Help with Dracaena Marginata

[andym]

Hi All

first posts here, just hoping someone might be able to help me revive a Dragon tree we have which is not in a good way.

We were away for 10 months last year and gave the plant to a friend to look after - when we got it back it still had leaves but didnt look healthy, had been kept under water for pretty much all that time (literally fiill with water and forget about it for a month etc).

Since getting it back we repotted it (and another small one), added fresh compost etc and are limiting the ammount of water it gets, the small one has sprung back to life well and looks great now however the big one has pretty much dropped all its leaves and looks very sorry for its self.

It stills seems to be growing in height very quickly, the top of the stems are fresh and green - but refuses to show any leaves.

Further down, the original branches look dried out and thing -but the new growth up top looks thick, greener and healthy.

Any ideas how best to go forward with it?

 

[cpp gardener]

If the lower stem is mushy or feels like it is a stick wrapped in paper (it sort of crinkles when you pinch it) then that part is no longer transmitting water and nutrients to the top. If this is the case, find the point where it feels normal and cut it there. Look at the cut end and if it doesn’t look green, cut it until it does. You can re-root it in a small pot of potting soil and start over again.
If it feels firm and healthy all the way to the bottom, just give it time and keep it just moist and eventually it will return to its previous glory.

 

[andym]

Thanks for the reply, stem towards the bottom is very solid - almost woody, the skin looks a little kinkled (almost dry, unlike the top where new growth upwards is), I did try snipping off one of the limbs to see if it would provoke growth - and repotted what I had trimmed, that seems to be coming back to life as it happens.

Its been in this current state for about 3 months, it seems to be growning taller very quickly (the longest branch has grown probably 6-8 inches in the last 3 months since it dropped its leaves).

Is it worth snipping off the root ball as you suggest above, and try repotting - or cut back the thickest and tallest branch, repot it and start afresh? Or is it worth trying a little plant feed as it stands in current condition, and see if it springs back.

Last query was, due to the way its shooting upwards - its actually becoming too tall (even though it has no leaves) - I dont want to cut it back as its only the top 1/3 of the plant that looks even vaugely healthy - any ideas?

cheers again

 

[cpp gardener]

Can you get a picture of the lower stem and pot?

 

[andym]

Yep, have just included here, you can also see the other small one that was repotted at same time which is thriving.

 

[cpp gardener]

As shriveled as the stem is at the bottom I think your only hope is to cut off the top and try to root it. Make sure the stem of the cutting is green and firm.