tralis Drac

[RRONNIE]

Hi all,

Question 1 - in basic stuff for plants 101 student like moi:

What's the difference and/or relations between Dracaena and Cordyline ?

I bought what we call here in Israel Red Dracaena australis which is called in several sites - Red Cordyline  - hence the above confusion - the tall trunk (about 5 feet tall) got damaged - the "tip" the "heart" broke !

Question 2 - If i will cut the trunk just under the crown, will it yield/grow a split of trunks at the top (under the cut) ? (the way Dracaena tricolor for example does) ???

Thanks,

Ronnie

[chris.oz]

Hi Ronnie,

Its pretty clear that Cordyline, Yucca and Draceana are closely related and amongst the easiest plants to propagate.

Propagation techniques are pretty much the same for most of the species in all these genera.

Under each leaf there is a very small bud [ eye] or potential growth point.  When the existing growing bud is destroyed, a hormonal signal is sent to the "eyes" below the cut for them to start active growth. One or more will then burst into leaf and, if more than one succeeds you get branching.

These plants are capable of root generation from stem cuttings.  You can cut the top off and plant it and it will probably form roots at the basal cut, and this is the fastest way to get a plant.  Also  you can dice the stem into sections,  plant them right side up and they will form roots and leaves from one or more of the buds,  if you want more than one .     If you have cut stems just lie them half buried  on their side in a shady moist part of the garden and they will grow.

For this to work best,  last seasons stem is best,  older than that and it takes longer and chances of rot are greater.

Of course you can also grow them from seed and using tissue culture if you have a lab !

.

[aussiearoids]

I have found it hard to get cuttings from just bits of cane with Draceana tricolour , tops with foliage are the easiest plants in the world to strike .

I know D. fragrans grow easily from just a bit of stem .