How to Prune a Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana
Commonly called corn plant, Dracaena fragrans is a low-maintenance and resilient houseplant prized for its attractive, treelike shape. Most commercially available Dracaena fragrans plants are of the cultivar "Massangeana," which is instantly recognizable by the thick, golden-yellow striped leaves emerging from the tops of thick, woody canes. Both the foliage and canes benefit from occasional pruning to improve the overall look and health of the plant, but it is best to remove as little growth as possible to maintain the integrity of the plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Inspect the dracaena plant for all areas that require pruning maintenance. Look for brown leaves, damaged canes or canes that no longer produce foliage. Perform heavy pruning in early spring and periodic maintenance year-round as problems occur.
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Select the appropriate tool for the type of pruning required. Choose floral snips to trim or prune yellow foliage, bypass shears to remove whole leaves and a pruning saw to prune the canes.
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Trim yellow leaves as they appear. Use floral snips to trim away the yellow or brown tips. Remove the affected area then prune the leaf tip into a point, mimicking the natural shape of the leaf. Remove the entire leaf if more than half is yellow.
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Remove whole leaves by lopping them off where they attach to the cane. Cut the base of the leaf using bypass shears. Position the bypass shears so the blades lay flush against the cane when cutting. Leave the leaf node, or the area where the leaf emerged from the cane, intact so new foliage will emerge.
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Cut away the tops of damaged or dormant canes using a pruning saw. Saw the cane so the top is flat and even. Make the cut 1/4 inch above a healthy set of leaf nodes. Remove the entire cane if it appears withered or feels squishy to the touch.
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Address any underlying problems causing damage to the dracaena plant. Lessen watering to 1 cup every 10 days if excess moisture is the issue. Prevent and treat infestations of mealybugs, spittle bugs or scale since those pests cause symptoms such as yellow leaves and withered canes.
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