The dragon tree is now available in well-stocked shops as a houseplant in many different subspecies. If you would like to green your interior with several specimens, you can relatively easily take care of the propagation yourself via cuttings if the mother plants are large enough.

The dragon tree can be easily propagated by cuttings

Some plants are rather lazy

The dragon tree is one of those plants that are usually not propagated by sowing the seeds, even in commercial horticulture with its often more professional conditions. This is not least due to the fact that the dragon tree itself only very rarely flowers and therefore does not meet the requirements for uncomplicated seed production. How practical, then, that the vegetative propagation of the dragon tree by rooting cuttings is relatively uncomplicated. This type of propagation also has the advantage that the young plants obtained in this way are not only true to the variety, but also already have a certain size and thus a head start for further growth.

Use the pruning for propagation

Basically, most dragon trees should not be placed directly in a very sunny spot in the room. In particular, the dragon tree species with dark green leaves thrive much better in a semi-shady place. In places that are too dark, however, the growth in height can take on unattractive proportions if the plants really stretch out towards the light. Make the most of this situation and use this stem growth to obtain cuttings about 15 cm long. Don't worry about the mother plant: with good care, healthy dragon trees always sprout again quickly after such a radical pruning and form new shoots.

This is how cuttings of the dragon tree can be rooted

When propagating the dragon tree, you should first let the freshly cut cuttings dry for about 24 hours. Then they can be placed in a glass of water or put directly into a relatively moist substrate or in moist sand. As a rule, enough roots form within a few weeks to be able to repot the young plants obtained in this way. In the early days, pay attention to special treatment when caring for the young plants:

  • Spray regularly with a fine mist of water for high humidity
  • not too much sun
  • do not injure the fine roots when transplanting
  • Beware of waterlogging at the roots

You shouldn't overdo it

Even if you've caught the dragon tree fever, you shouldn't overdo it with the propagation of cuttings. Allow a mother plant to rest for about two years before considering it for cuttings again. The new growth not only requires a lot of strength, but also always poses a risk of disease infestation at the interfaces.

tips

After taking the cuttings, you can rub the interfaces on the mother plant with some charcoal dust or seal them with artificial tree resin. In any case, you should let the interface dry for about a day.

Category:

Indoor plants