable information and inspiration for indoor plant enthusiasts. Dracaena are generally easy-care houseplants that dont require a lot of pruning, but if you want your plant to look its best, youll need to prune it every few years. Florida's warm, humid air also helps the plant to thrive, and when mature, 'Limelight' Dracaena can grow to 5 feet tall by up to 4 feet wide. Continue to provide your Dracaena with normal care. Expert architecture and design solutions for private carriers, next-generation metro and long-haul optical networks, ultra low-latency networks, and Internet backbones. Cutting back your Dracaena is not a difficult process; in fact, probably the hardest part is determining whether or not you should do it. Our platform is designed to connect plant lovers from around the world, fostering a vibrant community where you can learn, share, and grow together. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Use your shears to trim these back to a healthy branch or stem. You can lightly trim the roots if need be. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. See our Gardening How-To section for answers! We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 4. sunny areas, but they can become brown-edged and raggedy, so give yours Rather than chopping off the heads of all the canes at once, cut the tallest one To prune your dracaena, cut off any yellow or brown leaves with a sharp knife or pruning shears. Dracaena marginatas, for example, can sometimes grow so tall that they reach the ceiling. And any dead or dying parts of a Dracaena should be removed to keep the plant looking its best. Zone 10 is best but in Zone 9B keep them in containers to move inside during cold weather. If you want to encourage new growth on your dracaena plant, you can cut back some of the taller stems by up to of their length. swirling, meandering habit, but dracaena marginata, corn plant dracaena Are you ready to prune your dracaena? You can also remove any suckers (new shoots that grow from the base of the plant) that you dont want. Use a clean and sharp tool to trim damaged or crowded roots, leaving enough healthy roots intact. Fill the new pot with fresh potting soil, making sure to keep the root ball intact. Too much direct sunlight can scorch leaves, and too little light can cause the leaves to become very narrow. However, if you want your dracaena to maintain a certain shape or size, or if it has become overgrown, you may need to do some light pruning. Don't over-fertilize these plants. Here is more about what we do. Ebooks that help you grow, design and enjoy your landscape! The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. In practice, though, a typical home is not a sealed environment and is filled with many more elements than the NASA study included. WebDavid Snell shows you a quick tip on how to prune a dracaena office plant. One, the "Corn Plant" (dracaena fragrans) - pictured below - has extremely fragrant flowers, though the blooms don't look like flowers, more like a bunch of knots on a rope. Cornell Cooperative Extension. By pruning your dracaena, you can encourage it to produce new growth and keep its leaves looking healthy and vibrant. Firstly, its important to identify which type of Dracaena you have as different varieties may require different care. In winter, water more moderately every two weeks. Dont be afraid to prune your dracaena plant regularly. Why Is My Dracaena Drooping, Wilting, or Leaning? Avoid cutting off more than of the plants foliage at one time, as this can shock the plant and slow its growth. WebThis way some foliage is visible while you're pruning the plant. Why Your Monstera Deliciosa Is Crying, Sweating and Dripping Water, Training Monstera Deliciosa: How to Make Them Climb. These species vary widely in their size, but the species sold as houseplants typically have spear- or grass-like leaves that often emerge off one or more stems that grow thick and cane-like with time. Remember to approach each trim with care and precision so that your plant stays healthy and happy. Hello, I'm Ben Johnson, and I'm passionate about indoor plants. A few exceptions are Song of India and Black Magic. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Always use sharp pruning shears to prevent crushing the stem. These days, her vegetable garden is smaller to make room for decorative landscapes filled with color, fragrance, art, and hidden treasures. Watch for new growth to emerge around the base as the growing season progresses. Trimming Tips Cut back the leaves to just above where they emerge from the stem. In-depth strategy and insight into critical interconnection ecosystems, datacenter connectivity, product optimization, fiber route development, and more. You can cut back the canes of your Dracaena at any time of year. Then, cut away any crossed, rubbing, or damaged stems. Dracaena Production Guide. Photos by Lorna Kring Ask the Experts, LLC. afternoon shade. Firstly, it helps to remove damaged or diseased leaves that may be hindering