How to transplant dracaena: practical advice
Dracaena - popular indoor plantthat needs some care. The correct transplant will strengthen the flower, give it beauty and brightness.
Content:
- When does dracaena need a transplant?
- Choosing the right container
- Substrate preparation
- Dracaena transplant: technology
- Transplanting after purchase
When does dracaena need a transplant?
A periodic change of pot and soil is necessary for all indoor flowers. If you follow certain rules, it will not be difficult to do this. A grateful dracaena will respond to attention, settling in a new place.
The best time to work is late winter or early spring. At this time, the false palm begins to actively develop: it will be easier for it to endure the "crossing". In the fall, she prepares for a dormant period. Unsuccessful transfer will lead to the death of the plant.
The main reason to transplant a flower is the need to increase the living space of the rhizome.
In a cramped container, the plant will stop growing, stop throwing out new leaves. Its nutrition is a small amount of substrate, which is becoming less and less. The powerful dracaena root system fills the entire pot and even shows up on the surface.
Situations when a plant needs a transplant:
- Dracaena just bought. In specialized stores, plants are sold in fragile plastic pots. The buyer cannot know how long the flower has been on the shelf. If a lot, the potted soil is poor in nutrients.
- Dracaena is several years old. The roots of a grown palm tree do not fit into the container.
- The flower was "flooded". Excess moisture provokes root rot.
- Deterioration in the quality of the substrate.
- It's time for a transplant. For a small palm it is 1 year, for a large one - several years.
- Damage by pests. The midge larvae cause great harm to the tree.
Dracaena is transplanted based on the situation: immediately after purchase, every few years, or more often if problems arise.
Choosing the right container
The range of flowerpots in flower shops is amazing. In such a situation, it is difficult for the buyer to focus on the necessary characteristics of the pot.
Immediately, the gaze stops at the most beautiful and striking products. A catchy design does not at all mean that the plant will be comfortable in such a container.
The main thing for a flowerpot is not appearance, but functionality.
Competent choice of a pot:
- The size of the product corresponds to the dimensions of the plant. For a dracaena with a height of about 40 cm, a container with a diameter of at least 15 cm is suitable.The plant will actively develop if the root system has enough space.
- Each new pot should be several centimeters larger in diameter than its predecessor. A common mistake is to buy a huge container right after a small one. Such savings will lead to stagnant moisture, root rot and death. dracaena.
- The material does not play a special role. There is an opinion that ceramic flowerpots are better than plastic products. The porous walls of the pot allow the rhizome to breathe freely, the substrate dries out more evenly. As practice shows, the palm tree feels great in artificial containers.
- There must be through holes in the bottom of the selected product.Their role is to remove excess water, which will cause a lot of trouble for the dracaena.
- A stable flowerpot is suitable for a large plant. This criterion is met by glass-shaped containers.
- When buying a flowerpot, the most important thing is not the design with the material, but the correct size, shape and the presence of through holes.
Substrate preparation
The quality of the soil directly affects the plant. Due to poor soil, the dracaena will lag behind in growth, and will lose its attractiveness. Each flower needs its own, individual substrate. You can't just take the land from the flower bed and transplant the dracaena. Such soil is saturated with a variety of fertilizers and salts.
The optimal solution is to buy a package of ready-made soil for palm trees. It is already fertilized and contains all the necessary nutrients.
If you wish, you can prepare the substrate yourself. The main thing is that the soil for the dracaena is light. It must be breathable and dry quickly.
You will need sod land (2 parts), leafy soil (1 part) and peat soil (half of the previous component). You need to be careful with the amount of peat: it retains moisture and degrades the quality of the substrate. Another option: mix equal amounts of turf, humus and sand. Precise observance of the proportions in the substrate is the key to the timely and complete development of the flower.
A drainage layer is required. Fine expanded clay, crushed brick or coarse sand is used. The thickness of the drainage is a quarter of the volume of the flowerpot. Such a rather thick layer will ensure the removal of excess water. Dracaena will do well in light, breathable soil, from which moisture quickly evaporates.
Dracaena transplant: technology
Before placing the palm tree in a new place, take it out of the old flowerpot. This is done very carefully, trying not to damage the fragile rhizome. If the plant is not watered for several days, it will be easier to get it out of the container. It is easier to separate the dried soil from the walls of the flowerpot. The plant is tilted upside down and gently slammed on the pot. Dracaena is taken out together with an earthen lump.
Actions during transplantation:
- Examine the rhizome for damage. Injured roots prune with a clean knife or scissors.
- Treat the cuts with crushed charcoal. This is the prevention of further infection and decay.
- Spray the prepared rhizome from a spray bottle.
- Wash the pot with warm soapy water.
- Lay a drainage layer, on top - a layer of soil.
- Place the dracaena in the center.
- Fill in the soil, carefully filling the voids between the roots. Tamp the substrate near the stem.
It is not recommended to deeply deepen the palm tree. It will be more convenient to water the flower if you leave the sides. The soil is compacted by gently knocking the pot on the countertop.
Planting several dracaena in one container is allowed. Palm trees with small foliage are placed together to create interesting combinations. The main thing is that the size of the flowerpot is enough.
When transplanting dracaena, it is important not to injure the rhizome and equip drainage.
Dracaena "Bamboo of happiness" does not look at all in a pot alone. Groups of 10 or more are formed from plants. Do not put adult flowers with powerful trunks in one pot: the composition will look heavy.
Transplanting after purchase
Flower shop managers are often asked about the need to replant only the purchased palm. There is no definite answer to this question. It is better not to touch young dracaena until the beginning of spring.
If the buyer is gnawed by doubts, it is worth choosing the transshipment method. The flower stretched out together with the soil is placed in a more spacious container, the voids are filled with new soil mixture. Acquisition can grow in a shipping substrate. Whether this is so, the seller knows. Such dracaena must be transplanted into new soil. The old one is completely cleaned up.
Once placed in a larger pot, the palm will adapt to new conditions.
The whole process will take about two weeks. During this period, the flower will grow small roots and hairs.
Adaptation is accelerated by using root growth stimulants. Zircon is a proven drug that will allow Dracaena to recuperate faster. It is used no more than 2 times every 30 days. Feed palm tree from March to November. In winter, the number of procedures is halved, halving the dose of fertilizer. The transplanted dracaena will do well in partial shade, at temperatures from 22-25 degrees. At a lower temperature, plant growth will slow down. The same will happen if he gets too hot. Excessive evaporation of moisture will lead to this result.
Dracaena needs spray and water sparingly, preventing the soil from drying out. Waterlogged soil will cause flower disease. The hardened palm tree is taken out onto the street or balcony. Fresh air will only do her good. At this time, caring for the plant consists in periodic loosening, watering and spraying. It can withstand an increase in temperature, but not more than 32C.
If the purchased dracaena needs an urgent transplant, root growth stimulants will help her get used to the new conditions.
The palm tree will "tell" about a successful transplant, throwing out young leaves. In patient, caring owners, it will begin to grow actively, giving others joy and beauty.
More information can be found in the video.