An important point in caring for room dracaena is pruning. The main goal of the procedure is crown formation and reproduction, in order to carry it out correctly and not harm the plant, you need to know how to cut the dracaena correctly.
Pruning dracaena carried out for several reasons:
- for the formation of a decorative crown and aesthetic appearance flower;
- for the purpose of propagation by apical shoots;
- in case of illness, to save the plant.
Pruning is also carried out if the dracaena has grown too much and begins to reach the ceiling. To avoid curvature of the trunk, the top is cut to the required height, and the shoot is rooted.
Important! At indoor cultivation it is not recommended to allow dracaena to grow above 40-50 cm, the elongated trunk loses its attractiveness.
Pruning is recommended to be carried out regularly, as the plant grows. If the trunk is broken, it must also be trimmed to even the cut and reduce the risk.
Formative pruning is carried out with a strong branching of the dracaena and a loss of decorative effect. The apical shoot of the plant can grow so much that the crown becomes prohibitively heavy for a fragile trunk, in which case pruning is indispensable.
If the plant is sick, dried and rotten shoots should be cut off, the faster this is done, the more likely it is to save the indoor flower. Usually, after such pruning of the dracaena, the crown grows for a long time, but in the end the plant takes on a decorative look and begins to branch.
If it is possible to cure the plant, it is better to postpone pruning. First, it is recommended to treat the dracaena, and then cut off the strengthened and recovered plant. Pruning is stressful for the plant, the diseased flower does not tolerate the procedure well and recovers for a long time before new shoots appear.
Most often, dracaena is purchased in a specialized store, so its trunk is already branched and has 2-3 shoots.
You can form a crown yourself, for this you need to know how to cut dracaena correctly to keep the plant in good condition.
Attention! If the shoot is deformed for some reason, it must be removed, then the flower will release new ones.
In order to properly prune, you need to pay attention to the trunk of a palm tree, sleeping buds are located on it along the entire length in a spiral. Therefore, the cut can be made anywhere on the stem, the processes will appear exactly in the place of these dormant buds.
Before cutting the dracaena , it is necessary to prepare the tools, wash and process thoroughly so as not to infect the infection and adhere to certain rules:
- Correctly calculate the height of the trunk during pruning, take into account the growth of the future crown;
- In order for shoots to appear, it is necessary to provide appropriate conditions;
- Throughout the procedure, sterile conditions must be observed;
- The plant is pruned at least 30 cm from the ground to the base of the upper shoot;
- You can cut off any fragment of the trunk, both with foliage and without;
- Pruning is carried out with a sharp instrument, while not squeezing the tissues of the trunk, so as not to provoke decay;
- Process the cut point, and root the cut shoot, for this lower leaves removed 10 cm from the bottom edge.
If pruning is planned, it is carried out in the spring, in early April, at this time of the year the plant begins to actively grow, and young shoots form best. If the plant is sick or broken, pruning is carried out on an emergency basis. Best of all, dracaena tolerates the procedure if the plant is absolutely healthy.
How to branch a dracaena
In order for the plant stem to produce additional shoots, a standard pruning procedure must be carried out. The main thing is to follow all the rules:
If the plant has already been pruned earlier for the purpose of branching, pruning should be done again to form elongated shoots. To do this, you need to cut the elongated shoots as accurately as possible and shorten the stems by 30 cm, and root the cut tops.
To decorate the trunk, you can use multi-level pruning, we must not forget about the processing of slices, for which not only paraffin is used, but also crushed charcoal. It is allowed to use drugs to stimulate growth in order to accelerate branching.
After the trimming procedure and the processing of the cuts, it is necessary to fix wet moss around the trunk under the cut, cover it with a film and fix it. Place the plant in a well-lit place for a month.
For good germination of new shoots, the moss is not removed, and the plant is regularly watered, preventing stagnation of moisture in the pot. To do this, it is better to use watering in the pan, the main thing is that the plant is in the light, then side shoots will quickly begin to grow. After the shoots appear, the film can be removed, and the dracaena can continue to grow without additional manipulations.
Some leaves may dry out, but only a few will continue to grow, shoots may appear anywhere on the trunk and the plant will acquire a multi-tiered crown. This pruning is carried out throughout life cycle dracaena to maintain a decorative form.
Dracaena grows at home up to 15 years. Wherein evergreen grows at the top, and the lower part of the stem is exposed. Leaflets, having worked out the due date for a few more than a year, gradually dry out, leaving a scar on the stem. How to cut dracaena to get side shoots? The plant allows you to create new forms by shortening the shoots. 
