this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2026
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Houseplants

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39
Dracaena worries (slrpnk.net)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by wildflowertea@slrpnk.net to c/houseplants@mander.xyz
4 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hi, my saviours!

Here are Angela (orchid), Lourdes (spider plant I'm doing my best to save after someone at the office gave them 200 ml of water twice a week for a month and they started smelling like rot...), and the big gal at the back is Daenerys (because they are a dracaena... Get it? Get it? ...)

About six years ago, someone threw Daenerys out and I got them home. Lately, they've been growing very enthusiastically fast and one of the stems bent about 20 cm from the base, so I got them a stick (which should probably be longer).

Now, I know those leaf tips don't look ideal, but they seemed to be doing well enough until leaves started falling from bottom up mostly from the stem that got bent, and that got me worried.

They were in a West facing room with not a ton of light, so I thought maybe more would make a difference and I brought them to the east side โ€“ but I am wondering if it may be something else, though they seem happy and I'm going to be a grandma soon.

I water when dry. Otherwise, I haven't done a thing with them โ€“ apart from a brief quarantine period due to gnats taking over the soil caused by my anxious overwatering in early summer.

Maybe they need repotting? I've tried to find out their family so I could look up for advice, but I am not sure. Dracaena fragrans...?

Thanks in advance for your help! ๐Ÿชด

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[โ€“] cybervseas@lemmy.world 13 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The main stem looks very delicate which I think is out of balance with the height of the plant and shape and size of the leaves. For the amount of water and light available the plant may be starting to prioritize new growth up to and trying to grow new roots towards the bottom of its thin stem. Some thoughts on what you can do:

  • Chop up the stem and propagate and make a bunch of new plants. You could even plant them together in the same pot for a fuller look
  • Let the existing stump grow and it will almost definitely put up branching stems
  • Run a fan for a few hours a day to encourage the stems to thicken up as new stems grow

Mom's dracaena was 15 years old and getting scrawny. Only keeping the first few inches of leaves. So a few months ago I did the same thing to it. It's shorter for now but growing quickly.

Before

Cut

Replant

A few months later

I can take a more recent picture later today when I'm out of bed. But where Mom was very nervous me cutting up her one precious plant she has no regrets now. With fuller growth (and a grow light) the plants are looking great.

[โ€“] wildflowertea@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 days ago

Thank you for the thorough answer. What a change with your mother's dracaena!

I'll go check how to propagate Daenerys. I feel it is the most approachable solution but I don't know how to do it...

... I'll also check some websites to find more dragon-related names.

[โ€“] suff@piefed.social 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The damaged stem looks like it is too scarred to grow wider anymore.

Anyway, I think they are called Dracaena because they are like Hydras. Cut off their head, and they will grow up to 4 new heads. Also, the cut off head grows new roots and the healthy stem would have more space.

Maybe Daenerys was shooting so much to kick a part of her off the root and let it start over with new roots?

[โ€“] wildflowertea@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 days ago

Thanks for your reply.

I think you are correct. Daenerys is calling for radical change, though happily for both of us, it won't involve fire.

I'll research dracaena propagation and get to work!