Propagating Dracaena Cuttings
There is more than one way to propagate dracaena by cuttings. One of the simplest is to take off the crown. Cut just below the bunch of leaves at the top of the plant and be sure you get at least one node. Place the cut end in water and put it in a warm spot. The roots should start to grow quickly, as long as you keep it warm. Plant your cutting in soil when the roots have gotten between one and two inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) long. Alternatively, you can dip the end of the cutting in rooting powder and plant it directly in soil. With this method you get a new plant, and your old dracaena will start growing again from the cut point. You can use the same basic strategy and remove stems from the side of the plant. Not all dracaena will have side stems, and some take many years to branch out. If your plant does have these stems, you can take off any of them and use the method above for additional dracaena cutting propagation.
Growing Dracaena from Cuttings
Give your cuttings the best possible start to ensure you get big, healthy plants. Dracaena tolerates a range of soil types, but drainage is important. Use a houseplant potting mix, but add vermiculite or peat moss to improve drainage, and be sure the pot has holes at the bottom. Once it’s potted, find a warm spot for your dracaena, and be sure it gets plenty of indirect light. The surest way to kill a dracaena is to over water it. Water the plant about once a week or when the top inch (2.5 cm.) or so of soil has dried completely. Use an indoor plant fertilizer as recommended and watch your new dracaena cuttings take off.