Types of dracaena
Dracaena marginata
This type of dracaena is the most common. You have probably seen this plant somewhere before. The features of the Marginata dracaena are very characteristic. This is a palm tree with a completely bald trunk and a rosette of green leaves with a red edging at the top. Dracaena of this variety can grow to a height of two meters. Marginata does not require a lot of light, so it grows well even in dark rooms.
Dracaena sander
Dracaena sander is also called the bamboo of happiness. It really does look like this tree. But, it is worth noting that this plant has no relationship with bamboo. This is the most natural dracaena, which has a slightly unusual look.
A feature of this variety is that the plant can develop well not only in the ground, but also in ordinary water. It gives vent to fantasy. After all, from such a plant the most beautiful compositions are obtained. Surely you have already met such shopping malls or cafe.
Fragrant dracaena
Interesting is fragrant dracaena, species of this variety are characterized by green and variegated leaves. They are attached to a thick trunk, which is very unstable. Sometimes the plant even has to be propped up because of this.
When should dracaena be trimmed?
In some cases, when the plant has grown too much or if you want to get side shoots on the dracaena, pruning is carried out. They also resort to a haircut when necessary, for example, when a stem breaks during a move, etc.
What time of year is best to prune dracaena? The process should be started when the flower begins to actively grow after the winter period, i.e. at the beginning of spring. But, events can be held until the end of summer, if there is a need. 
To the question of whether it is possible to cut the dracaena in winter, there is no exact answer, experienced growers advised to refrain from cutting operations in winter period. This is explained by the fact that the plant will be stressed during the passive period. biological growth, which can cause Negative consequences, including the death of dracaena.
During the active period of biological growth, phytohormones are formed in the plant, which affect growth processes, as a result of which the flower forms new leaf plates, the main stem grows and thickens, etc. In winter, when the dracaena is at rest, these processes are very slow, wound healing after pruning lasts long period. It is better to wait for the arrival of spring and start pruning the flower.
How to cut dracaena at home
It is recommended to cut a flower that has a height of at least 30 centimeters. 5 centimeters recede from the lower leaves and make a cut. 
Young plants before reaching the age of two are pruned arbitrarily. They have not yet begun to bare the trunk. Therefore, pruning is decorative look. At this point, you should be sure that the dracaena is healthy. If you need to branch a flower well, then you will need some advice:
The top of the dracaena, which grows in a pot, is cut off with a sharp object.
The wound is not sprinkled with anything and is not cauterized.
Make a good watering of the plant, and cover the pot with a film.
The covered pot is placed in a sunny place in the room.
Subsequent waterings are carried out in the pan without opening the pot to avoid temperature changes inside the bag.
The appearance of shoots is possible only at a temperature of 20-25 degrees and a humidity of 70-75%. Only in this case, new kidneys will appear in a month, a maximum of one and a half.
Try not to over-moisten the dracaena excessively in order to prevent the root system from rotting, and thereby cause the death of the flower.
Ways to trim dracaena at home
Pruning a plant is an important procedure, and for some flowers it is simply a necessity. Its main task is to create new shoots so that the tree begins to branch, which contributes to good crown growth. How to form a crown, and why is sanitary pruning needed? There are several reasons to prune a plant, the main thing is to do it correctly: 
- Deformed shoots. In this case, sanitary pruning and crown formation are required. This type of pruning is used if the plant has grown too much and no longer looks attractive. After the procedure, new buds and shoots appear, the appearance improves.
- If the dracaena has dried leaves, weak shoots, then they must be removed so that the plant does not get completely sick. You need to cut them off completely, leaving only healthy areas.
Dracaena care after pruning at home
The removed parts of the dracaena do not have to be thrown away. The blanks can be germinated in a glass of warm water or a container with sphagnum. Sprouts that have acquired their own roots are planted in a pot in which the mother stem lives, or a new flowerpot small size. Dracaena after decorative pruning is hidden from direct ultraviolet radiation. indoor flower it is restored in semi-darkness at a temperature of + 24–26 degrees. Until the cut is tightened, it is forbidden to add fertilizers to the water for irrigation. The exception is the growth stimulator.
The decorative bush, on which young shoots have formed, is returned to the southern windowsill. Sunlight stimulates bud growth. In order for the shoots to develop evenly, the pot is periodically turned clockwise. Thanks to this, the sun will fall on all parts of the bush. If the shoots are deformed due to the wrong light regime, they are cut off next spring or summer so that straight specimens with dense foliage grow in place of ugly branches.
