Dracaena: care at home, the peculiarities of plant reproduction

Tropical plant, whose homeland is Africa, is very popular even far from places with the usual climate for it. If you know how to reproduce and transplant the dracaena at home, how to organize optimal environmental parameters for it, you can count on the fact that a bright and attractive green pet will please home people for at least 10-15 years.

Dracaena is a shrub represented by a rosette of leaves on straight stems, which, as they grow and develop, form a tree trunk. Bright green leaves of the plant can reach 70 cm in length, but despite this, the representative of the flora will not cause much trouble. He is not very demanding of the conditions and almost always looks great.

Creation of optimal conditions and basic care of the plant

Care of the plant begins with the creation of suitable conditions for it. Contrary to popular belief, it is not enough to put a tub of a germ or adult in direct sunlight.

Optimum parameters for the flower are the following:

• Lighting. Drazen is very fond of light, but it is not recommended to place it on southern windows. It is better to put a pot on the east or west side. If possible, light must be created scattered. If the color of the leaves began to change, this indicates a lack of light. It is noteworthy that the withdrawal in this respect for the types of dracaena with variegated and dark leaves varies. The second copy of the world needs much less.

• Watering. Likes flower and moisture, so it needs to provide abundant watering. The intensity of irrigation is determined by a variety of factors( season, soil composition, pot size and plant age), but care in this area can be simplified by following a simple rule. As soon as the soil dried out 2-3 cm deep, the dracaena can be watered. Before the procedure, the soil needs to be loosened. The water is filtered or boiled. In the summer months it is additionally recommended to spray the flower leaves with filtered or standing water at room temperature.

• Humidity of air. Only after the dragon of the species "Dragon" and "Godsef" can care for without regular spraying, they are resistant to dry air. All other varieties of the flower prefer increased humidity.
• Top dressing. Caring for dracaena during the growth period implies the use of fertilizers. Top dressing is introduced no more often than once in two weeks between the end of March and the beginning of autumn. The optimum option will be specialized mixes that can be easily found in profile stores.

In general, the Dracaena household does not need any additional caring manipulations. But every master must know how to multiply it, transplant, cut off and protect against common diseases.

Propagation by the seeds, cuttings and layers

Drazen can be propagated in several ways, but at home the method with cuttings is most often used. It is easier and after its application for the plant does not need somehow to take special care. Manipulation is as follows:

• Choose a young and strong stem, cut it with a sharp knife into pieces of 4-5 cm( and on each must be at least two kidneys).We act cautiously, trying not to crush the stalk during processing.
• On one side, the bark on each workpiece is cut and the same part is stuck in the prepared soil. We remove to a warm place, to which direct sunlight does not reach.

Advice: Reproduction of dracaena, regardless of the chosen method, is best performed immediately after the winter hibernation period before the onset of intensive growth - in the spring.

• Specific care for the cuttings is not needed, only to monitor the maintenance of high humidity. To simplify the process, it is allowed to create a mini-greenhouse( cover the workpieces with plastic or a package).
• After 1-1,5 months, the first shoots should appear. Here they already need to take care of, periodically sprinkling with lukewarm water.

If for some reason the dracenium can not be propagated by cuttings, one can try the option with the use of layers. To do this, just take the tip of our bush( lance) and place it in a glass with filtered water at room temperature. For additional disinfection in the liquid, add a tablet of activated carbon. In three months( additional care is not needed), the leavings will give roots and it can be transplanted into the soil. Seed multiplication is not used as often;The method is rather troublesome and is not suitable for all kinds of dracen.

How correctly to transplant a dracene?

Timely and correctly carried out plant transplantation guarantees longevity and attractiveness. Dracaens, regardless of species, have a three-dimensional root system, which after a while becomes cramped in a pot. In some cases, the first transplantation of the flower is necessary after the purchase, because during the stay in the store it could grow significantly. This can be checked by comparing such figures: if the height of the plant has reached 40 cm, then the diameter of its pot must be at least 15 cm.

When performing the manipulation, the following points should be considered:

1. We handle the roots neatly, although they do not look brittle.
2. Soil we use a special - for palm trees.
3. It is recommended to lay some drainage on the bottom of the pot.
4. If it is obvious that the soil is quality and has not yet exhausted its resources, it can not be changed. In this case, it is sufficient to transfer the dracene into a larger pot.
5. After completion of the manipulation, we must water the soil.

The flower does not need any special care after the transplant, but some gardeners prefer to use growth stimulants for several days.

Features of pruning plants

If you care for dracaena by all rules, then from time to time it will need to be cut. In this area, the plant is unpretentious. The process itself activates the growth of the lateral buds and triggers branching. Cut off parts of the plant can be used for its further reproduction. The optimal time to start the procedure is spring and early summer. At the same time, the height of the dracaena should be at least 30 cm. To determine the location of the cut, retreat 5 cm from the last leaves on the trunk. If the tree trunk is not yet formed, then we are guided by considerations of decorativeness.

Before proceeding to the procedure, it is worth several times to think and weigh everything, because the length of the stem after the session will become constant and will not change. If the decision is made, then we prepare a very sharp knife, activated charcoal in the form of a powder and a preparation "Zircon".We cut off the stem, do not try to break it, the cut must be clear and even. Next, the cut location is treated with activated carbon, followed by "Zircon".Now dracene needs more thorough care. We put the pot in a warm place, watch the lighting and watering. The cut off parts are used for reproduction.

Common flower diseases and recommendations for dealing with them

At home, Dracaena is rarely ill, especially if care is provided according to all requirements and rules. When the recommendations are still violated, the flower may be attacked by parasites:

• Shielding. The leaves turn yellow, the plant ceases to grow. In cases of minor damage, it is possible to wipe parts of the dracaena with a soap solution with a small amount of vodka. In advanced cases you will need to process "Actellikom".
• Spider mite. Leaves dry, turn yellowish. The parasite is usually planted in conditions of high air dryness, so first of all it is necessary to introduce regular spraying of the leaves. Additionally, it is recommended to use profile chemical preparations.
• Thrips. Very small black insects that parasitize on leaves and leave behind silvery stains. They are destroyed by applying a soap solution to the leaves, which is washed off after 24 hours. If necessary, the manipulation is repeated several times.

The above manipulations are sufficient to maintain the dracaena in perfect condition for several years. Of course, each specific plant species has its own characteristics, but they are insignificant and do not significantly affect the care, reproduction, maintenance of the health of the green pet.