As a master of floral illusion, a dragon tree raises questions for indoor gardeners about pruning care. The most beautiful Dracaena species thrive with tree-like growth or are reminiscent of a multi-stemmed palm tree. Sooner or later, the expansive growth makes pruning unavoidable. This tutorial will clear up any concerns you might have about cutting. Read here why you can use scissors without reservation. These instructions clearly explain when and how to skilfully cut your dragon tree.
How do I prune my dragon tree correctly?
To prune a dragon tree properly, first choose spring as the ideal time. Then cut or saw the trunk or shoot just above a former leaf base. It is then recommended to dust cuts with charcoal or cinnamon and, if necessary, apply tree wax.
Why is a dragon tree tolerant of pruning?
At first glance, a dragon tree looks like a palm tree or a multi-stemmed tree. In fact, dragon trees (Dracaena) are an importantgenuswithin theAsparagus family Depending on the species, the evergreen houseplants thrive with one or more woody plants Trunks adorned with a decorative tuft of sword leaves.
A dragon tree is therefore distantly related to the popular vegetable asparagus or widespread ornamental plants such as milk star or harebell. Regardless of the many differences, the asparagus family is characterized byexcellent cutting tolerance.
Background
Sleeping eyes – secret recipe for growth from nothing
If you cut off a trunk on the dragon tree, two new shoots will grow at this point, similar to multi-headed dragons in myths and legends. In Dracaena species, the growth has nothing to do with magic, but is based on the ingenious botanical property of sprouting fresh flowers from sleeping eyes. Gardeners refer to dormant buds as sleeping eyes, which are created as an iron reserve in proportion to the growth in height. If important plant parts fall out, such as shoots and trunks, sleeping eyes are activated. Their only job is to replace the lost plant volume. Since a dragon tree thrives with opposite buds, there are always two fresh shoots that seem to sprout out of nowhere after being pruned.
Prepare the cut correctly – tips & tricks
As befits a dragon tree, it is filled with dragon blood in the form of reddish plant sap. Since ancient times, dragon's blood has been the name given to a red-colored resin that is obtained from various types of dragon trees. The plant sap is correspondinglystickyand intensecoloring. When combined with a cut, Dragon's Blood can cause irreversible stains on documents, floors and clothing. A high saponin content also poses a risk of annoyingitching if the plant sap comes into direct contact with the skin. The following preparatory work is advisable before cutting your dragon tree:
- Freshly sharpen the scissor blades, clean them and disinfect them with alcohol (€19.00 at Amazon)
- Replace the old, dull saw blade on the folding saw with a new, sharp one
- Put the dragon tree on foil, old blankets or used curtains
- Put on gloves and stain-resistant clothing
- Keep cotton balls or torn paper tissues handy to catch the plant sap
Do not prune a dragon tree on valuable flooring made of wood, natural stone or carpet. If covering the ground is too difficult for you, move the cutting work outside to ashady place on open ground.
Pruning the dragon tree
The best time for pruning the dragon tree isearly springAt the end of the winter dormancy, the green plant prepares itself for the new growing season from February/March and is correspondingly vital and ready to sprout. The evergreen indoor tree makes pruning easy for the gardener, because everyformer leaf baseis suitable as ainterface After the recommended preparations, prune your dragon tree like this:
- Place scissors or saw just above a former leaf base
- Stabilize the shoot or trunk with one hand
- Cut or saw with the other hand in one go to leave the cuts as smooth as possible
- Sprinkle cuts with charcoal or cinnamon
- Large cuts with a diameter of more than 2 cm should be thinly coated on the edges with tree wax
- Catching heavy juice flow with cotton balls or paper tissues
As the picture below shows, you can't go wrong when cutting dragon trees. Along the woody shoots and trunks there are a large number of former leaf bases from which fresh shoots can grow. The further down you cut, the longer it will take for new growth to occur. If you cut an old dragon tree by more than half, please be patient for several weeks until growth begins. It is beneficial for the process if you then repot the green plant in fresh substrate.
If a dragon tree becomes too large, it can easily tolerate pruning. Cut at a short distance to a former leaf base under which a sleeping eye is hidden.