Propagation of dracaena by apical cuttings
Cut off the stem preferably with a sharpened knife. It is not recommended to use scissors or secateurs, because the cut is uneven and crumpled, and this can lead to rotting of the cutting. So, let's start.
It is necessary to cut off the top with a shoot, leave stumps about 10 cm high.
If there are leaves on the stem of the cutting, then they must be removed, leaving only a few on the crown.
If the cut stem is long, then it is recommended to shorten it, leaving 15 cm from the crown.
Do not throw away the remaining piece, it is still useful for grafting.
It is necessary to dry the cut area for about 30 minutes.
Then you need to prepare a tank for the cutting. Pour into a container not cold clean water. Throw in liquid Activated carbon. It is also allowed to use Zircon, and drop a few drops into the water, this will speed up the process of forming the root system.
We place the stalk in the liquid. You need to monitor the water, if necessary, it is worth changing the water.
After about 2 months, the first roots will begin to appear, then it is necessary to plant the seedlings in a container. 
Propagation of dracaena by seeds
Growing dracaena from seeds is quite simple. This will require:
Place the seeds in a cup of warm water. High temperature causes growth inside the seeds.
The water should be changed daily during the soaking period, which lasts three to five days. Water gradually cools during the day, which contributes to successful germination.
It is necessary to choose a place for future seedlings.
For successful germination, place the container in an area with full sunlight, preferably above +22 degrees. After removing the seeds from the water, it is necessary to scatter planting material into the soil with lime base. Each seed must be placed directly below the surface of the soil. Soil consistency should have good drainage.
Regular moistening of the soil should be ensured for the entire period of germination.
As a rule, shoots will appear in 30-40 days.
Grown palms can be moved to separate containers and cared for as an adult plant. It should be borne in mind that not all varieties of dracaena can be grown from seeds.
Dracaena - unpretentious and incredible beautiful plant. Caring for her is quite simple and includes a number of mandatory activities. Attention deserves the formation of the crown. The procedure is carried out for branching. Trimming a dracaena is not difficult, you just need to study this process step by step and then start doing the work.
The importance of regular pruning
Pruning dracaena is often vital for her. There are several reasons why this procedure is carried out:
- giving a sophisticated look;
- maintaining a compact size;
- sanitary and preventive measures.
If an excessively tall palm tree has grown, it begins to break off. Primary pruning helps to avoid such problems. It is unacceptable for the flower to stretch in height. When the length of the trunk reaches forty centimeters, it is cut off. Due to this, the plant will be compact and will not lose its decorative qualities.
Even if initially it was necessary to pinch the plant and the formation of the crown of the dracaena was correct, when the palm tree grows, it loses its former attractiveness. Therefore, you need to resort to cropping. It is extremely important to carry it out if the plant is sick and its leaves are falling. In this case, it will be possible to save the flower from death.
Timing of the procedure
Planned pruning of dracaena at home is carried out during the period of active growth, when sap flow begins. This time is in April and May. Autumn and winter are undesirable for such work.
In cases where a part of the stem has broken off from a palm tree, you can cut the dracaena on any of its life stage. It should be borne in mind that such manipulations will be successful only on a healthy flower.
How to cut dracaena correctly
Pruning dracaena at home is carried out according to certain rules. Depending on the purpose of the procedure, different actions are carried out. Thus, it will be possible to form a crown, rejuvenate a palm tree and carry out sanitary and preventive measures - and all this implies its own rules.
For branching
To trim the dracaena for branching, a standard technique is used. During the initial procedure, the top is cut off with a knife or secateurs. After that, you need to immediately process the cut with paraffin. The flower is placed in partial shade and the air temperature is monitored. It should be in the range of 24-25 degrees.
It will take time for the dracaena to branch. A branched plant will not appear overnight. It will take about three months for the palm to give side shoots.
If previously it was necessary to cut the perennial, but different trunks managed to stretch out, the procedure is carried out again. All tops are cut at the same level. Deformed areas that cannot form into a fluffy crown are also removed. In order to obtain a multi-tiered flower, cutting of shoots at different heights is allowed.
For bush rejuvenation
As the palm tree grows, the lower leaves begin to dry out and crumble. The trunk lengthens and the plant looks unattractive. In this case, you need to update the dracaena. In this case, the trunk is shortened by at least five centimeters. You can also cut at the very base, leaving only three kidneys.
The cut remains open until complete healing in order to avoid its decay. The lower section of the trunk is wrapped with moss and treated with a growth stimulator. Due to this, dormant buds will wake up and instead of the central shoot, several lateral ones will appear.
