Many years ago, when our dog Izzy died, someone sent us a dish garden with four or five plants in it.
By now, the plants either died or outgrew the pot they were in. The Dracaena (whose name I just learned today) has continued to grow so that as of this morning it was over six feet tall.
Too tall.
I figured there was a way to prune it so, not knowing the name of the plant, I fished around online and found out the name of the plant and a video of a woman in Australia demonstrating how to prune a Dracaena.
It was almost too simple, just cut the stem, she suggested about a hand or two above the roots, then cut the stem a few more times and stick each pieced in potting soil. This way they will grow roots and sprout leaves.
I’m very happy with my new Dracaena. I don’t really need three more of them, but I just couldn’t not give the extra stems a chance to grow.
I’ll probably give them away if and when they do root and sprout.
There was another plant that came in the dish garden. I didn’t know the name of this one either, and still don’t. But I thought I’d try the same thing with it. It had gotten so tall it kept toppling over even when I put it in a very deep pot.
Above is the other plant which was more than twice as tall and looks so much better.
Both plants are on the front porch where the get indirect sunlight, which is what they like. I have a feeling they will both be happier and will be easier for me to manage when I bring them back in the house for the winter.
Maria – I believe this is a Dracanea Compacta.
Oh thank you for that Jill. :)
Maria we did this with the overgrown plant at work -it really does work!
I’m glad to hear that Peg, After I did it I thought maybe the video was wrong. You know how it’s so often hard to trust what you see online. I wasn’t so discerning when I chose it over the the others. :)