How to propagate Dracaena fragrans by cuttings? Detailed method
Dracaena fragrans is also known as fragrant dracaena, flower tiger-stripe wood, Wanglian (detailed introduction) thousand-year tree, fragrant-flower dracaena, and fragrant thousand-year tree. Many people confuse Dracaena fragrans with the Brazil wood, but there are actually differences between the two. Dracaena fragrans is one of the most important decorative plants today. The editor will introduce the propagation methods of Dracaena fragrans for you.
Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is commonly propagated by cuttings. In May to June, select mature and robust stems, cut them into 5-10 cm sections, place them flat on a sand bed, maintain a room temperature of 25-30°C and 80% air humidity; they will root in about 30-40 days, and can be directly potted after 50 days. You can also cut off the new stem shoots that have grown 3-4 leaves as cuttings, insert them into the sand bed, maintain high temperature and high humidity; they will root 30 days after insertion. Water cuttings and air layering can also be used for propagation, but this must be carried out at temperatures above 25°C.
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Dracaena fragrans cultivation methods and precautions Introduction to Dracaena fragrans
The trunk of Dracaena fragrans is thick and sturdy, and its leaves are sword-shaped, deep green and glossy, full of vitality. Today it is hailed as "a new star among foliage plants" and has become a very popular indoor foliage plant in the world.
Dracaena fragrans was introduced from tropical Africa to Europe in the 1640s, mainly cultivated in the greenhouses of botanical gardens in the United Kingdom and France for visitors to admire. It later entered botanical gardens and parks in the Americas and Asia.
By the 1970s, potted Dracaena fragrans was already very popular in Europe and the United States, becoming one of the important indoor decorative plants.
At present, the annual output value of Dracaena fragrans in the Netherlands has reached 37.6 million USD, ranking second in the output value of potted plants in the Netherlands. Italy, Spain and other countries also have production on a certain scale.
Morphological characteristics of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is an upright single-stemmed shrub. The leaves are clustered at the top of the stem, long and linear in length and width, sessile, with wavy leaf margins, dark green.
Common varieties include Dracaena fragrans 'Linderii', with pale yellow leaf margins.
Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana', with yellow longitudinal stripes in the center of the leaf surface.
Dracaena fragrans 'Victoriae', with deep yellow leaf margins edged in white.
Ecological habits of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is native to the Canary Islands in western Africa. It likes high temperature, high humidity and a sunny environment.
The suitable growth temperature for Dracaena fragrans is 18-24°C, 24-30°C from March to September, and 13-18°C from September to March of the following year. When the winter temperature is below 13°C, it enters dormancy, and below 5°C the plant suffers cold damage. Among them, Dracaena sanderiana 'Boringuesis' can tolerate a low temperature of 2°C.
Dracaena fragrans likes moisture and fears waterlogging. During the period of vigorous leaf growth, keep the potting soil moist, with air humidity at 70%-80%, and frequently spray water on the leaf surface, but the potting soil must not become waterlogged. During the winter dormant period, watering should be controlled, otherwise leaf tip scorching is likely to occur.
Dracaena fragrans has strong adaptability to light. Under sufficient sunlight or semi-shade, the stems and leaves can grow and develop normally, but variegated varieties kept under low light for a long time will have their colors become lighter or disappear.
The soil should preferably be fertile, loose and well-drained sandy loam. For potting, a mixed soil of leaf mold, culture soil and coarse sand is best.
Cultivation techniques for Dracaena fragrans
Potted Dracaena fragrans commonly uses 12-20 cm pots; for 3 stems, use a 25 cm pot. During the growing period, fertilize once every half month, or use "Huiyou" 20-8-20 high potassium nitrate fertilizer for all seasons. If the indoor temperature in winter is below 13°C, stop fertilizing. If too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the golden yellow markings on the leaves will be less obvious, affecting the ornamental effect.
Dracaena fragrans is tolerant of pruning and can be pruned to control plant height and shape. In order to make the leaf buds grow vigorously, the pot must be changed every spring; new plants are repotted once a year, and old plants once every 2 years. Usually remove the aged and withered leaves at the lower part of the leaf cluster.
Propagation methods of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is commonly propagated by cuttings. In May to June, select mature and robust stems, cut them into 5-10 cm sections, place them flat on a sand bed, maintain a room temperature of 25-30°C and 80% air humidity; they will root in about 30-40 days, and can be directly potted after 50 days. You can also cut off the new stem shoots that have grown 3-4 leaves as cuttings, insert them into the sand bed, maintain high temperature and high humidity; they will root 30 days after insertion. Water cuttings and air layering can also be used for propagation, but this must be carried out at temperatures above 25°C.
Pest and disease control of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is commonly harmed by leaf spot and anthracnose, which can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder.
The insect pests of Dracaena fragrans include scale insects and aphids, which can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
Sometimes leaf margin scorching and leaf tip scorching occur; these are mostly physiological diseases caused by drought, excessively low temperature, improper watering and fertilizing, etc.
The control method is: improve cultivation management, control temperature and humidity, fertilize reasonably, and provide appropriate ventilation.
The leaf surface of Dracaena fragrans should be kept clean frequently, and once pests occur, the insects should be removed promptly. The sugarcane flat moth is quite harmful to Brazil wood; the affected Brazil wood can be moved to a cool outdoor place and sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate or an 800-fold dilution of 90% trichlorfon, once a week for 3 consecutive times.
Variety classification of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena concinna cv. Tricolor, with green leaves and yellow-white and red longitudinal stripes.