It is strictly forbidden to rejuvenate a diseased palm tree. Such actions will lead to rotting of the cut points and damage to the trunk to the very base. Saving the flower in this case will be problematic. If you rejuvenate a healthy perennial, you will be able to make the top of the head lush, branched.
Sanitary pruning
With a rapid deterioration in the condition of the flower, pruning is mandatory. In this case, first of all, they dig out and inspect the condition of the roots. Damaged, rotten areas are removed in order to re-plant the plant, but already in a new substrate. At the next stage, a cut is made of all the affected above-ground areas.
Pruning of tall, healthy dracaena is carried out for sanitary-forming purposes. Deformed shoots are removed along with dried leaves. The cropped flower is given the optimal temperature regime so that it adapts faster and begins to grow.
How to create an imitation bonsai
To grow a real bonsai, it will take more than one decade. The forming procedure, which allows making its imitation from dracaena, also takes more than one year. The main task in this case is to build a thick trunk. This process in the palm tree is problematic. Therefore, you need to competently approach the creation of the proper conditions:
- the light is bright but diffused;
- air temperature within 18-25 degrees;
- moistening the soil as it dries;
- fertilization.
It is extremely important to comply with all these requirements. With a decrease in light, the air temperature decreases and the frequency of irrigation decreases. Due to this, it will be possible to prevent the barrel from being pulled up.
A few years later, when the dracaena reaches a height of fifteen centimeters, and the thickness of the shoot in diameter is about five centimeters, they are pruned. At the same time, side branches appear below the cut point. They begin to grow upward, and the trunk thickens a little. In the future, new trunks are shortened. Thus, a cascading version of the flower is created, visually resembling a bonsai.
Features of care after the procedure
After carrying out the basic manipulations, you need to create conditions for the rapid restoration of the plant:
- the trunk is wrapped in cellophane to cause a greenhouse effect. It is removed only after the awakening of sleeping kidneys. The cut point is left open;
- the air temperature is maintained within 20-24 degrees;
- the plant is placed in a bright place and protected from direct sunlight;
- when performing the procedure in winter, provide lighting with fluorescent lamps. Daylight hours should be twelve hours;
- substrate moisture should be carefully monitored. Once upper layer dries out by four centimeters, the soil is provided with watering. In this case, settled water or a solution with top dressing is used;
- the crown is systematically sprayed with warm water in order to ensure the proper level of air humidity. Once a week, these manipulations are performed using growth stimulants;
- from time to time it is necessary to turn the flowerpot so that the shoots grow evenly.
The formation of dracaena is a simple process that everyone can master. Due to the timely shortening of the trunk, the crown becomes lush and the plant acquires an even more refined look. Such manipulations are carried out systematically, observing certain rules. Only in this case, the work will bring the desired result - a flower will appear in the house, from which it will be impossible to look away.
Dracaena (Dracaena marginata) is one of the most unpretentious houseplants.
Pots with dracaena can be placed on the windowsill, on the supply for flowers, and dracaena also looks spectacular as an outdoor plant. Dracaena grows well in parts of the room not illuminated by the sun's rays, only with artificial light.
When the earthy coma dries out, the leaves of the dracaena droop - this is how it gives a signal about the need for moisture. Having saturated, the leaves literally rise before our eyes, returning to their previous position.
Dracaena grows very fast. If the plant has outgrown and its trunk is bare, it can be formed. Stores often sell dracaena with two or three fountains of shoots at the top. Sometimes a composition in a pot consists of several cuttings, formed into one, two or three trunks, planted in one pot.
How to do it:
- With a sharp knife or pruner, cut off the top of the plant.
- Sprinkle the cut with crushed coal.
Leave the mother plant on a bright window sill.
On the remaining stem, buds will form within a month.
What to do with the cut off part of the trunk?
The cut top can be rooted in water or sand.
You can also divide the long stem of the dracaena into several parts and root each.
More:
1. Rooting in water. To do this, simply put the cuttings in water. Literally in a week, the rudiments will appear first, and then the roots themselves. Then dormant buds wake up.
2. Rooting in the sand. Sprinkle the lower cut with a root stimulator and, having landed in a pot, water well. Put on top of the pot plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect and accelerate the formation of roots.
3. In the sand, planting parts of the trunk horizontally. Cut a lignified trunk without leaves into cuttings 5-7 cm and place the cuttings in wet sand, slightly pressing it to half the diameter into the substrate.
