A forgotten plant! The many readings about Dracaena lucky bamboo lately have reminded me of a similar species Dracaena fragrans ‘Deremensis / Janet Craig’ that we have. It was a wedding present for us almost 30 years ago which was still growing lanky and tall. It was not repotted for a long long time. No branches, just a single trunk almost 2 meters tall. It looked ugly and was still standing against the wall for support. Otherwise it would fall. Though a bit dusty, the crown were green and quite healthy, but the long and bare cane was just too thin to support the heavy leaves on the top. So I had to do something about it.
Yesterday I decided to repot the Dracaena fragrans which is also known as Corn-stalk Plant. It was named fragrans because of its sweet smelling flowers. Mine never flowered though! Anyway, I decided to chop it into three parts.
The bottom cane cutting with roots which I am sure it will grow new shoots. The middle cane, completely bare and rootless. With this one is a gamble, if lucky it will develop roots and later will also grow new shoots. Then the top part with leaves. I stripped many of the long and healthy looking leaves to help it concentrate more into producing roots. They say this top cutting will give me a better chance.
I used multy purpose potting mix which was mixed with cactus soil (1 : 1) to make it more well drain. I used potting media that has no fertilizers added. Dracaenas are sensitif with too much fertilizer. As tap water which contains chlorine and other chemicals not good for Draceana, I watered them well with rain water. If I keep the soil moist all the time, hopefully with fingers cross, they will grow!!
PS: Hubby was really worrying about cutting this plant into 3…. he still thinks that I will kill them!!
Update March 5, 2013:
The two cuttings have started to grow new leaf buds. The bottom cane with the roots has faster growing rate and the middle cane is much slower as the leaf buds still very small. The top cutting with leaves still looks very fresh, shiny and green. I keep the soil moist and give them light/very weak seaweed drink:)
Update: October 28, 2013:
It has been nine months since I cut our Dracaena plant into three to make three individual plants. The two bare stems have grown leaves.
Photo taken January 30, 2014 – One year after cutting and transplanting.
Kiyanti2008's Weblog 
Apr 29, 2013 @ 15:24:25
I have a cutting as well like your #3. However it is very short. Maybe 3 or 4 inches tall. Do you know if it will continue to grow taller? I have heard they are slow but i have had it over 2 years. Anything i can do to help it get taller?
Apr 29, 2013 @ 18:23:47
There are many different kinds of Dracaena, some grow slower than others. Does it look healthy? Maybe it just needs more sunlight ( moving it near a sunny window). If the leaves don’t look healthy, try to take the plant out of the pot. If it is root bound, you can loosen the roots and repot in a bigger pot if necessary. The potting media that I used was: 1 part multy purpose potting mix + 1 part cactus mix. It is better not to use tap water, rain or bottle water is better. Very weak multy purpose soluble fertilizer or sea weed will make it happier:) Good Luck!
Apr 30, 2013 @ 12:48:12
I will try what u said. Thank you very much!
May 20, 2013 @ 03:08:54
I’ve taken several cuttings of that exact variety of dracaena and all rooted well. some are in pots, others in the garden, but they are definitely all growing without issue!
FYI, we seem to have another plant in common! I found your blog when I “googled” hemizygia info..(I’m working on a post about the “candy kisses” variety, and didn’t know much about it so decided researching on google was the way to go!) Glad it led me here…I like your blog!
May 20, 2013 @ 10:56:13
Thank you. I’m looking forward for your post about ‘Candy Kisses’ Hemizygia:)
Jan 29, 2014 @ 08:07:12
I stole one of these from the garbage at work, and the last owner had broken the top off. It’s about 3.25 feet with one leaf up 2.5ft, and the second right at the top. My question is twofold: How do I get the top growing again (if at all), and (2) what would be the best way to cut it so I could get more leaves out of it, especially if the top won’t grow anymore?
Jan 29, 2014 @ 18:38:09
Thank you for reading and I hope that what you have is the same Dracaena species as mine, with many rings on the cane. I am not sure with any other types of Dracaena as I have never grown them (except lucky bamboo).
If the top part are leafless or badly damage, you can grow the plant from completely bare cane. In your case, I will prefer to cut the top part about 1.5 feet long, so the top cutting will have those 2 leaves. There will still a chance that new leaves will grow again from the top, otherwise new leaf nodes can grow somewhere else on the cane. And the remaining cane (about) 1.75 feet with roots will make 2nd plant. If those leaves are long, you can cut them shorter to make it look neater and also for the plant to concentrate into growing new ones.
