Can I Replant a Cut Dracaena?

Replanting

• Some varieties are resistant to rooting, so dip the cut end in rooting hormone before replanting. Any size pot will do, but make sure it has a large enough base so that it won't topple easily. If you don't plant the cutting immediately, cut an inch or so from the bottom of the cutting before planting to improve moisture uptake. Bury the cut end deeply in a small pot, allowing the base of the cutting to almost touch the bottom of the pot if it's long enough.

Humidity

• Place the plant in a plastic bag and secure the top to keep the air around the plant as moist as possible. A moist environment is essential to prevent the plant from drying out and to promote root formation. If necessary, put some clean twigs or wire around the edges of the pot to keep the bag from touching the foliage. Remove the plastic bag as soon as the cutting roots, which can take up to nine weeks. You'll know the cutting is rooted when the stem resists a gentle tug. Water the plant with a weak solution of houseplant fertilizer as soon as you remove the bag.

Light and Temperature

• Keep the cutting out of direct sunlight as long as it is inside the plastic bag. Direct sunlight causes heat to build up inside the bag and can cook the plant. Place the pot in a brightly lit room, just outside the sun's rays. Cuttings root best at temperatures between 75 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stem Cuttings

• After cutting the top off the plant, you can take additional 3- or 4-inch cuttings from the stem. Allow them to heal over for a day, and then lay the stem cuttings horizontally in a pot and push them into the soil to a depth of 1/3 or less of the stem's diameter. Cover the cut ends of the stem with soil but leave the centers exposed. Bag the stem cuttings and give them a couple of months to form roots.