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Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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Posted by tjg911 z5b CT (My Page) on Fri, Apr 7, 06 at 9:14
| i have a Dracaena Marginata that has grown quite tall over the past several years. i moved it so it wouldn't touch the ceiling at the edge of the room which is close to 7'. it's been in it's new location several months and now is less than 2' from the 10' ceiling. i have nowhere to move the plant as this is the max height of my ceiling. now what?
i hate to lose the plant but i don't want it hitting the ceiling. the base is about 1 3/4 to 2" at the widest point. there is a second Dracaena Marginata in the same pot that's about 5' tall. if i cut the 9' plant around the 5' level will it die or just produce new branches? presently it is 1 straight stalk with foliage that starts about 6' from the base. if it dies will the shorter plant survive?
i'm hoping someone can advise me.
thanks,
tom |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| Just whack it off anywhere and it will branch and keep on going. Stick the cutting in dirt and it too will keep going. It will just lose a few of the lower leaves. |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| gina, wow that's great news! because the trunk is so thick at the 4-5' level and there are no leaves at that low height i thought cutting it would just kill it without any foliage. 1 other question, i know a clean cut is better than a ragged cut. how can i get a clean cut thru a trunk 1" thick? i was thinking of using a hack saw as they have very fine teeth for cutting metal but that is still going to leave a jagged cut. then using a fresh blade in my utility knife, i'll try to cut off the ragged part. should i put tree paint on the cut to stop fluid ouzing and seal it from the air? any ideas are welcomed. it would be great if i could save this plant, it is from 1992 or 1993, so healthy with such beautiful leaves. tom |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| Tom, just cut it - the hacksaw will be fine, or even just a pair of loppers. They're not a delicate plant. Pam |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| A pair of secateurs please! NO saws!! |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| I have a similar problem with my plant that has grown 7'+ and I have a HUGE sentimental attachment to it I am afraid to chop it off at the base but that may be my only option. I know you posted that sectioning the trunk would work, but I would be devastated if i chopped it into pieces and it didn't recover. Though I would love to multiply the plant. I looked at "air-layering" and thought of just doing that as a safer route but I am not sure if it is too big to try that or if I am too in-experienced to attempt such a task. However, if the plant is as hardy as you say it is maybe cutting and rooting in soil might be best and easiest. I suppose I am looking for moral support before I cut my baby up. =D TOM: I found some helpful information on another forum too |
Here is a link that might be useful: How to root a dracaena marginata
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| Just stick the cutting in a clear plastic beer cup with moist pearlite or vermiculite - your cutting will have roots in about 4 weeks Jeff |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| Its not a fussy plant. Just cut it. The top portion you could even stick in a pail of water and it will root. "lucky bamboo" is not really a bamboo, its a draceana and people grow these in water year round, just to give you an idea of how easy draceanas are to grow. Wherever you cut it, it will branch off in several differnt directions and reach for the cieling. |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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| wow, this post is almost 2 years old! i'm glad someone posted in it as i had no idea what the advice was or how to find this! now the darned plant is about 1/8" from the 10' ceiling!!!! the lowest leaves are now about 6 1/2' from the floor. so from rereading this i can use a hack saw and i'd then use a sharp utility knife for a straight smooth cut. i'll put the top of the plant into water to see how it roots. will the cut on the stalk scab over or should i seal it off with tree paint? tom |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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- Posted by socal23 USDA10/Sunset23 (My Page) on
Sun, Jan 13, 08 at 10:51
| Draceana is a monocot (instead of xylem and phloem in a ring just under the bark, there are many "vascular bundles"). Because of this, stems don't grow outward (the increase in girth is due to swelling of cells, not the growth of new cells) so there is no branch "collar" to eventually grow over an old wound. The upshot of this is that neat, clean cuts are important more for aesthetic rather than "wound healing" purposes. |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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My Dracaena got to 3 feet tall. I cut it in to 3 stocks,
about an inch over the round rings. I was told to dip the ends in root hormones and let it dry out over night, then to put in water. I hope its not gonna kill it. But i wanna know if the new stocks will grow leaves? What can i do to fix what i think is a mistake i made? this plant is very dear to me on behalf of my grandma. |
RE: Dracaena Marginata getting TOO tall
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Tara, I don't understand why someone told you to use rooting hormone, then set in water? If they advised you to use the hormone, than pot in soil, that'd be different, but water???
After dipping in hormone, then placing in water, the powder will scatter. You know what I mean?
Nonetheless, marginata will root in water or soil. I wouldn't have let it dry overnight, but that's a matter of choice.
What are stocks? LOL. Did you keep the mom plant? If so, she'll produce new growth. One thing you can do, after cuttings root, pot in with mom. Doing so will fill out, making plant compact.
Keep cuttings in bright but no direct sun light. Change water every or every other day, otherwise it'll foul the water and emit an obnoxious odor. Good luck, Toni |
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