Question
I just bought a Dracaena Marginata from a local nursery.  It contains 4 stems
rooted together in one pot.  Is there a safe way to separate a couple of these to
move into different pots.

Answer
Andy,

I do not recommend it.If you separate them this time of year with the shorter days it will throw each plant into shock and there will be a 50% chance they will die. This plant prefers to be rootbound.

If you choose to do it you will need to put each plant in a smaller pot so it is close to being rootbound. The pot should be no larger than 1 inch all the way around than the rootball when you have cut the plant apart. To cut it apart simply remove the plant from the op and determine half way points between each plant then use a long sharp knife and cut straight down between each plant. Then put each section in a new pot not much larger than the root ball and fill in with a mix of potting soil and perlite at a ratio of 2 parts potting soil and 1 part perlite. Do not try to loosen the roots as that will further traumatize the plant. They will grow out into the new surrounding soil from the cut ends just fine. Pack the new soil around the root ball firmly.

A better way to obtain more plants from this plant is to give it a bright location near an east or west window and fertilize it well monthly until May then get some rooting hormone and 4 6 inch pots along with potting soil and perlite. Mix the soil and perlite at the 2-1 ratio and fill the pots pressing the soil in firmly. Then make a hole about 4 inches deep in the center of each pot and cut off the tops of the plants then remove the lower leaves and dip the cuttings into the rooting hormone then insert each into a separate pot and firm the soil around it. Put it in a bright location next to the parent plant and the cuttings with root within a month. Each plant in the original pot will put out 2-4 new shoots and you can let those get at least 6 inches tall from the stalk and then remove some of them and treat them as cuttings and root them for even more plants. Only do this in the spring and early summer when the days are lengthening. Never do it after August 1st or before April 1st.

Good luck with which ever method you use but you will be more successful if you wait till spring.

Darlene