Detailed Guide to Propagating Dracaena reflexa by Cuttings, Easy to Learn
1. The specific method of cuttings is as follows: in spring, first cut off a piece of stem, generally about 5 to 10 cm in length; it is best if it has no leaves on top, or if the base tip tends to dry out, it can also be cut off and used. Cut off some branches with stem tips that have grown for a long time in dark indoor places, insert them into relatively clean coarse river sand, and water thoroughly.
2. Then we need to cover the whole plant with a plastic bag, which can keep the soil moist, and then place it indoors in a relatively bright spot. Generally, roots will grow after 25 days. Alternatively, the branch cut off earlier can be inserted into water. If it is in a 25°C environment, roots will grow in 15 days.
The above is an introduction to the propagation methods, precautions and cutting propagation methods of Dracaena reflexa. For more information, please follow Four Seasons Plant Network!
Cultivation and Propagation Methods of Dracaena reflexa
Propagation method: seed sowing or cutting propagation. From March to September, take 10 cm stem sections and insert them in water or in a closed environment.
Cultivation management:
Dracaena reflexa likes a high-temperature, humid climate and a warm, moist, semi-shaded environment. The suitable temperature for growth is 20-28°C, and the overwintering temperature in winter should not be lower than 10°C. Slightly lower temperatures and dry air will cause the leaf tips to dry out. It has strong shade tolerance; although it can grow under full sun or partial sun conditions, it grows best under 50%-70% shade. It is not strict about water requirements, is drought-tolerant and also moisture-tolerant, is not cold-tolerant, and fears exposure to scorching sun, but is suitable for growing in moist, well-drained, organic-rich sandy loam. It likes a humid environment and grows vigorously when air humidity is high. During the growth period, it is advisable to spray water on the leaves and surrounding environment frequently, and apply fertilizer once every half month.
For potting soil, 1 part each of foliage plant nutrient soil, leaf mold and river sand can be mixed. From April to September, fertilize once a month. Place the plant on a moist gravel layer. Spray water every day. When the surface of the potting soil is dry to a depth of 2-3 cm, water thoroughly. Repot once every 2 years, in March. Dracaena reflexa likes the company of other indoor plants; they can be regarded as providing beneficial moisture supplementation. To make the plant grow vertically and evenly, regularly rotate the pot 1/4 turn. Do not let it be too far from a window, except from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer.
During the growth of Dracaena reflexa, yellowing leaves often occur, mostly caused by improper cultivation management. Too much or too little water, too strong or too weak sunlight, and too much or too little fertilizer can all cause leaf yellowing, but the yellowing conditions differ. The causes should be carefully observed and analyzed, and corrected.
1. Water yellowing: tender leaves are dark yellow and lack luster, old leaves show no obvious change, branches are thin and yellow-green, and new shoots shrink and do not grow, indicating excessive watering. Remove the plant from the pot, place it in a ventilated and cool place to let the root ball dry naturally, then put it back into the pot.
2. Drought yellowing: the yellowing caused by lack of water is different from that caused by too much water. Yellowing from lack of water shows as withered and dry leaf tips or edges, old leaves withering and falling from bottom to top, but new leaves growing relatively normally. Just pay attention to watering enough and thoroughly.
3. Scorch yellowing: strong direct sunlight shining on some shade-loving flowers (such as spider plant, Calathea makoyana, hosta, etc.) easily causes the leaf tips and leaf edges to wither, and yellow spots appear on the sun-facing parts of the leaves. Move them to a shaded place.
4. Light-deficiency yellowing: being placed in a shaded environment for a long time, the leaves cannot receive enough sunlight and cannot form chlorophyll, so the whole plant's leaves turn yellow and then fall off. Supplementing light can prevent this problem.
5. Fertilizer yellowing: yellowing of flowers caused by excessive fertilization or too high concentration is shown by dry brown tips on new leaves; generally the leaf surface is thick and lacks luster, and is uneven and not smooth, while old leaves scorch, turn yellow and fall off. Stop fertilizing immediately, and in severe cases use a large amount of water to wash out part of the fertilizer.
6. Fertilizer-deficiency yellowing: shown by tender leaves becoming lighter in color, yellow or pale green, while old leaves remain relatively normal or gradually turn from green to yellow. Check the potting soil; if there is caking, replace the soil. Usually apply light fertilizer frequently and water with some alum water at the proper time (Dracaena reflexa is a foliage plant and should be given fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer).
How to Propagate Dracaena reflexa: Propagation Methods of Dracaena reflexa
Dracaena reflexa, also known as short-leaf dragon tree, is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Dracaena in the family Asparagaceae. It is a high-grade foliage plant, widely cultivated in China, and relatively popular in South China. So how is Dracaena reflexa propagated? The propagation methods of Dracaena reflexa are introduced below.
Growth Environment of Dracaena reflexa
Dracaena reflexa likes high temperature and high humidity. The suitable growth temperature is 20°C-28°C. It is drought-tolerant and also moisture-tolerant. When the temperature is high, it grows vigorously. Dry cold in winter easily causes leaf tips to dry out. It prefers semi-shade and avoids strong direct sunlight. Overwintering requires a temperature above 12°C. It is not strict about soil and fertilizer requirements. Potting soil can be made by mixing garden soil : peat soil : chicken manure = 6:4:1 and composting for half a year before use.