the plants overall health. Missouri Botanical Garden. Overwatering and over trimming are common mistakes that should be avoided for the health and growth of your Dracaena plant. Required fields are marked *. Even if the topside is gone, chances are good that the roots have survived. Keep in mind that just like any living thing, your plant may encounter issues along the way. Prune Can I use the trimmings for any DIY projects? , . Dracaena is susceptible to some of the same pests that affect many houseplants, especially thrips and mealy bugs. Start by removing any dead or diseased wood. Clean your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol before and after each use to prevent the spread of diseases or pests. Wont it die? Water them thoroughly each week during the active growing season, allowing excess water to drain through the pot into a tray or basin beneath. Plant each cutting back into the ground near the base of the original plant (or start it in a container) - most will root and grow. Once youve familiarized yourself with your dracaenas needs, its time to gather the right tools for the job. I mentioned previously that you may want to cut your Dracaena in an effort to save it. Prune Dracaena According to the NASA Clean Air Study,Dracaena reflexais fairly efficient at removing formaldehyde and other VOCs from small, sealed spaces. Easy to grow and cultivate, graceful dracaenas add an alluring touch of the tropics to homes and gardens and they respond well to a light trim or a hard prune. Trim only up to a third of each stems length so as not to damage the overall structure and shape of the plant. , () () () , () . Cut away any dead or damaged leaves, as well as any leaves that are significantly smaller than the others. If it feels moist, wait a few days before watering again. least 3 feet from the nearest plant. Yes, dracaena plants can be propagated from stem cuttings. To tidy plants and clean away brown, yellow, or dying leaves, you can remove them cleanly from the stem by hand. It will help to cut at a 45-degree angle when trimming your plants stem. (There are also other Dracaena species that grow from rhizome-like roots, but these are generally sold under other names.). Different varieties of Dracaena may require different care, so its important to understand the unique characteristics of your plant before trimming. Water These plants should be kept consistently moist during their growing season (spring through fall), but allowed to go drier in the dormant winter period. If possible, avoid dracaena trimming while the plant is dormant in fall and winter. Trimming dracaena plants helps to promote growth, maintain a good shape, and prevent diseases. Generally speaking, dracaena plants do best in bright, filtered, or indirect light, though they can stand short periods of direct sunlight. Cease fertilizing in fall and winter when plant growth slows down. To prune your dracaena, cut off any yellow or brown leaves with a sharp knife or pruning shears. What is Dracaena Plant Commonly Used For? 1) Identify which stems need trimming When pruning Dracaeana start by identifying any older growths at the base of the stem that appear yellowed and have fewer leaves compared with other parts of foliage. To create a compact, bushy shape, cut the stem low, leaving a quarter of the stems overall length in place. Remove a stem if it's growing out of form or to encourage upper growth. 3) Trim back longer branches If you notice one section growing taller than others creating an uneven-looking appearance then trim those back so all branches maintain relatively equal height levels making sure cuts are made just above a node (where new shoots arise). In most cases, there will be enough other foliage that it will not be noticeable. Dracaenas dont grow quickly, but some varieties can get quite tall. If no new growth appears by midsummer, plants are most likely dead and can be dug out. If youre having trouble keeping your plant healthy, dont worry did you know that overwatering is one of the most common mistakes people make with houseplants? Pruning will also help to create a fuller, bushier plant. Money Trees Drying Up & Turning Brown? 2. Photo by Lorna Kring. prunethis 5.11K subscribers 372K views 13 years ago Prune this Episode #5: Guide to pruning and care of the Dracaena family or Corn plants. In tropical regions (zones 10 to 12), dracaena plants are sometimes grown as permanent landscape specimens. In a cozy, protected home environment, many can reach up to 10 feet tall and eventually outgrow their location. Apply once a month during spring and summer. Fertilize twice a year (spring and fall) with a good quality granular fertilizer. Proper timing for pruning is important and should be done during the spring or early summer months. Removing dead or dying leaves creates a more attractive plant and encourages healthy growth. As an avid plant lover, I believe that bringing nature indoors not only enhances the aesthetics of our living spaces but also improves our well-being.