Excursus
Revitalize clippings instead of throwing them away
The clippings are far too valuable to dispose of in the trash or compost. Cut leaves and trimmed stems are perfect as vital propagation material. Place one or more stem cuttings in a glass of soft water. In the bright, warm location you can see up close how the offshoots take root below and sprout magnificently above. Once the root strands have reached a length of several centimeters, pot your plants individually, as a duo or trio in pots with slightly acidic, well-drained potting soil.
Do not cut off dead leaves
Dead leaves on the dragon tree are no use for scissors. The term evergreen foliage does not imply that a single leaf within the crown lives forever. As a rule, a sword blade wears off after two to three years. In exchange, a fresh leaf usually sprouts in the head, so that the volume of foliage is not reduced.
Please do not cut off a dead leaf. The remaining tissue rots and becomes a source of infection for diseases. Instead, wait until a dragon tree leaf has completely died. The plant either releases the leaf on its own by shedding it. Alternatively, acourageous tug is enough to remove the worn-out sword blade from the trunk without leaving any residue.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dragon tree poisonous?
Some of the popular dragon tree species are classified as slightly poisonous. The plants contain saponins and other toxins that can cause nausea, vomiting and cramps if consumed. Children, sensitive adults and pets are affected. Furthermore, skin contact with the reddish plant sap can cause allergic reactions that are associated with annoying itching. Asthmatics suffer from breathing difficulties if they are exposed to the fumes of dragon trees for a long time.
Overwintering a dragon tree outside – is that possible?
All dragon tree species are native to tropical and subtropical regions. As a result, evergreen indoor trees have not learned to survive winter frost. One of the most cold-tolerant species is the popular Canary Islands dragon tree (Dracaena draco), which can survive short-term temperatures close to freezing point without being damaged. From April to October, a dragon tree enjoys fresh air and sunshine on the balcony and terrace. If the temperatures fall below 10 degrees, it is time for the exotic green plants to find a frost-free winter quarters.
Can a dragon tree bloom? If so, what do the flowers look like?
Under ideal conditions, it is entirely possible for a dragon tree to bloom. If you are granted the rare honor, you can look forward to a decorative inflorescence consisting of countless, large, white bell-shaped flowers that spread a seductive scent. When pollinating insects get to the flowers, they turn into orange berries. The fruits are beautiful to look at, but not suitable for consumption.
Which dragon tree varieties are suitable for the bright living room?
The favorite of all indoor gardeners is undoubtedly the Canary Islands dragon tree (Dracaena draco) with a majestic 300 to 400 centimeter height, magnificent trunk and sword-shaped leaves up to 50 centimeters long. Dracaena fragrans rivals the Canary Islands dragon tree's reputation as the most popular dragon tree with a height of 150 to 200 centimeters and decorative leaves with colored borders or stripes. The multi-stemmed beauty with the botanical name Dracaena marginata is no less decorative. Its narrow, lanceolate leaves grow up to 40 centimeters long and gather together to form elegantly curved leaf clusters. Dracaena hookerana exudes a cozy jungle atmosphere, whose leathery-green sword leaves grow up to 70 centimeters long and 7 centimeters wide.
Cut off brown leaf tips on the dragon tree or not?
With brown leaf tips, a dragon tree signals that the humidity is too low. You can cut off the damaged areas with sharp scissors. It is important to note that you leave a tiny brown remnant of tissue and do not cut into the green leaf mass. We then recommend increasing the humidity in the room or spraying the dragon tree regularly with soft water.
The 3 most common cutting mistakes
If a dragon tree no longer sprouts after pruning or causes concern with moldy cuts, the indoor gardener has made a typical pruning mistake. The following table names the three most common mistakes when cutting, points out classic damage patterns and gives tips for prevention:
| Cutting errors | malicious image | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| cut under direct sunlight | dried, resin-glued cut without growth | always prune in a shady location |
| dead, yellow or brown leaves cut off | Spread of rot from the cuts | tear off drawn dragon tree leaves |
| blunt cutting tool used | frayed cuts, infestation with diseases and pests | Blades and cutting freshly sharpened and disinfected before cutting |
Tip
The lucky bamboo demonstrates the versatility of Dracaena species. Also known as Lucky Bamboo, the popular houseplant is not a bamboo. Rather, the evergreen lucky charm comes from the botanical name Dracaena braunii syn. sanderiana belongs to the genus of dragon trees. As a result, the artistic green plant is equipped with a good-natured tolerance to pruning, which offers a variety of training options.