Good luck:)
Jan 30, 2014 @ 02:37:44
Thank you so much! I will try that and try to let you know how it goes. =]
Sep 23, 2014 @ 04:45:50
Hi Lois. Thank you so much for your post. I am a complete novice and adopted a sick Dracaena. Can it still be saved if the center of the stalk is browning? The leaves in the center have turned dark brown. and the base of the stalk is also browning. It did have three stems but the other two were really dark and mushy. I cut them and just repotted the single stem with roots. It’s about 2.5 feet tall with 6 leaves that are about a foot long. Aside from the center, the plant looks healthy.
Sep 23, 2014 @ 09:56:16
You have repotted the plant, it will depend on the roots. If the roots still healthy, the chance to recover is bigger. Make sure the potting mix is really well drain and do not over water. If the plant is not doing really well, perhaps the top part of the plant that is still healthy can be saved and hopefully it will develop some roots.
For a further read on rotting Dracaena, please click here:
http://www.gardenguides.com/130545-stem-rot-root-rot-dracaena-marginata.html
Jun 01, 2015 @ 22:59:42
La mienne va enfin fleurir après 7 ans!!!
Jun 02, 2015 @ 10:54:24
La mienne jamais fleur….
Sorry, I don’t speak French, but I used google translation 🙂
Jan 04, 2016 @ 06:18:18
Hi Lois,
I recently replotted 2 cut plants from my parents, but the leave have quickly fallen off. I was wondering if you had any advice on if this is normal when they need to root, ect. The growing section at the top seems to look fine…but I am new to this.
Also, I have been using tap water, so would you recommend me switching away from that to what? (Rain water isn’t too convenient for me, so distilled?)
Jan 04, 2016 @ 10:29:21
Hi Alex,
If it is only the bottom leaves fallen off but the top ones are not wilted, I think it is normal because the plant is without roots. Other option is by stripping off more bottom foliage if it is very bushy and leaving few of the top ones so this way the cutting can concentrate on growing new roots.
At your parents’ place, how the plant is watered? If it is watered by tap water and seem to be okey, then tap water won’t be the problem. But if you want to be safe, bottled water for drinking that is originally from spring water is a good choice. Make sure not to over water and never leave the pot soaked in water.
Note: I read that some people get rain water by melting clean snow in the winter and store it in a big container 🙂
Jul 06, 2016 @ 08:11:36
Hi Lois, it’s so great to find this article. My plant is very old and stem is getting very thin. The top is healthy and beautiful. Never flowered for me but I love it. Surprisingly it start growing a new baby beside but as it is growing the leaves of a new one turns dark and don’t progress too much. What should I do. Please advise me. Nora
Jul 06, 2016 @ 12:59:59
If you are not happy with the look of the thin leggy stem, one option is to cut the top and replant it. The remaining leafless stem with roots can be re-potted in fresh potting mix. It can be cut if you think it is too long (similar to what I did).
I’m not sure where the new baby is growing, if it is from the root perhaps you can separate it. If it grows from the stem, hopefully it can grow better. Even if it dies, don’t worry too much as the bare cuttings will eventually grow new foliage.
Thanks Nora and good luck 🙂
Feb 18, 2017 @ 13:49:18
Lois, I am so glad I found your blog! My daughter brought this plant over to me so I could try to save it! I talked to a horticulturist and a person at a nursery neither could tell me how to fix my plant. Thanks to you I will most likely be able to cut in 3 like you did and save them. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Feb 19, 2017 @ 12:11:44
You’re welcome, Debbie and good luck 🙂
May 04, 2017 @ 01:49:39
My question is can you cut the leafy shoot that has grown at the top of my cutting and plant it for a new plant? If so where should I cut it it’s stem is short and what type soil should I plant it in?
May 04, 2017 @ 10:10:33
I think it will be safe if the new shoot stem has hardened to make sure it will grow roots.If it is too young, just wait until it is mature enough. If it is me, I will prefer to cut close to the main stem. The soil I use is a mixture of potting mix and cactus mix (1:1).
May 05, 2017 @ 10:18:41
It’s stem isn’t hardened so probably to young. It comes off of the propagated main stem that I cut last spring and is approximately 2 feet tall. Think the shoot will live if I cut the main stem in half?
