How to transplant dracaena correctly?

Dracaena is already in the lead in the list of popular indoor plants. The demand for a flower can be explained by its longevity, unpretentious care, tropical aesthetics of the image. But with rather modest requests, the plant does not tolerate crampedness, therefore at some point the question of how to transplant dracaena cannot be avoided.

Experts believe that if the tree is young (up to five years old), then it needs to be replanted every year. Large dracaena is transplanted every three years. On average, the plant is provided with a new "home" every two years.

You cannot do without a transplant if:

• dracaena really "grew" out of a pot or container, the roots overcome the drainage structures and, having gathered in loops, line the bottom;
• dracaena has been in the same container for more than three years, the growth is zero, the leaves turn yellow profusely;
• the plant is freshly acquired, it is in a container with soil for transportation;
• soil acidification is noticeable due to excess moisture, there is a risk of root rot (midges usually fly over the affected flower, and it is easy to notice parasites in the ground).

If you have just brought a plant from the store, then it makes sense to wait for the beginning of spring - in March and April, a young flower will take root better in fresh soil. It was at this time that the dracaena begins to grow vigorously, releases fresh leaves.

The possible transplanting time is the entire growing season. Dracaena is able to settle in a new flowerpot in spring, summer and autumn (at the beginning). In winter, she is rarely disturbed. If you bought the plant in November or December, wait until spring. The shoot taken from the side also takes root in the soil better in spring, the cuttings are more viable at this time.

The root system of the dracaena is characterized by inward development, since it has almost no lateral processes. Therefore, the capacity should be high and relatively narrow - if there is a shortage of space for root development, the plant will die. If you notice that the plant has been transplanted relatively recently, but there is not enough room for the roots, it needs another pot.

The specific dimensions of the pot are correlated with the size of the dracaena. For example, if it is about 40 cm in height, then the diameter of the container should be about 20 cm. Buying flowerpots "for growth" is not the best solution: the roots may not take root in a large volume of soil, because of this, moisture stagnation, rotting, a flower will begin will die.

There must be drainage holes in the pot, if you purchased a flowerpot without them, you will have to drill them yourself in any convenient way. But if it is not difficult to do this in a plastic container, such manipulations cannot be done with a ceramic product. Therefore, even when buying, pay attention to the presence of drainage.

There are two scenarios for further actions: buy a ready-made substrate or make it yourself. If it is decided to purchase the soil in a special store, then the soil for indoor palms or large non-flowering plants will be preferable. False palms, which include dracaena, take root well in a moderately nutritious, airtight substrate, neutral or slightly acidic. It should not contain a lot of peat and baking powder.

When preparing your substrate, be guided by proven recipes:

1. 2 parts of sod soil + 1 part of leafy soil +1 part of compost soil + 0.5 peat;
2. universal soil for indoor plants (1 share) + garden soil (0.5 share) + chopped moss (0.1 share);
3. 2 shares of sod land + 1 share of deciduous land + 0.5 shares of coarse sand;
4. 2 shares of humus + 1 share of sand + 1 share of leafy soil;
5. equal parts of deciduous humus, sod soil, greenhouse humus, 0.5 share of river sand.

The soil will also like the addition of crushed red brick or charcoal chips. Coal is a well-known protector of soil from rotting, and the properties of red brick can be attributed to the strengthening of the looseness of the soil, the absorption of excess moisture. He loves a tree and coconut fiber, the briquette of which should be soaked before adding.

You can take brick chips as a drainage layer, pebbles, polystyrene, vermiculite or expanded clay are also suitable.

Dracaena can be successfully transplanted, even if you have little experience of a florist. The main requirement is caution and delicacy, the roots of the false palm are very delicate. Before starting work, prepare everything you need: settled water, pruning shears. Be sure to disinfect the secateurs: lubricate the tool with alcohol or ignite its tip over a fire.

At home, it is correct to carry out a transplant as follows.

