Hello, last spring my Dracaena Fragrance had two flower stalks. I cut them and I also cut the whole branches as they stopped growing and almost died. A few weeks ago a new head of foliage appeared on one of the cutted branches. The place where it grows is not safe, because it will easily break as a new branch will get bigger. I have so many questions... 1). Can I cut it now and try to root it, or I should wait until spring. Is the new branch mature enough to be cut? 2). The reason why I want to cut it is because the wooded stick is too long and I wanted to make this plant a little shorter. If I cut the plant, so it will be at least 20' will it develop new growth? 3). It also growing another little branch from the soil, I'm not sure if it is from the main body (the wooden stick) or it is a completely new plant. I plan to repot the plant and see if I can separate it from the old plant. I really need a help with this plant. It is my mother's plant and I don't want to make her sad if I do something wrong with it. Any suggestions are very appreciated. Thanks Lara
If I will have to cut it off, where should I do it in order for a branch to root: at the place where blue or red line or may be at another place?
Lara...I wouldn't cut that new growth to the side off I'd leave it. If you wanted the plant a bit shorter cut the main stem down to required height and re pot the cut off stem as has been done before. I'd also leave the new growth at the bottom as well for a while longer. I think it is summer over there so now would be fine. Hope I helped Ed
Thank you Ed, I am very new at this...I understand that I can repot the cut off part that is in the red circle (the wooden stem with the new growth will be about 22' long)...but will the main wooden part of the stem be able to root? How do I do it, just place the cut off stem in the mixed soil? Thanks again Lara
Lara...the main stem will root (maybe put some rooting powder on it), thats how they propogate these plants commercially, they get a tall plant and cut it in 6 - 8 inch sections to provide new plants (same with Cordylines, crotons etc) and mixed soil will be fine. As for the new growth at the bottom, in my experience that will often out grow the main plant depending on height of the main. I've attached a picture of mine in the garden, the stalk on the left is the main one and the one on the right is only around one year old Ed