May 05, 2017 @ 11:04:31
From my own experience and others, it is very easy to grow this plant from cuttings. Some people do it by rooting the cuttings in water first and also use rooting hormone. It is interesting to see this video clip from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUosQRDGevM
May 25, 2017 @ 22:48:40
Thank you. My plant is at least 10 years old. It is 8 ft tall and has reached the ceiling. I knew I had to do something and now I know! Thank you thank you!
May 26, 2017 @ 10:47:12
I’m happy for you, thank you as well 🙂
Jul 20, 2017 @ 18:35:31
Hi Lois, I have 5 of these that are needing cut back drastically. When you cut your stalks did you just put them directly into the soil without rooting them? I love the information that you provide. Thank you.
Jul 21, 2017 @ 09:52:19
Thank you for reading this blog. I just planted them without rooting them first. You can if you wish by putting them in water until the roots grow, or other people apply root growth hormone before planting.
Sep 08, 2017 @ 22:31:45
Hi Lois, I’m glad I came across your website; I have been searching the best way to cut my Dracaena Massangeana and also propagate the top part. It is a one straight up full of leaves all the way stem, and it has reached the ceiling. As I wouldn’t want it to get hurt and curved by being pressed against the ceiling, I am afraid the time has come to cut it.
If I put the top cut part in water with a touch of rooting hormone with that be alright and maintain the leaves that it has? (of course, some leaves will need to be cur to make a certain length of stem).
And about how long should the bare of leaves part of the stem be, and then about how long of a stem with leaves should it be so that the leaves can be maintained while rooting?
I would very much appreciate your advise.
Sep 09, 2017 @ 10:23:27
Thanks Maria. By using growth hormone, it will be quicker to grow new shoots. I didn’t use growth hormone at all. Ours, it had a long bare stem with only about 1/3 (top part) had leaves. About how long the cane should be cut, it depends to your liking. Around 30 cm will be ideal I think, but if you want it taller or slightly shorter, it’s alright as well. The middle and bottom parts of the cane can be stripped bare, as new leaf shoots will grow on the cane to form new top. Aesthetically it will look nicer without the old leaves.
Sep 09, 2017 @ 11:18:40
Thank you so much for your reply! A couple more questions, since it’s my first time to make a cut and propagate such a big plant, and really just liked it so, and as it was growing so well. But needs to get done..
As it is the greener stem that will be cut (and not the trunk like part which is just the short short part at the bottom of the whole plant), should it be cut diagonally or straight? Which is the best for the parts that would root and the bottom part for new shoots?
I also have wax…apply the wax for the bottom part and the top of the middle part to protect it?
Considering of leaving leaves on the middle and bottom parts until it actually begins to grow new shoots so it’s not so bare, will that be okay?
And a last question 🙂 I know that Spring time would be the best time for new growth and concerned about the rooting process and the new shoots of the bottom part. Would weather affect any of those two processes? (Where I live, from here on in the year we will still have mild temperatures for the next 2.5 months, not harsh weather, not too hot and not cold).
And thank you so much again. A bit sad to have to do it, but it must be done, and also concerned for hurting either the top part or the bottom part (of course I will try to root the middle part also).
Sep 09, 2017 @ 12:03:19
Cutting the cane straight will look nicer than diagonally, and certainly applying wax on the cutting will be perfect to seal the wound.
Actually, I am not really an expert but I learn a lot from internet. The experts say by stripping leaves, it will concentrate the energy for growing new roots and new leaf buds. So it will be faster for the roots and new leaf buds to grow. Perhaps for an experiment, you can leave the leaves on the bottom cane with roots to see what will happen.
As for the timing, I will prefer to wait until spring.
Don’t worry so much, this plant is quite tough. Good luck!
Sep 09, 2017 @ 12:17:58
Thanks again Lois. Yeah, I’ve had the advise from gardeners about cutting almost all the leaves off, but especially for the cut parts for rooting, as the bottom part has its roots and plenty of energy. For the timing, I first wanted to wait until Spring but since it’s already touching the ceiling I started to consider this time.
Just wondering if you have heard of the air-layering method? Dracaena is included in a list for this method of rooting, making a diagonal short slice on the stem, wrapping it with moss and a plastic bag until it roots and then cut. I’ve been contemplating on that method, as it can preserve leaves. Doing it more step by step…
Clear cut and put in water or air-layering… step by step..
Sep 09, 2017 @ 14:55:24
My belated father used to do air-layering for rooting mango branch, this way the new plant will grow faster than growing it by seeds.