1. Place the drainage layer in the flowerpot. Its height cannot exceed 3 cm.
2. Remove the dracaena from the old container.
3. Remove all soil above the roots of the plant; it should be partially preserved between the roots.
4. Examine the root system carefully. If you notice rotten or dryish roots, remove them immediately. Determine by eye whether the underground part is large - if it is large relative to the upper one, carefully trim the roots. Shorten those that bulge. Sprinkle all cuts for drying with ash.
5. On top of the drainage in a new pot, put a little of the finished substrate, immediately compact it.
6. Place the plant in the center of the container. Spread the roots evenly over the pot. Planting depth remains the same.
7. Pour the soil into the container, shake the pot a little, this is done to avoid the formation of voids. Compact the ground carefully.
8. The plant must be watered abundantly, the leaves must be sprayed.
9. When the soil has settled, add some more substrate to the pot.
10. Take a clean (new) damp sponge, gently remove the dirt from the palm tree itself and the pot.
11. After half an hour, drain the excess liquid from the pan.

Since the tree is very vulnerable immediately after transplanting, your task is to create the most comfortable conditions for the next couple of weeks. The plant must be transferred to a warm and calm place, inaccessible to drafts and direct sunlight. There should be lighting, but not very bright.

You need to take care of the dragon tree without fanaticism. Careful watering is required, because the main danger for a transplanted plant is waterlogging of the soil. The roots have not yet settled in the new soil, and therefore there is a risk of not assimilating moisture and stagnation in the flowerpot. It is dangerous due to acidification of the soil and the process of root rotting. In addition, pests are very fond of wet soil.

In most cases, dracaena adapts well to new conditions, but there are also problem transplants, and the florist himself does not always understand the cause of the plant's soreness. If, after moving, the tree loses its leaves, withers, if it has dropped its leaves, therefore, some mistakes have been made.

Let's consider the most common problems.

• Incorrectly selected soil. A typical problem for novice florists. They take whatever mixture is, assuming the plant won't "notice" the difference. But dracaena, for example, cannot stand very greasy, heavy earth. If you pick up a soil for it with a high concentration of peat, it is also unlikely to take root, because peat is inherent in repelling moisture. There is no other solution to how to transplant the plant again, but already in a suitable soil.
• Wrong pot. Dracaena is always exhausted by a transplant, therefore she simply cannot use all the soil for her own good. And if undeveloped soil remains in the flowerpot, it will sour due to constant humidity. And after acidification, the growth of pathogenic flora is inevitable. In this scenario, the roots of the dracaena will rot very quickly. The situation can be corrected only by transplanting with the replacement of both the pot and the soil.
• Waterlogging. Excessive nurturing leads to too much or too much watering. The flower grower does not wait for the soil to dry out, gives the plant a new portion of water, which turns the soil in the pot into a real swamp. The plant withers, and the owner attributes this to insufficient watering, and again takes up the watering can. So it is close to the death of dracaena. Drain the pan in time, do not rush to water the palm tree until the top two centimeters of the soil are dry. If the situation has worsened, you can take a chance and dry the soil lump. It needs to be removed from the flowerpot, placed on paper for quick moisture absorption. It is best to do this in a dry and warm place.
• Improper care after transplant. If you are afraid of wilting, but at the same time you are afraid of over-watering, know that the plant loves spraying. Although this business can bring dracaena to death if you spray it too zealously. A typical problem for an inexperienced grower is an untimely transplant. If it fell in late autumn or winter, the plant is less likely to successfully take root. And if it is in a cool room, it will most likely freeze quickly. It makes sense to put the flowerpot near a warm battery.

Do not be discouraged if some yellow leaves appear on the palm in the first days after transplanting. For about two weeks this phenomenon may be, it is normal. But if time passes and the leaves turn yellow again, react. Probably, the matter is in the increased watering, the moisture needs to be reduced.

If the leaves of a palm tree have become brownish at the ends, then the matter is in the dryness of the air. But sometimes such a defect can be explained by overfeeding the plant. You do not need to feed the dracaena for two or even three months after the transplant. Properly selected soil contains everything valuable for its active growth, and new top dressing will become a burden for the tree. Dracaena leaves turn black if the room is cold. Perhaps she is standing close to the window, her tips touching the cold glass.

But if the plant has dropped leaves, you can suspect a stress reaction. At first, it should be so, these are the nuances of acclimatization. A warm shower will help to invigorate the flower, which, by the way, will be "inoculated" against parasites. But do not forget to cover the soil in the pot with plastic foil to avoid overflow.

If you take care of the dracaena flawlessly, create all the conditions for healthy growth for it, your home can be decorated with a three-meter beautiful palm tree. She lives for a long time, up to several decades, and may well become a family pride.

For transplantation and reproduction of dracaena at home, see the following video.