Dracaena concinna cv. Tricolor Rainbow, with a pale yellow midrib, dark red margins, and a light brown area between the midrib and margins;
Dracaena deremensis, among which the cultivar Bausei has dark green leaves with a broad milky white band in the center;
Janet Craig, with golden yellow leaves; Roehrsii, with green-white leaf surfaces and golden yellow stripes;
Roehrs Gold, with beige leaf margins and a gray-green center;
Warneckei, with long sword-shaped leaves, twisted tips, dark green margins, a pale green midrib, and white markings.
Dracaena godseffiana, with dark green leaves and yellow and milky white spots. Its cultivar Florida Beauty has densely distributed creamy yellow spots on the leaf surface;
Friedman, with dark green leaves, a white band in the center, and densely distributed milky white spots on the margins.
Dracaena goldieana, with ovate leaves and transverse light green and gray-white bands.
The cultivar Celes of Dracaena sanderiana has leaves 1-2 cm wide, dark green, with white margins;
Dracaena sanderiana 'Margaret Berkery', with white bands on the leaf margins;
Dracaena sanderiana 'Virescens', with yellow bands on the leaf margins;
Boringuesis, with dark green leaf surfaces and yellow-green fine stripes.
Distribution range of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is native to western Africa. It is also distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi, and Hainan in China, as well as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Americas.
Uses and functions of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is a rather popular large indoor potted ornamental plant, especially when placed in relatively spacious living rooms, studies, and sitting rooms, giving an elegant and simple style with a southern tropical flavor. It is a world-famous new-generation indoor foliage plant with a graceful and neat plant shape.
Related knowledge about Dracaena fragrans
In Japan, the annual output value of Dracaena fragrans is 38 million USD, with 4.5 million pots produced, accounting for the fifth place in Japan's potted plant output value. Now tropical India also has considerable production. In the United States, among the 521 million USD output value of foliage plants, Dracaena fragrans occupies an important position. To date, the Hemet International company and the Aigai Trading company in the United States are the main producers of Dracaena fragrans in the Americas and are very famous internationally. In addition, the K. Sahin Zaden company and the Men. Fanwen company in the Netherlands, and the Yag Nursery in Israel occupy important positions in the production of Dracaena fragrans, all having achieved industrialized production, with products selling well worldwide.
The cultivation of Dracaena fragrans in China began with its introduction at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunnan at the end of the 1950s, for garden landscape viewing. As large-scale potted ornamentals, it gradually became popular in the early 1980s. To date, Guangdong, Fujian and other provinces have formed large-scale propagation and production of Dracaena fragrans, basically meeting the needs of the domestic market. The current goal is how to improve quality, reduce costs, and open up the international market.
Purchasing standards
When buying Brazil wood on the market, first check whether the branches and trunk have wounds or damage, and at the same time press the bark lightly with your hand; bark eroded by pests and diseases will be relatively soft. Then gently shake the branches and trunk; if they are not very loose, it indicates that considerable roots have grown out, and only such Brazil wood is more conducive to survival; otherwise, no matter how beautiful the leaves look, it is in a state of false survival. Finally, check whether the leaves are flat and extended. The leaf color of Brazil wood should be clear and bright, the leaf buds should basically not be loose, and the leaf center should not be rotten.
Post-production handling
Dracaena fragrans plants are upright and elegant, full of tropical flavor. Several stems of different heights grouped and planted into a large potted plant can be used to decorate meeting venues. Placed in living rooms and lobbies, they appear dignified and plain, full of natural charm. Small potted plants or hydroponic plants, when decorating windowsills, studies and bedrooms in the home, appear even more clear and elegant. During storage and transportation, Dracaena fragrans is best kept at a temperature of 16-18°C and a relative humidity of 80%-90%, and can endure 15 days in a dark environment. However, if the temperature during storage and transportation is below 8°C, the plant is prone to cold damage, and excessively low air humidity will cause severe necrosis of the leaf margin tissue.
The flower language of Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans represents steadfastness and unyieldingness, firmness, longevity and wealth, and good fortune and happiness.
Dracaena fragrans pictures
Propagation methods of Dracaena fragrans
It is mainly propagated by cuttings, and can be carried out in all seasons except the cold winter. Annual or perennial stems can all be used as cuttings, and can be inserted either upright or in water. The cutting time should be determined by air temperature. Carry out cuttings when the air temperature is above 25°C, because high temperature is conducive to rooting. You can cut the leaf-bearing stem tip or the lateral buds that grow after the stem is cut, and insert them into a cutting bed with river sand as the medium. Maintain relatively high humidity; under 50%-80% light and 25-30°C conditions, they will root and survive in about 30-40 days. You can also cut annual or perennial stems into 5-10 cm sections and insert them into the cutting bed in an upright or flat position.
If conditions permit, dip the cuttings quickly in a 1000-fold dilution of naphthaleneacetic acid or treat them with 0.01% APT rooting powder for one hour, which can promote rooting and survival. For indoor cultivation, if the trunk is sawed into 7-10 cm small sections and soaked in water, it is also very easy to root, but note that the top and bottom of the trunk must not be reversed. At the same time, change the water frequently, keep the water quality clean, and prevent the trunk sections from rotting; also regularly add fertilizer tablets to the water to supplement nutrients. At the same time, also note to keep the substrate, water, and container clean; it is best to disinfect them all. Since most cuttings have no leaves, pay attention to their polarity and do not insert them upside down.
Seed propagation requires collecting seeds from old plants and sowing in spring. Seedlings need many years before becoming mature plants.