Propagation Methods of Dracaena reflexa
Cutting Propagation
Cutting propagation can be carried out from March to May. Take robust, mature branches of the current year, cut them into 8-10 cm lengths, keep 3-4 buds on hard stems, and keep 3-4 leaves on tender shoots. Use well-drained, sterilized, loose sandy loam or peat soil as the bed soil. After insertion, cover with an 80% shade net and water thoroughly. Afterwards, spray water 1-2 times a day, 3-5 minutes each time, and roots will grow in about 30-35 days. If using "Root Sun" rooting agent at 400 times liquid mixed with yellow mud into a slurry, dip the cut end of the cuttings into the slurry. After treatment, wait for the slurry to dry, then insert into the seedling bed. When inserting into the seedling bed, first make holes with a stick and then insert the seedlings, to prevent the yellow mud slurry from detaching from the cuttings and affecting rooting. After insertion, roots can grow in about 20-25 days.
Seed Propagation
Seed propagation is suitable in spring or summer. Before sowing, the soil and seeds must undergo strict disinfection treatment to prevent pests and diseases during the growth period. The soil should be disinfected with 70% thiophanate-methyl, and at the same time 90% trichlorfon should be used to kill soil insects. Seeds can be sown immediately after collection, or stored until spring or summer and then sown. To increase the seed germination rate and reduce the trouble of seed storage, the seeds can be sown directly after drying in the shade.
Before sowing, soak the seeds in a 0.5% potassium permanganate solution for disinfection for 30 minutes. After the seeds absorb water and swell, take them out, place them in a bamboo basket to dry, and sow them after drying. After sowing, strengthen nursery field management, keep the soil moist, and maintain the temperature at 20°C-25°C. Seedlings emerge about 25-30 days after sowing. When the seedlings grow to 3-5 cm, promptly remove weeds and combine thinning with fertilization. Every 7-10 days, apply 1 time of 3%-5% dilute human manure and urine and 1%-2% decomposed cake fertilizer.
Afterwards, use 0.5%-0.8% compound fertilizer to water around the seedling roots. Try not to let the solution get on the leaves. After fertilizing, sprinkle water on the leaf surface to avoid burning the leaves. When the seedling root system grows to 3-5 cm, they can be transplanted into pots.
Potting Management
When the root system of Dracaena reflexa seedlings grows to 3-5 cm, they can be transplanted into pots. If potting is too late, the seedlings will weaken and affect later growth and development. Dracaena reflexa is a semi-shade flower. When planting, choose a semi-shaded environment and moist, fertile, well-drained soil to meet the environmental conditions required during growth and development.
When transplanting, the plant should be kept with a soil ball. It can also be transplanted with a soil ball during the growing season, but before transplanting, remove all new shoots, branches and leaves of the current year and keep the soil moist. Dracaena reflexa is not strict about environmental requirements, but likes semi-shade and a hot, dry climate, and is relatively sensitive to water and fertilizer. Therefore, in cultivation management, technical work such as watering, fertilizing, pinching and pruning, light, temperature and humidity should be done well according to its growth characteristics.
Watering: Dracaena reflexa has good tolerance to water; mild drought and slight wetness will not cause much harm, but in management it is best to water thoroughly after the surface layer of the potting soil dries, which is beneficial to its growth. Watering alternately between dry and wet can make the branches and leaves dense, the internodes compact, and the ornamental value high.
Fertilizing: 10-15 days after transplanting, root-setting fertilizer can be applied, and 10% urea solution can be used for watering. During the seedling stage and shoot-sprouting stage, nitrogen fertilizer should be the main fertilizer. During the vigorous growth period, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer or organic fertilizer liquid can be applied. Fertilization should follow the principle of light fertilizer applied frequently. In addition, fertilization should be stopped in high-temperature seasons or winter. When repotting and changing soil each spring, a certain amount of decomposed organic fertilizer can be added as base fertilizer to ensure good growth.
Pinching and pruning: after potting, when the seedlings grow to 8-10 cm, they can be pinched. The second pinching is carried out when the new shoots are 4-6 cm high. Repeat this many times until they are full. Dracaena reflexa has a certain perennial-root nature and can grow new branches from the roots, so the plant shape grows well. Dracaena reflexa is relatively tolerant to pruning. It is best to appropriately strengthen fertilizer and water management before and after pruning, so that the new branches and leaves grow better. Pruning is mainly for shaping, and can also be carried out in combination with cutting propagation.
Light: Dracaena reflexa likes light but avoids direct scorching sun in summer. For home care, it can be placed under a south window or on a balcony, only avoiding direct sunlight in summer. In other seasons, it is best to provide some light, otherwise the golden-yellow stripes in the middle of the leaves will become dull and disappear, seriously reducing the ornamental value.
Temperature: Dracaena reflexa likes a warm and humid growing environment and can also grow in high-temperature environments. The most suitable growth temperature is 20°C-30°C. The overwintering temperature is best kept above 10°C; below 5°C it will suffer freezing damage.
Humidity: The most suitable growth humidity for Dracaena reflexa is 75%-85%. During growth, a certain amount of air humidity is needed, otherwise the leaf color becomes dull and the glossiness decreases. During the growing period, frequently spray clean water on the plant. If conditions permit, it is best to increase moisture humidity in the environment.