1. Cut to the required height
2. Dracaena tolerates pruning painlessly
3. When cutting cuttings, the main thing is not to flatten the base of the stem. The knife or pruner must be sharp.
5. The water in the jar must be topped up periodically
6. This is how awakening buds look on the mother plant.
7. With such roots, dracaena can be safely planted in the ground
8. Cant. Only one shoot develops well on the mother plant, the second one grows very slowly. I think I'll cut again.
9. The middle part of the stem. It was without roots and tops, a stem with part of the leaves. The roots gave quickly, the buds awakened and developed better than on other cuttings. After planting in a pot, I cut off the "mother" leaves in half, then gradually drying up, they separated without problems.
Now from these plants it is possible to make a multi-tiered composition of any complexity.
Or leave each to grow in a separate pot ;-)
In the same way, you can cut and shape the yucca.
Dracaena known as false palm or dragon tree, refers to popular home and office plants. With proper handling, it grows up to 1.5 or even 2 meters in height and can live up to 15 years.
Photo gallery
Dracaena formation. Filling the cut with paraffin.
It is unpretentious in care, the only aspect that can cause difficulties in growing it is pruning, which must be done regularly.
Why cut dracaena?
There are three main reasons why dracaena is pruned:
- sanitary and preventive, in which all damaged leaves and shoots are cut off to stop the spread of the disease;
- decorative, in which a crown is formed;
- if the dracaena has grown to the ceiling.
To obtain side shoots and rejuvenate dracaena, decorative pruning is also used, giving the plant a well-groomed appearance and the necessary splendor. In addition, pruning is used as one of the propagation methods for dracaena, the cuttings of which take root quite quickly and successfully.
How to cut dracaena at home?
First of all, you need to understand the tree of what height you want to get in the end. Second an important factor is lighting, because future shoots will develop precisely due to the light falling on them.
The cut should be at such a level that new shoots and foliage receive enough sun rays.
Expert opinion
Mokhov Andrey Petrovich
For the pruning procedure, you can use a scalpel or a sharp sterile knife; scissors or garden pruners are not recommended, as they pinch the stem and can cause unwanted damage.
You will also need a garden var or a more familiar paraffin candle, sphagnum moss, a water sprayer, and a plastic bag.
What types of dracaena should be cut?
At home, as a rule, the following types and varieties of dracaena are grown:
All types of dracaena grown at home need pruning, only its frequency differs.
Trimming time
Like all procedures that injure a plant, pruning must be carried out during a period of active growth, this is the only way to ensure that everything goes well and the dracaena will quickly recover. This period can be considered the time from the end of winter to the beginning of summer. The best months are April and May.
Do not prune immediately after transplanting, as the plant may not be able to withstand the double stress. It is best to wait at least a month. During this time, the dracaena will successfully take root in a new pot and will undergo the operation much easier.
In the autumn-winter period, pruning is not recommended, since low temperatures and lack of light can lead to the fact that it will take more than one month for new buds to appear, in the worst case, the plant may even die.
To increase the chances of dracaena survival, it is necessary to provide her with as much as possible comfortable conditions and maintain them for the entire period that it takes for the emergence of new shoots.
Step-by-step instructions for forming a crown
Faced with the need to trim the dracaena in order to achieve a result and not destroy the plant, it is important to clearly follow the algorithm of actions:
- Determine the height of the cut and mark this place.
- With a sharp knife cut off the top along the mark line. In no case should you break off the shoots.
- With a piece of cotton wool, remove the juice that has come out at the cut point, then pour the top of the stem with garden pitch or paraffin. It is not recommended to use wax for this purpose, since its melting point is much higher than that of paraffin. It will only harm the plant.
- If there are leaves on the trunk, they must be removed from the entire area 10-15 cm below the cut.
- Spray generously with water and wrap the section of the trunk below the cut with wet sphagnum, leaving the cut itself open.
- Put a transparent plastic bag or film on top to maintain the required temperature and humidity.
Expert opinion
Mokhov Andrey Petrovich
Graduated from KubGAU specialty: agronomy
For the cut top, you can prepare a separate pot, planting it in which, after a while, you can get another plant.
Over the next month, new shoots will appear on the trunk, until this time it is recommended to remove the plastic bag no more than once every 5 days to air and spray the plant.
Watering during this period must be carried out by bottom method or by immersion. To avoid waterlogging, non-absorbed liquid residues are drained from the pan, otherwise this can lead to decay of the measles system and death of the flower.
How to cut dracaena for branching
Such pruning is carried out either in a young dracaena with one trunk, or in cases where the trunks have grown too long, become bare and have lost their visual appeal.
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