When to transplant dracaena at home

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

It is important for flower growers to know when to transplant dracaena at home and how to do it correctly. This is the main condition for the correct maintenance of such an ornamental plant.

General information about Dracaena

Translated into Russian, Dracaena, or Dracaena draco, means "dragon tree". His homeland is the African tropics and the Canary Islands. In the wild, the culture grows to a large size. The plant belongs to the agave family, in which there are more than 40 species.

Dracaena is a shrub that looks like a palm tree. She has a high stem, most of which stiffens with age and remains naked. Narrow leaves are arranged in a bunch at the very top.

In indoor floriculture, Dracaena fragrant, or Dracaena Fragrans, is mainly cultivated. In addition to this variety, the following varieties are also grown:

• Lindtnii;
• Massangeana;
• Rotmana;
• Victoriae.

There are types of dracaena with and without stripes on the leaves. Tall varieties are used for landscaping offices and large areas. Small varieties are suitable for growing at home.

To grow a healthy plant, you need to know when to transplant dracaena at home.

When transplanting, it should be remembered that the flower does not tolerate damage to the roots, and without injury it is impossible to transplant even with the help of transfer from pot to pot.

Without replanting, the dracaena can also die, since the soil in the pot is depleted and may acidify.

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What time to transplant

The optimal time for transplantation should be chosen and all stages should be carried out correctly. If you do not do this, then the dracaena will stop growing and die.

A young tree, whose age does not exceed five years, should be replanted every year, choosing for this the spring period, when the plants start growing. An adult flower needs to be dug up and planted in a new place once every 3 years. On average, an adult dracaena should be transplanted every 2 years.

If the pot is large, then you can transplant less often. Therefore, it is better to immediately transplant an adult plant into a large container.

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It should be remembered that when growing dracaena, you cannot do without transplanting. It will definitely be required in the following cases:

• if the flower pot is too small, and the roots of the plant look out of the drainage hole;
• if it grows in a container that is used for transportation;
• with acidification of the soil;
• if the plant's roots begin to rot, and parasites have appeared in the earthen coma.

The dracaena bought just in the store should be transplanted from the container only at the beginning of spring, then the flower will better tolerate the transplant.

In winter, the plant is not transplanted. In general, if all the requirements for transplanting are met, the dracaena can be transplanted in any season. If a flower is transplanted in summer or autumn, you should create the most comfortable conditions for it so that it can quickly adapt and take root in a new container.

Features of the root system of Dracaena

Dracaena has a pivotal root system, so it grows in depth. For this reason, choose tall, narrow, and large transplant pots with room to grow.

The size of the pot also depends on the size of the root. For a root system with a length of 40 cm, a container with a diameter of at least 20 cm and a height of up to 50 cm is required. Too much volume does not need to be taken, since the root system in a large clod of earth may not take root. When there is too much soil, the risk of decay is higher.

If the flower is transplanted into a ceramic pot that does not have a drainage hole, be sure to pour rubble on the bottom to create a drainage layer.

The root system will require a fairly loose and moderately fertile substrate with a neutral or slightly acidic pH. In such soil there should not be a lot of loose component. You can buy ready-made soil in the store or prepare it yourself using the following components:

• turf - 2 parts;
• leafy soil - 1 part;
• compost soil - 1 part;
• peat - 0.5 parts.

Instead of peat, you can use coarse sand or crushed moss in the same volume as a baking powder. Also, red brick and charcoal chips are often taken. The coal will protect the soil from rotting, and the brick will provide good air permeability to the soil. Drainage can be expanded clay, polystyrene, vermiculite.

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Dracaena transplant rules

In order not to harm the root system during transplantation, the following rules should be adhered to. It is necessary to prepare the earthen mixture and container in advance. You will need:

• scissors or pruning shears;
• spray;
• container with water.

Before transplanting, wash the new pot with soap and water, and then wipe it dry with a clean napkin. The walls of the container inside must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The plant itself needs not to be watered for 3 days, the earth should dry out and become light. Thanks to this, the earthen ball will be completely removed from the pot, and the roots of the plant will be less damaged. The flower is turned upside down and knocked on the walls of the pot.

The earthen lump should be carefully examined and the damaged root areas should be removed from it using a pruner or scissors. After that, the sections must be treated with charcoal powder, which will prevent the roots from rotting. After that, the root system must be sprayed with water from a spray bottle.

For spraying, use only boiled water at room temperature.

After that, drainage is poured onto the bottom of the container, the layer of which should not be too thin. Then an earthen lump with roots is inserted into the pot and gradually covered with earth from the sides and top. When pouring the earth, care should be taken that it does not reach the sides of the container, otherwise the plant will be difficult to water.

When all the soil is added to the container, you will need to compact it around the trunk and water the plant with water at room temperature.

In order for the soil to fill all the voids in the pot, you need to gently tap the outer wall with a wooden stick.

Post-transplant care

It is important not only to know how to properly transplant dracaena at home, but also how to care for the plant after such a procedure. The rate of recovery of damaged roots largely depends on this.

The plant should not be placed in the sun, otherwise it may die after transplantation. Drafts should also be avoided.

The temperature in the room where the flower is located must be at least 25 degrees. The pot should be watered abundantly three times a week, and the leaves should be sprayed with a spray bottle. Usually, with a correctly carried out transplant, adaptation in a new container lasts two weeks. To stimulate the growth of the root system, plants can be used as a liquid top dressing "Zircon". You need to add it when watering twice every 30 days.

From March to October, the plant undergoes a period of active growth, therefore, organic and mineral dressings can be added during this period 1 time in 10 days, alternating the compositions. With proper transplantation and appropriate care, the dracaena will quickly adapt in a new container and will actively grow.

Outcomes

Dracaena owners must follow these rules when transplanting:

1. Change the pot for an adult plant every two years.
2. Transplant young plants only in spring.
3. Select the right soil.
4. Transplant the dracaena with an earthen clod to minimize root damage.
5. Create special conditions after transplanting to adapt the dracaena in a new container.