Dracaena is an African palm tree that often adorns offices and living rooms and looks spectacular in any room.
This is an attractive tropical houseplant, loved by many gardeners.
Did you know? According to legend, the brave warrior asked the hands of the daughter of the high priest. The high priest stuck a stick into the ground and said that if after five days sprouts appeared on her, he would give his daughter away, and if not, he would execute the warrior. Therefore, the warrior watered the stick for five days,and on the fifth day sprouts appeared on it. The priest was forced to give his daughter. Since then, there is a belief that part of the trunk of the dratsen, cut off at midnight in the full moon, brings happiness in love.
The most suitable time for breeding dracaena
The most favorable period for breeding dracaena is spring. But in the summer it can be done if you create all the necessary conditions.
How to propagate dragon plant cuttings
Consider how to propagate dracaena at home and what the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The simplest and most common breeding methods of dracaena are both the apical and stem grafting of the dracaena.
Propagation by cuttings
The top of the plant with a stem length of 10-15 cm is cut with a sharp knife. It should be noted that the cut should be smooth and not have burrs of bark and fragmentation. Such a stalk is more likely to take root than to rot. Cut stalks should be rooted in water or sand.
Activated carbon can be added to the water, but it is necessary to change it regularly anyway 1-2 times a week. For better rooting, you can use any drug-rooting, then the process will accelerate by about a week and a half. After 90 days, the roots are formed, and the cuttings are planted in a permanent place.
Before planting the dracaena without roots, you should know that rooting it is better in inert material: sand, perlite, vermiculite. If you decide to root the stalk in the sand, then the cut must also be processed with a stimulant. At the same time make sure that the substrate does not dry out.
Important! Rooting dracaena cuttings in soil substrates is not recommended, as they often succumb to rotting.
The rooting process takes place better when the air temperature is 20-22 degrees with the creation of a greenhouse. A greenhouse can be made using a can, plastic film or plastic bottle. Since the plant feeds through the leaves before rooting, they should be regularly sprayed several times a day with settled water. Once a week in the water for spraying should be added fertilizer for palm trees in the dosage specified in the instructions.
Do not forget to air the greenhouse every day, this will prevent the formation of mold.
How to propagate dragon plant stem cuttings
If you used the top of the plant for the apical cuttings, or it died, and a long stem remained, you can propagate the dracaena using stem cuttings. The stem is cut into leaf scars with a sharp knife on cuttings 5–20 cm long. Rooting can be done vertically or horizontally in inert substrates or soil at a temperature of 20–24 degrees. Vertical rooting involves placing the bottom of the cutting to a depth of 2-3 cm in a moist substrate. If rooting is carried out in soil, it is necessary to pour sand 5–7 cm thick at the bottom of the recess and place the cutting. This method will save you from transplanting dracaena, as well as from injury to young roots on the cuttings.
With horizontal rooting, the cutting is placed horizontally and pressed into the wet substrate, while the ends of the cutting are not covered. After rooting, the uterus stalk is destroyed, and the plant goes on to feed from the roots. Only now it can be transplanted. This process takes about two months.
How to sow dracaena, plant reproduction by seminal method
There are other ways of breeding this plant. Consider how still room palm multiplies.
Propagation of a plant by seeds is also possible, but it is more rare, since the plant blooms at home infrequently. The first flowering occurs 8-10 years after planting, and sometimes much later. Moreover, not all species of this plant belong to the flowering. But seeds can be purchased at flower shops.
Seed multiplication should be carried out in February-March. Before planting, seeds should be soaked in a growth promoter. After processing, they are planted in a substrate for palm plants, watered and covered with plastic wrap. Seed germination lasts one to two months at a temperature of 25-27 degrees. During this period, you need to make sure that the substrate does not dry out. After germination, they are regularly watered and fed. As soon as the sprouts reach 5 cm in height, they can be seated in pots and looked after as an adult dragon tree.
More effectively germinate seeds in a cotton napkin. For this, it is moistened, seeds are placed on it and covered with a free end. Wrapped seeds are kept on a saucer in a warm place. The napkin needs to be constantly kept hydrated and watch for germination. As soon as sprouts hatch, seeds are planted in the substrate. This method is faster.
Draft multiplication by air layouts
Another method of propagation by cuttings - with the formation of air layers. It is more simple and even for beginners. You need to decide what height you want to get a plant and make an incision on the stem in that place. Any small object that will prevent overgrowing, for example a piece of plastic, is placed in the incision. The incision around wrapped with plastic wrap with a primer.
Important! The film with the primer should fit snugly to the trunk. We fasten it with a strong thread.
Irrigation of the soil should be carried out with a syringe. In the area of incision, the plant should take root. When there are enough of them, the plant is cut and planted in a separate pot.
How to grow dragon from hemp
Some vendors offer wax-coated hemp with which you can grow a tree of happiness. Stump is packed in a beautiful box that plays the role of a flowerpots. In fact, this is an ordinary dracaena, but the process of growing a live plant from hemp is quite fascinating. From the lower part of the barrel must be removed with a knife paraffin. Be careful not to turn the stump upside down. Pour water at room temperature into the box and place the stump with the cleaned side down. Water needs to be changed often so that it is always transparent.
Over time, sprouts will appear on the stump, and after three months in the lower part - the roots. After this stump is planted in the ground. If the roots do not appear for a long time, you need to add a constrictor to the water Since ancient times, it is believed that the tree of happiness absorbs negative energy and brings good luck.
Did you know? The word dracaena is translated as "female dragon".
Growing dragon plant in your home, you grow a tree of happiness and make everyone happy.