You can try it for Dracaena, I’m sure it will also work to grow roots. Just make sure to keep the moss moist.
Sep 09, 2017 @ 15:36:38
Thanks a lot Lois. One the one hand air-layering sounds like a more step by step and may seem a safer way to root it, and on the other hand, if the stem is the green one and not the woody one it does sound like they root well by a simple cut. I will contemplate on this and see… Thanks a lot!
Mar 06, 2018 @ 14:58:54
Hello Lois again, I am back since my last post September 9, 2017. Last September, I did go ahead and tried the air-layering method on my Dracaena. The moss is moist and the plant seems to be doing well, except that it is truly crushed onto the ceiling at this point and obviously the top leaves not getting enough light and not having enough room to grow (and even though I replanted one a half year ago, the size of the plant by this point is way too disproportional to the size of the pot, but I can not replant it as it is since it’s reached the ceiling).
Now, I had a peek inside the moss to see if there are any signs of rooting, and…not yet (since September I made the air layering cut). It is possible that the reason for that is that the plant was just not going to root during Autumn and Winter (but I went ahead and tried the air layering method in the hope it will root and save leaves on the eventual cutting).
In Japan, where I live, we are just ending a cold winter and Spring is just around the corner. How long do you think I should wait to see if the air layering cut will bring out roots otherwise to make a clear cut to root it in water?
Is there something else I can check for the air layering cut, for any other reason that it has not rooted?
Again, thanks for any advice you may have for me.
Mar 06, 2018 @ 19:02:35
I don’t really know what to say 🙂 Hopefully the warm weather of spring and later summer will make roots grow. Is the plant get enough sunlight? Perhaps moving it near a window will help.
I still think that cutting method is easier.
Mar 07, 2018 @ 13:26:44
Yes, the plant is near a window and gets lots of light. It has been there for the last 5 years and it’s grown healthily and to the ceiling.
When you say you “still think that cutting method is easier”, do you mean the air layering method or the clear cut and placed in water?
Do you think it would be better at some point to just make the clear cut and place the cutting in water? I have read that Dracaena roots easily in water, and the reason I chose to try the air layering is because I preferred to save as many leaves as possible on the cutting (they were such healthy leaves, even though at this point, probably because the size of the plant is very disproportional to its pot lower leaves seem to show signs of wear, and the top leaves even though big and healthy looking, they don’t have their nice streak color because they don’t get enough light being pressed on the ceiling–the only reason I spoke of not enough light and that was for the leaves pressed onto the ceiling).
Mar 07, 2018 @ 14:36:05
This blog is about my experience in growing dracaena cuttings by using “potting mix”, and they grow quite well. Even the middle cutting that was without leaves nor roots grew new leaves and keep on growing, which I’m sure it also has grown roots.
I never tried to root the cuttings in water.
Mar 07, 2018 @ 15:37:00
Thanks Lois for your replies. I have read again the start of your blog and the method with the potting mix is what I feel I will need to use from here on. (my big Dracaena will also need to be cut in 3, just as you did). Do you think I should wait until it gets even warmer in the Spring time, like into April? Where I live it already is getting warmer, but not quite a steady warm temperature (towards the end of March and onward the warm weather of Spring settles in).
Mar 08, 2018 @ 09:36:57
I did mine in the middle of summer (January Australia) and it took about 2 months to start to grow leaf buds. Yes, I think warm weather will make the cuttings grow quicker.
Jun 07, 2022 @ 16:32:13
Hey Lois, hoping this is still an active thread. I have a plant with two trunks and multiple stems. For some reason one of my stems lost most of its leaves on the lower 60%, the top of the plant is still very very healthy. I would like to cut the stem down to the trunk to spur new growth But cannot find good info on whether or not the cut stem will produce new growth if I cut it near the trunk/base. Have you cut stems low like this before and if so did they produce new growth? Or once you take a cut into propagated have you killed that stem forever?
Jun 11, 2022 @ 15:36:58
I’ve never cut a stem very low near the base. But if it is healthy I can’t think of any reason why it will not grow.
Jun 11, 2022 @ 16:10:43
Thank you for your reply. As I mentioned I have looked all over and have yet to see anything about the viability of a base cut, that is still true. In your experience does the stem always regrow from the mother after you cut one? I think I saw you mention that you’ve only taken a top cut before if I’m not mistaken.
Sep 08, 2022 @ 16:07:54
They always grow from the canes, never grow as pups.