What would you do if you were me? The first two photos are of a aloe that Ive seen grow quite quickly. You can make out the two leggy arms that were the original core of the plant. About 4 or 5 new shoots have appeared as well - they are quite a bit smaller. I want the plant to look fuller - but I'm unclear if I should pinch the two leggy shoots. I read that pruning an aloe usually involves separating the new shoots and propagating... but that will just make it more sparse. Any thoughts? As well- how do you pinch an aloe if necessary? The third photo is of a dracaena that is a reclamation project. No new buds are appearing on the old stalk - but the newly propagated growth seems to be doing great. Can I do anything to cause the stalk to bud? If not, can or should I remove it? Final photo is of another dracaena - it was dying of a combo of lack of light and overwatering. Its now down to an armless twig. Should I let it try to regrow through the long stalk? Or should I cut it short and repot? Thanks in advance for any help on these issues. I've learned so much from this forum - its a great community.
On the first Dracaena, I'd wait to see if you get new growth, but I think you guys are going into winter, so possibly not. On the 2nd Dracaena, normally i would chop the top of and replant the crown. But as with the other, i don't know if it will sprout going into winter. If it was spring or summer, no problems Ed
Thanks for the advice. On the first Dracanena, I've been waiting for about 6 months for new shoots to appear on the stalk... but nothing seems to be happening. I'm thinking that it might be dead and thats why I ask about taking out the new growth and putting it in its own pot. Is that a bad idea? As well - Is their a way to entice new buds on that stalk?
Feel the stem and if it is mushy, cut it off, but if it is hard, I'd leave it till next spring, you never know. I'd leave the new growth there as it seems happy. With my Dracaena fragrans, if I cut the crown I usually get new growth, and sometimes I get new growth for no reason, although this doesn't happen as much as I would like to : \ Ed
