How to Train a Dracaena Marginata

Dracaena marginata, commonly called the dragon tree, gets its name from its bright, colorful foliage and twisting stems. Many people keep a dragon tree as a house plant or an office plant because it has low light requirements and simplicity of care. Dragon trees have thin, flexible stems that develop bends and curves as they grow. The stems' flexibility, combined with natural light or bonsai wire, allows you to train a dragon tree to grow in almost any desired direction.

Things You'll Need

• Bonsai wire

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Set the dragon tree on its side for several days. This will cause one side of the tree to grow flat while allowing the other side to develop bends.

   • 2

     Cut back the dragon tree's stems to help the plant develop branches.

   • 3

     Place the dragon tree in a bright window. Allow only one side of the dragon tree to receive light. This forces it to bend toward the light, causing a bent and twisted trunk.

   • 4

     Wrap thin bonsai wire around the flexible stems to train them into any desired shape. After several weeks, remove the wire.