Propagation Methods and Precautions for the Dragon Bone Plant
I. How to Do It
1. Cutting the branch. First, cut off a 5-6 cm branch from the top of the mother plant; this is the raw material for the new plant. The dragon bone has a lot of sap, so you can wrap the cut end of the removed branch with ash from burned grass. To make it root more easily, let it dry thoroughly; you can leave it in a ventilated area for about seven days. If you cannot wait, you can also stick the branch straight into the soil right after cutting it, and there is still a certain chance it will survive.
2. Planting the cutting. You can choose to plant just one branch, or you can plant several branches; simply stick it into the soil. After planting, remember to water it, but do not water too much; just water the cut area of the branch, then place it in a shady spot. After about seven days, when the moisture begins to decrease, you can give it a little water. The soil should rather be dry than too wet, otherwise the cut area will easily rot. During the rooting process, control the water; after one month to one and a half months, it will be able to root.
3. Fertilizing. During its growing period, to increase its chances of survival, you can fertilize it, once a month is enough. You can also make your own fertilizer by crushing or soaking beans until soft and placing them in the soil. Do not add too much fertilizer, or the roots will easily rot.
II. Precautions
1. Soil. The proportion of this plant that unfortunately dies is not very high; it can survive even in very ordinary soil. You can look for a relatively nutrient-rich sandy soil.
2. Light. The suitable temperature for its growth is 25 to 35°C. In winter, if the weather is below 7°C, it will easily be damaged; in summer, if the temperature is above 35°C, protective measures should also be taken. Do not leave it in the sun all day, or the plant will easily turn yellow and its ornamental value will be affected.
3. Watering. It is very drought-tolerant and likes warmth. In summer, water it once every 5 days; in winter, it will stop growing, and even watering once every 1 to 2 months will not affect it.