How To Propagate Dragon Tree? [Best Propagation Method]

Dragon tree, with its long slender leaves and striking appearance, can enhance the aesthetics of your living space so well that you cannot resist yourself to propagate the plant.

Dragon tree(Dracaena marginata) requires minimal maintenance and can grow easily inside your living space if you take care of its needs.

So, go through this entire article to know the correct ways to propagate the Dragon tree and to help it survive after propagation.

How To Propagate Dragon Tree?

There are two major ways of Propagating Dragon trees: stem cutting and air layering. You can also propagate this plant by seeds.

However, the propagation of the plant from seeds but the process is very slow. The seeds may take several months and even a year to germinate.

However, if you wish to propagate the plant by seeds, make sure you soak them in water for 24 hours and sow them in a well-draining potting mix.

1. Propagation By Stem Cutting

While propagating by stem cuttings, make sure to take the cuttings with sterilized tools to avoid the risk of infections.

• Take a healthy stem of at least 6 inches long and with 2-3 nodes in it.
• Just below the node, make a 45-degree neat cut. The new growth will start only from the node.
• Remove the lower leaves of the Dragon tree from the stem cuttings and dip the cutting in a rooting hormone.
• Plant the cutting in a well-draining soil or potting mix rich in organic compost.
• Or, you can get a glass of clean water and place the cutting root in the water.
• Place the cutting in a potting mix or on water in a warm, sunny location.
• Your cuttings will root within 1-3 weeks.

2. Propagation By Air Layering

While propagating Dragon Trees by air layering, it’s better to use sphagnum moss as a growing medium instead of other mediums for disease-free propagation.

• Choose the healthy stems with 2-3 nodes. The stem should be at least 6 inches long.
• Make a neat cut with a small depth to insert the sphagnum moss init.
• Insert some sphagnum moss into the cut and keep the moss moist.
• Wrap the sphagnum moss in a plastic wrapping and place the layered plant in the warm, sunny location.
• You will see the roots forming from the cut within 1-2 weeks.
• Once the roots form completely, transplant the new Dragon tree into a bigger container.

While air layering, instead of wrapping the plant in sphagnum moss, you can wrap it in the soil. However, wrapping in the soil may be risky as it contains several harmful pathogens.

Additionally, instead of wrapping the plant with plastic wrap, you can transfer the ball of moss to the container of water. Make sure to change the water daily.

Tips To Care After Propagating Dragon Tree

Propagating the Dragon tree is not enough, as the newly propagated plant needs proper care to survive. 

Make sure you propagate the plant and transplant it in the terracotta container with enough drainage holes. Doing this will provide the newly rooted plant with proper air circulation.

• Water your newly rooted Dragon tree making sure the soil is moist but not soggy to prevent root rot. Water only when the top 2 inches of the soil becomes dry.
• The best time to propagate the plant is in the spring and summer. Don’t propagate the plant during winter.
• After propagation, place the new Dragon tree in the bright location receiving indirect light.
• Provide 10-12 hours of artificial light if the location is not bright.
• Fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer only during the growing season.
• Prune the unhealthy and infected leaves regularly. If the pest or pathogenic invasion persists, use pesticides, fungicides or neem oil every 15 days.
• Repot your Dragon tree in a bigger container every 2-3 years.