What to Do When a Dracaena Fragrans Grows Too Tall? A Detailed Guide to Cutting Propagation

Dracaena fragrans is an evergreen tree with high ornamental value. Many people grow one at home and care for it carefully, but along the way some find their Dracaena fragrans growing taller and taller until it barely fits in the house. So what should we do about this situation? Let's take a look below.

What to Do When Dracaena Fragrans Grows Too Tall

If your Dracaena fragrans grows too tall, then it is time to prune the tree. Dracaena fragrans belongs to the Liliaceae family of evergreen trees. Its height can reach over six meters. After being grown in a pot, it is actually recommended to fertilize it sparingly, because excessive fertilization can very likely cause the Dracaena fragrans to grow too tall, which is unfavorable for indoor container growing and unsuitable for viewing and care.

Cutting Propagation Methods for Dracaena Fragrans

1. Columnar cutting method

Choose a trunk with a diameter of 6 cm to 10 cm for cutting; over 10 cm is also acceptable, but the trunk must be kept fresh, and the color of the bark should preferably be light yellow. The soil needs to be about 30 cm deep, and the substrate should be disinfected before cutting. The trunk is inserted into the soil to a depth of about 10 cm to 25 cm; this can be adjusted according to the sturdiness of the trunk. If the height of the cutting trunk reaches over 1 m, it can be fixed with other supports for stability.

During cutting, keep the soil moist and warm, and also avoid sunlight around midday. Water promptly after cutting, and in about one month you can see new shoots emerge. Once the new shoots grow to 5 cm to 10 cm tall, they can be planted out.

2. Thin branch cutting method

This method can be combined with pruning the plant; the branches cut off during pruning can be used for cuttings directly. When the plant grows to a certain height, the upper branches should be cut off for cutting.

Before cutting, first trim the branches to a suitable length, then proceed with cutting. Before cutting, likewise disinfect all kinds of soil, containers and tools to avoid disease infecting the branches. When cutting, you can choose horizontal insertion or vertical insertion. At a temperature of 25°C to 30°C, new roots can grow in about one month.

How to Grow Dracaena Fragrans in Water

Take the soil-grown Dracaena fragrans out of the soil, then wash the soil off the roots, and cut off some of the extra tangled roots. After cutting, put the Dracaena fragrans in a ventilated place to dry for a while; this helps the cut areas heal.

While it is drying, you can prepare the vessel for water-growing the Dracaena fragrans; choose a vessel of suitable size and depth. It is best to lay some pebbles at the bottom, as this helps the development of water roots. Then place the dried Dracaena fragrans inside it and add some room-temperature clean water.

What to Do When Dracaena Fragrans Leaves Turn Yellow

1. Soil and water too alkaline

Dracaena fragrans is suited to growing in slightly acidic soil. If the pH of the soil is unsuitable, the leaves can very likely turn yellow. For this situation, it is recommended to choose suitable soil when planting and to relieve it by applying some special fertilizer.

2. Overwatering

Dracaena fragrans has high requirements for the humidity of the surrounding air, but that does not mean its water demand is also high. If during daily care the water amount is not controlled well and water accumulates, it will also cause the leaves of the Dracaena fragrans to turn yellow. For this situation, the best solution is to control the water amount, pay attention to ventilation, and maintain the permeability of the soil.

3. Insufficient light

Dracaena fragrans likes sunlight. Many people place it in a spot with poor light in order to enjoy it indoors. In this case, it is fine for the short term, but if it goes on too long, it will also cause the leaves of the Dracaena fragrans to turn yellow. So after a period of time, move the Dracaena fragrans to a place with ample sunlight for care, then move it back after some time; that will do.

4. Poor ventilation

If the leaves of the Dracaena fragrans grow lushly and it has not been pruned for a long time, the inner branches and leaves will suffer from insufficient light. In this case, we should promptly prune the branches and leaves, apply fertilizer, and carry out careful care, and it will improve after some time.

The usual propagation method for Dracaena fragrans is cuttings; this method lets it grow quickly. Moreover, growing Dracaena fragrans well is not an easy task. Besides watering and fertilizing it and giving it light at the right time, you also need to prevent some of its common ailments, otherwise you will only see a withered Dracaena fragrans.