Question
I found three large Massangeana Dracaena canes in our village compost pile, one with the ID tag still attached.  The canes were cut of their top growth and are totally bare.  The are apx 3" in diameter and 3, 4, and 5 feet tall.  The roots are totally dry, however I don't see any rot in the canes themselves and am wondering if I can try rooting them.  My question is do I plant them as is or do In need to saw off the bottom end of the cane?
Thank you!

Answer
Hi Patti,

We don't know how long the canes have been rootless, without foliage and left in the compost area, so it is not possible to tell if there is any chance for success. I certainly would say the odds of successfully propagating these canes are very slim.

First, squeeze the bark. If the bark is loose and papery, then the cane is completely dead and cannot be revived. Otherwise, you can try the following.

Cut off the bottom inch of each cane, making a clean cut. Use a wide saw blade to cut a small, quarter inch deep horizontal notch about two inches long an inch or two below the top of each cane.

Insert the three canes together in a 10" pot filled with damp peat moss. The hard part is finding a way to keep the canes vertical without falling over. You will need to keep this setup in a warm, damp location with bright indirect light. Keep the peat moss slightly damp.

With luck, it will take several months for roots to begin to form and even longer for new shoots to emerge from near the notches you cut.

Good luck!

I have written detailed articles on propagation and on Corn Plant care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected]. I have also written an indoor plant care book in a PDF format that I can sell you if you contact me at my email address.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and NOMINATION for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at:
A link to HorticulturalHelp.com

or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com