One Very Popular Houseplant-Dracaena marginata

Dracaena marginata plant

Dracaena Marginata Plant Care

The marginata plant is one of the most popular houseplants. It is one of my favorites and I get so many emails asking questions about Dracaena marginata that I have to think it is one of everyones favorite indoor potted plants.

One of the care questions that I get most often about this beautiful, indoor plant is about pruning. Is it alright to cut it back if it is too tall? Where should I cut the stem?

The answer to the question is yes, you can cut back the stems or canes of dracaena marginata. You should cut the stem just above the height that you want new growth to start. It is best to do this in the spring time when most plants do much of their growing.

If you look closely at the stem you will see rings that encircle the stem. This is where the leaf nodes are and where your dracaena marginata will push out some new growth. You will most likely get a few new "heads" starting before you know it.

It is best to do this before your plant gets so tall that it needs support to stay upright. Also, it may be a shock to you when you see your plant cut back so far. It also encourages healthy new growth and keeps your plant fuller and healthier looking. 

Read more about dracaena marginata plant care and about other indoor plants....

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Pruning Mystery Plant - Dracaena Warneckii

Warneckii

A recent letter from a PlantAndFlowerInfo.com visitor:

"Hello. When I purchased this plant it was distressed and about 1 foot tall. It is now 7'2" tall. Is it a type of Dracaena? It's in an 18" pot. It does not have a woody looking stem. The leaves are 20" long, and are dark green down the center, with a small white stripe on each side of the dark green, and then a lighter colored green on the outside of the leaf. I would like to know the name of the plant. Can I cut it shorter? Can I plant the piece I cut off? Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Attached are 2 pictures - one is a full view and the other is a close-up of a leaf.Thank you very much. Hortie"

Close up of Dracanea Warneckii leaf

At first, I had not received the attached pictures and replied that it sounded like a Dracaena Warneckii. Eventually the pictures confirmed that it is a Dracaena Warneckii. 

Yes, you can cut or prune the stalks back to whatever height you would like. The plant will put out some new "heads" below the cut. The cut piece can be rooted in moist sand. You can cut into many pieces if you like and plant when the roots are a few inches long.
Dracaena Warneckii is a great indoor potted plant and requires little care. They really add a touch of color to any room. One of my favorite Dracaenas.
Read more about Dracaena Warneckii...

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House Plant ID

Beautiful Aechmea Blue Tango

If you need some help with a #houseplant #id, please visit the PlantAndFlowerInfo.com contact page. Please attach a picture you have resized for the web. If you cannot resize, just send a message and I will respond via email. Then you can send your photo. I do not post my email because the amount of spammers out there is ridiculous. And they still get through (into the spam box).

I was, once again, visiting the a "garden web" site and was going to post some information on a houseplant identification for Jessie T. To get a simple id, there is a requirement that you join and accept the lengthy Terms of Service, so I could not help Jessie ID her #plants. She had also made a comment about what a pain it had been to do the post.

If you happen upon this, Jessie, your house plants are a Tradescantia and a Eurcharis grandiflora. If there is not a page specific to your plants care(yet), just send an email. Thanks

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Free Houseplant

Win a Houseplant or Botanical Art

Enter Contest

Enter the PlantAndFlowerInfo.com contest to win a beautiful new houseplant and decorative container delivered to your home. We are having a contest in the month of July 2014 and will be giving away a new houseplant and two other prizes. No purchase is needed, just answer a few multiple choice houseplant related questions. Odds of winning depend on valid entries.

Here is the link to the contest entry page. You can enter once a day through July 2014. Have a great weekend! 

Thanks and please share this with family and friends who might like to enter and win a gorgeous, new houseplant!

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