Dracaena fragrans

[jmcco]

I have a dracaena fragrans with two stalks. My dogs were wrestling around and knocked the entire leaf portion off of one of the stalks and it looks terrible! Is there a way to encourage new growth on a bare stalk?? The other stalk is gorgeous and I don't want to get rid of it. Nurserymen around here don't seem to know much about houseplants anymore!

Jmcco

[Newt]

Sorry to hear about your mishap. Been there, had dogs do that. It will take time, but eventually there will be new growth from just below the break. If it looks insightly you can cut the stalk to a height that might be more attractive.

Newt

[jmcco]

Thanks a lot, Newt. I guess I just need to be patient.

[r0za]

I have a corn/cane dracanea fragrans and it is about 5 feet, my husband says to cut it in half but the bigger it gets the nicer it looks. I've had it since it was in a 6 inch pot. I like to know Do I suppose to keep it short or should I let it keep growing? It seems to like a sunny window better. r0za :D

[Newt]

Hi R0za,
It's really a matter of preference as to the look you want for your dracaena. If you do decide to cut it, you will probably get two new growths from the top of the section that is left in the pot. You can root the cut portion and start that as a new plant. Here's how to do air layering.

http://www.gardens.co.nz/Articles.cfm?NLID=124
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/e.../airlayer.html


You can even cut the cane into several sections and root those. Look here for 'cane cutting'.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8700.html

This one shows several techniques.

http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplo...ort/g06560.htm

Hope you can come to a compromise.
Newt

[r0za]

Thanks Newt. I think I will leave it just like it is. I mean why mess with a beautiful plant that is full of long strong beautiful leaves. :!:

[Newt]

Hi R0za,
You're welcome. Glad you deceided to leave it as it is.

Newt

[r0za]

hey Newt, i have another question, if you don't mind. i have a house plant, not sure the name of it but it is losing it's leaves at the bottom. what can i do about it? don't want to lose it...it was a plant that somone gave to my son for his funeral a couple months ago. r0za

[Newt]

Hi R0za,
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. As to the plant that is losing it's lower leaves, it would be difficult to say the cause without knowing which plant it is. Some plants lose their bottom leaves as they grow and develop. The two most common reasons, other than the nature of the plant, would be over watering or a plant that is rootbound. Over watered plants usually have their leaves turn brown before dropping and rootbound ones usually turn yellow before dropping. Other causes could be some type of pest.

Take a look at these pictures and see if you can id the plant. You can click on the pictures to get a larger view. Once you know the name, get back to me and I'll see if I can help. I don't mind at all! :D

http://www.greenscene.ie/Live.htm
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/i...leryindex.html

Newt

[r0za]

hey Newt, :) I looked at the pictures you sent of plants, it looks like a aucuba japomica. r0za