Gwen’s Healing Garden

The #1 Web Site Gardening For The Soil Gardening For The Soul

Did You Know | Environmentally Friendly Gardening Products | Non-toxic Cleaning Products | Indoor Gardening With Foliage Plants

Subscribe to the FREE monthly GHG Newsletter and receive free the E-book A Book Of Quotes: Subscribe here

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ask Gwen

September 2009

Dracaena Marginata

Orchids

Question: Dracaena Marginata

I have a Dracaena Marginata approx. 5' in height that my kitten climbed and broke in half! Grrr I tried to re-root the part that broke off and failed, and now the remainder has grown approx. 6" of new limb at the top where it was broken, with leaves with another growing on the other side of the trunk. Do I leave them? Can I cut them off and replant with the parent plant? If so, how do I do this? The second shoot is only about 1" yet - still an infant! So, I don't think it is ready, but the 6" I think is. It is healthy but I fear as it grows its' weight will pull the parent over and break the trunk. Also - I'd like to fill in below where the trunk is so bare. I think the kitten, now adult, is over its' curiosity of that plant. Your advice will be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer:

Thank you for contacting me. When I have wanted to top a Dracaena Marginata that is top heavy, I cut it off below a node (the place where the leaves sprout from the stem) and then stick the stem into the pot with the other plants. Keep it watered well and after 6 weeks (maybe longer) the top will sprout new growth. I have started any number of new plants this way. The bottom leaves will drop off. This is a characteristic of this particular plant and if you don't like the bare spots, cut off the top and it will throw new growth at the bottom.

Leave the sprouts on the side if you want the plant to fill out. Otherwise you can cut them off if you wish to keep the stems bare or use them to start a new plant.

This is a link to an article I wrote that tells you what you need to do to care for your dracaena.

http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Foliage_Plants.Dracaena.htm

One other thing with any plant that gets top heavy, planting them in a clay pot helps stabilize them, as the clay pots are much heavier than plastic.

Question: Orchids

Hi Gwen. I am a budding orchid enthusiast in the Philippines. I am migrating to in the US, specifically in Daly City. Do you think I can grow orchids there? I am concerned because the climate in the US is different from the Philippines. I need to know which kind of orchids grow there. Please help me. Thanks.

Answer:

Thank you for contacting me. Daly City, California is in hardiness zones 8 or 9 and orchids should do well in that climate. Once you relocate, the best way to find out what orchids grow best in that particular area is to go to a local greenhouse and ask specifically for relevant information.

These are some local addresses that you can contact:

San Francisco Orchid Society - www.orchidsanfrancisco.org - (415) 665-2468

Gateway Orchids 169 1st Ave, Daly City, CA 94014-2643, United States (650) 756-2667?

You can contact Daly City at this website for information about local businesses: http://www.dalycity.org/

These are some articles that address various aspects of growing orchids that are available to read on my website:

www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Article.Orchid_Care.htm
www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Ask_Gwen.January_2008.htm
www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Article.Growing_Orchids_Fearlessly.
www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Article.Hydroponics_And_Orchids.htm
www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Article.The_Indoor_Garden.htm

Home | Top

For more information or questions about material on this site contact www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Contact_Form.htm