How to Propagate Dracaena Marginata?

As long as it maintains the right temperature and gives the right water, Dracaena Marginata can grow vigorously and feed very well. However, some Dracaena marginata grow vigorously, but they just grow higher and longer without new buds and lateral branches. In the long run, it will not only affect the appearance, but also make it unrealistic to take its branches to reproduce one tree. For example, the following question: I have a Dracaena marginata that grows well. I want to cut one. What if there is no bud? In fact, it is not difficult to solve this problem when we take care of Dracaena Marginata. If you want to have more side branches in Dracaena marginata to make the shape more beautiful, cutting and layering are the simplest and effective Dracaena Marginata propagation methods. Now, based on my personal experience, I'll talk about how tp propagate Dracaena marginata from layering and cutting.

How to Propagate Dracaena Marginata from Cuttings?

Flowerpot Matrix

Before cutting in Dracaena marginata, we can prepare a suitable flowerpot and prepare the matrix. The material of the flowerpot should be breathable. The cutting matrix can be mixed with vermiculite, perlite and plain sand. It must have good permeability and drainage.

Cut Dracaena Marginata

We should choose Dracaena marginata with good growth and good growth as the mother plant. We should choose to cut 2-year-old healthy branches from above, with a length of about 10-20 cm. We must not use branches with diseases, pests and withered branches. Cut the lower end of the cuttings into a plane, keep the leaves at the upper end of the cuttings, soak the dracaena marginata cuttings in water for cleaning, and then dry them in a cool and ventilated place. After that, we can soak the base of cuttings with 500-1000ppm naphthylacetic acid and take it out after about 5 seconds, which can promote rooting.
Read More:
How Often to Water Dracaena Marginata?
How to Prune Dracaena Marginata?

Season Selection

Dracaena marginata can usually reproduce by cutting. This method is very common, easy to operate, and the survival rate can be guaranteed. Cutting has little restriction on time. As long as the temperature is appropriate, it can generally survive. The best time for progagating Dracaena marginata from cuttings is from May to June every year. This time period is just when the temperature is relatively appropriate, has little impact on the plant, is conducive to growth, and the branches are strong and nutritious, so they are easy to survive after cutting.

Cutting Process

We can water the substrate, keep the substrate moist, cut cuttings into the substrate and compress the soil around the substrate. Keep the substrate moist, avoid direct strong light, see astigmatism, spray water around to maintain humidity, and keep the air humidity at about 70%. Dracaena marginata produces callus after cutting for 15-20 days, germinates new roots after 35-40 days, and takes root stably after two months. At this time, dracaena marginata repotting can be carried out. (Read more about Dracaena Marginata light requirement.)

How to Propagate Dracaena Marginata from Layering?

Season Selection

Propagate Dracaena marginata from layering is usually carried out in high temperature season. Because Dracaena marginata itself likes high temperature and high humidity plants, the layering is often carried out from May to July. The plants used for layering should be healthy and strong. Of course, some Dracaena marginata with less hair branches and old leaves falling can also use layering to propagate. Therefore, we can carry out layering promotion in the hot and humid season from May to July.

Layering Process

We can make circular cutting at the appropriate part of the stem of Dracaena Marginata. The ring mouth is 1.8-2.2 cm wide and deep to the xylem. We can peel off the ring mouth cortex with a knife, wipe off the spilled juice of the incision with a clean wet cloth, and smear the upper cortex of the incision with 5000-1000 ppm naphthylacetic acid aqueous solution. We can tie the lower end of the incision with white plastic film, straighten it into a funnel shape, and install the rooting stem material mixed with moss and mountain soil, Wrap the knife edge, fill it with water once, tie the upper end of the river membrane tightly, and then put the plant outdoors for cultivation to strengthen fertilizer and water management. (Read more about the best soil for Dracaena Marginata.)
After completing Dracaena marginata layering, we should always check whether the matrix is dry and replenish water at any time. Usually, after 30 to 40 days of cultivation, new roots appear at the circumscribed part. From September to October, they can be cut away from the mother and cultivated into an independent plant.
The branches and buds of a breeding Dracaena marginata are much weaker than ordinary plants. Careful maintenance is needed to make the plants survive and take root quickly. Therefore, during the maintenance, the plants must be kept in a cool and ventilated environment as far as possible, and the temperature should be controlled between 15 ~ 28 ℃, so as to avoid the dehydration or death of Dracaena marginata caused by strong light. After the layering is completed, new roots will grow after 30 ~ 40 days. However, if you want to cut off the mother plant and plant it on the base plate in the new pot soil, you can't cut it and plant it in the pot until September ~ October.