Dracaena is a large, ornamental foliage houseplant. It is a pseudo-palm whose stems begin to become woody over time. To take good care of the plant in an indoor environment, it must be properly cared for. Repotting is one of the most important steps. Transplanting should be done properly and in a timely manner. We will explain in this Bubgo article how to transplant Dracaena at home and what care is needed after transplanting.
Transplant Dracaena in the following cases.
1. After buying the plant. These plants are usually sold in technical (small) pots and are often very ugly. The soil is also quite sparse. After transplanting it into a nice, properly sized pot, it will play with new color and the fresh soil will give it enough strength to grow.
2. If the palm has not been transplanted for a long time, the roots have filled the entire space in the pot and started to sprout from the drainage holes.
3. Unsuitable or bad potting soil.
4. The plant is infested with pests.
5. The roots of Dracaena have started to rot. In advanced cases, the rot has spread to the trunk and requires urgent replanting to remove the decayed parts.
The best time to transplant plants is in late winter/early spring when the palms begin to grow actively. This is the easiest time to transplant and will heal any micro-damage on the roots and foliage more quickly. Transplanting can also be done during the summer months. The recommended method of transplanting is to place the plant in a new, slightly larger pot, without disturbing the root ball.
The frequency of relocation depends on the age of the plant.
1. Young (small). It should be transplanted to a slightly larger pot every year.
2. Middle age and size. Replanting every 2-3 years.
3. adult. Mighty palm trees try not to bother transplanting. And it's not so easy to transplant a huge palm tree! In this case, remove about 2 inches (5 cm) of topsoil and add fresh soil every year.
The shape is cylindrical. Each time you repot, make it 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) larger than the previous pot. It is not recommended to plant a small plant in a large pot at once. It will grow slowly. The plant will first establish its root system and master the soil before it grows. The watering material can be anything. Most importantly, the pot must have drainage holes in the bottom.
Tip: After purchasing a new pot, it is recommended to wash it with soap and warm water.
A very important consideration is the type of soil into which Dracaena will be transplanted. The soil should be loose and slightly acidic (pH 6-6.5). Drainage material should always be placed at the bottom of the pot. It can be expanded clay, crushed foam, or other materials. You can also buy so-called "palm soil" at the store.
But it is not difficult to make your own potting soil.
1. This requires two leaves of soil.
2. one part of compost and one part of sod for each part.
3. 0.5 parts each of washed river sand and peat.
Healthy plants should be transplanted using the transplanting method, i.e. without disturbing the root ball or damaging the root system. A few days before transplanting, stop
so that the soil dries out. This mass of soil will then come out of the pot easily. Dracaena can be removed from the pot in two ways
1. Press on the pot walls, turn the plant upside down and tap on the bottom. If this does not help, use the following method.
2. Take out a knife and run the blade along the wall of the pot.
The steps are the same from here on. Here's how to transplant Dracaena step by step
1. If the new pot does not have drainage holes, use a drill or hot nails to make drainage holes.
2. A drainage layer of at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) should be placed at the bottom of the pot. Then add some substrate.
3. After removing the roots from the pots, check them. If they are healthy and show no signs of decay, place the palm in the center of the pot. If the roots do not meet your requirements (rotten or diseased), you should remove them and cover the wounds with crushed charcoal.
4. After that, tamp the soil with your hands and tap the sides of the pot so that it sinks into it and there are no gaps.
Hint: The root neck of the plant should be at the same level as before. Do not bury it or raise it. This is important for the health of the plant!
5. Then water with standing water at room temperature. If the soil sinks after watering, add more topsoil. It is not necessary to fill the soil all the way to the top of the pot. Leave 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) to the top edge of the pot to allow for watering and loosening.
6. To reduce stress on the flowers, you can spray your palms with a water solution containing a plant growth stimulant. The same solution can be watered a little.
Once you bring the plant home, you should allow it a few days to acclimatize to its new environment before transplanting. Transplanting into a new substrate is a must.
Plants in stores usually "sit" in less nutritious peat, which is not good for the flowers. The peat will soon dry out and the plants in the store may become waterlogged, which may have unpleasant consequences. Therefore, you should check the condition of the roots and foliage carefully when transplanting. If there are rotten or damaged roots, cut them off with a sterilized tool.
You will need to transplant the houseplant into a new, larger pot. It is not worth reusing storage containers for this plant. She is small and often ugly. The roots of palm trees need space to grow. We choose a nice pot that fits inside you, and it should be 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) larger than the size shipped. Next, we follow the scenario above.
Dracaena cuttings are obtained after pruning the plant or when the branches are accidentally broken. The root is fairly easily in water or in a light substrate. Rooting can be done from top cuttings, entire side shoots, or parts of the trunk. This is best done in the spring. Do not root in winter.
Place rooted cuttings in a cup with drainage holes and transplant them into a larger container. A drainage layer of no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) should be placed at the bottom. Cuttings should not be buried too deeply. Try to plant them at the same level as before in the cups.
Replanting adult Dracaena spp. is very rare. As a rule, the top layer of soil should be replaced annually with fresh substrate. However, sometimes transplanting must be done - pots break or plants grow too fast. In such cases, the plants are transplanted by the transplanting method without damaging the soil.
Choose a cup-shaped, large, very sturdy pot so that the palm will not fall over if you accidentally hit it. If the plant is very large and heavy, it is best to ask for help. Do not submerge the root neck.
Tip: It is not difficult to take care of Dracaena trees at home after transplanting. It is recommended to spray the entire plant with a plant growth stimulant solution after this procedure.
How did you transplant your Dracaena? Share helpful tips with other gardeners in the comments!
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