Cuttings of Drácena Marginata in Water: [Concept, Time, Rooting and Planting]

What does it mean to plant by cuttings?

Planting by cuttings is a technique of reproducing a plant through a fragment of it to obtain a new one with the same characteristics as the mother plant.

The cutting or fragment are the reproductive units that are obtained by separating a segment containing nodes and internodes from the mother plant.

The fragments or cuttings can be from the stem, the leaf, the rhizome or the root and are divided into: tender, juvenile, semi-mature, woody, bud, foliar and root.Planting by cuttings is a very useful process for those plants that do not produce seeds or that produce a limited number of them.

The drácena marginata species can be reproduced very easily through the process of planting by cuttings.

What is the best time to plant Dracaena marginata cuttings in water?

The best time for planting Dracaena marginata cuttings in water is spring- summer.At present and with modern reproduction techniques, the planting of drácena marginata cuttings can be done during any time of the year.

Gardeners and horticulturists recommend that the cutting of the Dracaena marginata be carried out at the appropriate time of year for its species, which guarantees the success of its reproduction.

How to get the drácena marginata cuttings to root correctly in water?

To ensure that Dracaena marginata cuttings root correctly, the use of auxin-type growth regulators is recommended, which accelerate their development and increase the quality of the roots.

The rooting agents for the drácena marginata must be of the liquid type and dissolve them very well so that the cutting can receive its benefits.

Dracaena marginata cuttings taken from young mother plants root quickly and develop better.

The location of the cuttings of the drácena marginata will influence the growth of its roots, since they must be in spaces with little light or semi-shade.To favor the rooting of the dracena marginata cuttings, the lower layers can be heated until they reach 15 to 25°C.

The room temperature, however, must be lower to avoid the development of the foliage instead of the roots, so the use of hot beds is recommended in these cases.The cultivation of the dracena marginata must be protected from strong frosts and winds.

How should we take the cuttings of drácena marginata in water to plant them?

Dracaena marginata is multiplied by terminal stem cuttings, which should be taken primarily from healthy, well-developed mother plants.

The cuttings of evergreen plants such as the dracaena marginata should be made by making a clean bevel-type cut and leaving some leaves on top, which will be out of the water.

The length can vary between 10-15 cm and must include at least two knots. The cut of the lower part must be made below a node and beveled, to have a greater root emission surface.

The process of taking cuttings from the dracena marginata is relatively simple, but success depends on several factors.

Genetic capacity of the mother plant to produce adventitious roots will determine the necessary care for the cuttings to take root.
Dracena marginata stems from young plants, especially when they are in full growth stage, are more likely to take root.
Watering of the mother plants a few hours before, so that the tissue is turgid.
Hygiene is also essential if you want to avoid the risk of diseases in a cutting when cutting or handling it.
The gardening tools for taking the drácena marginata cuttings must be sharp, clean and disinfected.

How long should we leave the Dracaena marginata cuttings in water?

In the case of cultivation or at least rooting of Dracaena marginata cuttings in water, it should be left until the plant has very good roots to proceed with planting.

The time that the drácena marginata will last in water will depend on the output of the roots and until they are strong and healthy.

It will not be possible to leave it all the time or reproduce it in that environment because the roots of the drácena marginata do not support humidity for a long time and can rot, causing the death of the plant.

Is it convenient to use fertilizer or compost?

The drácena marginata is a plant whose natural development environment is tropical areas, so its fertilizer or nutrient needs are determined by that condition.

Even when the cultivation of the drácena marginata is carried out in water, that is, it is placed to take root in that environment, the plant will require the use of nutrients for sowing.

While the drácena marginata cuttings are kept in a container with water, good quality liquid fertilizers dissolved in the water should be provided.The soil or substrate for Dracaena marginata should be well drained with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5.

To sow it, a hole of the same depth as its root is made. It is removed from the water and gently introduced into the substrate of the new container.

How long does it usually take for a Dracaena marginata cutting to come out in water?

The time it takes for a dracaena cutting to root depends on the species in question, the type of cutting, the age of the stem, the way it was prepared, and the humidity and temperature conditions.

The drácena marginata is a plant that is characterized by having a somewhat slow growth, which is why it can take up to five months to develop.

Bibliography and references

Bent Ana. (2019). Great Book of Indoor Gardening. First edition. Servilibro Editions, SA Madrid-Spain. PP 43-47.
Manual of propagation of higher plants. Metropolitan Autonomous University. First Digital Edition 2017, Coyoacán. Mexico PDF.