Dracaena Marginata Cuttings Root Easily In Water: Here’s How To Keep Them Healthy
This plant is commonly known as Madagascar Dragon Tree, Dragon Tree or Red Edge Dracaena. Dracaena marginatas are extremely popular houseplants and rightfully so. They’re spiky, a bit edgy, fit in beautifully with modern, Asian or bohemian decor but sometimes they get a bit out of hand.
I inherited a Dracaena marginata “Tricolor” from the previous homeowner which needed to be pruned back before I transplant and bring it in for the winter. I’m sharing with you a few things to keep in mind when rooting the cuttings.
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Dracaena Marginata Propagation
Dracaena marginata cuttings are very easy to propagate in water.
The long stems, which are called canes, reach and twist towards the light. Their normal growth habit is for the canes to become very long over time.
As this happens, they shed the lower leaves which turn yellow then brown and fall off. If the plant isn’t getting enough light then the canes become thin and leggy and the foliage has a droop to it. You can prune those canes down and take cuttings because Dracaena marginatas respond very well to this.
Tips on Rooting Dracaena Marginata Cuttings
If you’ve taken long cuttings, eventually you’ll see quite a few yellow leaves will appear at the base of the foliage head. No need to worry, this is normal. Just remove those leaves & recut the stems if necessary.
These are some of my Dracaena marginata cuttings before I cleaned off the yellow leaves & recut them the canes.
Watering
Make sure you change the water every 5-7 days.
You don’t water bacteria to build up in the water.
Fill your vase or jar 1/4 to 1/3 with water. You don’t want the level any higher than that because the roots will emerge too high up on the stem. Also, the stems will be more prone to rot if the vessel is completely full.
Bright Light
Keep your Dracaena marginata cuttings in bright light.
Low light isn’t good and neither is the direct hot sun. In that case, your cuttings will burn.
Pruning
If you need to recut the canes, then make sure your pruners are clean & sharp. I always take my cuttings at an angle because that’s the way I was taught – it lessens the chance of infection.
Roots started emerging from the bottom of the canes after 10 days or so.
The Dracaena marginata canes can be twisted, straight, long or short. The growers train them into some pretty crazy shapes and forms. I had a candelabra form (which I gave to a friend before I moved) which you can see here. I usually cut my taller Dracaena marginata back every 2 years or so and you probably will need to do so to.
This is my sweet kitty Riley. Oscar, his tuxedo wearing companion, can be seen in the lead photo.
And you’ll see that roots emerge from the base of the canes in no time. You can enjoy the cuttings in a beautiful vessel as I’m enjoying my “cutting arrangements” in my kitchen and dining room. When it comes time to transplant the mother plant, I’ll put a couple of these cuttings at the base. The other cuttings are all going to a friend. I’m spreading the Dracanea marginata love!
Happy indoor gardening,
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- About the Author
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Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
wow you make it so easy , i got dracina from a friend and its good but only has one stalk and i cant figgure out how to get a baby to grow from it but now i will try what i saw on your video .i thank you for your sharing your passion of plants like i do i prefer perrenials but have learned how too grow them as a house plant i love them all …. sincerely Jennifer payne
Hi Jennifer – We all have our taste in plants & it’s good we all don’t like exactly the same thing! I too love growing perennials & lots of houseplants help to make my house a home. Plants are a passion for me & I’m happy to share that. Nell
hi Nell,
Thank you for the tips! My Christina Marginata has become quite gangly and doesn’t look as good as it used to. I think I’m going to give it a little pruning following your advice. Hope it gets back in shape soon. Wish me luck 🙂
//Bipasha
https://sunnydistrict.wordpress.com/
Hi Bipasha – Dracaena marginatas get leggy over time when grown as houseplants. They root very easily so you should have no problem. Nevertheless, sending luck your way! Nell
Hi, I’ve been searching around for the best way to cut back my Dracaena Massangeana (corn plant) which has one long stem (a one shoot from a short woody bottom part) which grew full of leaves and that now have reached the ceiling, healthy and green. I’m afraid though it is time to cut it back so that it doesn’t get crashed and curved while touching the ceiling.
Could you advise me if the method you describe here, a diagonal cut, placing the cut parts in water, will help them root, and the bottom part to sprout new leaves on the side?
The important parts that I would like to focus on is that I would like to maintain leaves on the top part and while it’s rooting and the bottom part that I would like it to sprout new leaves again (of course I will try to root the middle part as well).
Also another question is that, since it’s already touching the ceiling, is the time of the year now, with mild temperatures for another couple of months where I live, be alright for the rooting of the top part and the sprouting of the bottom part?
I would very much appreciate any advise you may have for me.
Hi Maria –
A mature Dr. mass. with a good-sized cane propagates very well using the air layering method. You can give that a try if you’re comfortable with it. Otherwise, you can root the cane in soil, keeping the soil fairly moist. I like to take diagonal cuts because I was told it lessens the chances of infection. And yes, you want to do any propagating soon before the winter months set in. Nell
Hi – I have a Dracaena Massangeana growing in a large pot outdoors in the Middle East where it is extremely hot most of the year. It looks really healthy but is about 2m high. If I cut the top portion off the stem and leave the roots, how long will they take to grow back – Will they grow back?
Thanks
Hi Sharon –
I’m not sure if you mean you’re cutting the cane partially or all the way back. New heads will sprout off those canes so it’s good to leave at least a foot. And yes, they will grow back. Nell
Hey! Just wanted to mention that cuttings are cut at an angle to increase surface area and water uptake… Has nothing to do with bacteria 😉
Just so you know, The Dracaena Marginata is (mildly) toxic to cats so donät let them chew on the plant.
More info at ASPCA: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/madagascar-dragon-tree