The Dracaena Fragransalso called trunk of Brazil, waterwood, happywood or brazilwood, is a very popular tropical plant for indoor cultivation. As its name indicates, it has its origin in Brazil, and its popularity is due to its striking vertical appearance, finished off with showy and large leaves that are born in rosettes. The plant can reach heights of up to 6 meters, but when it is grown in a pot its growth is much smaller and also slower, maintaining adequate dimensions for the home. Even so, a Brazilian trunk that is too tall can give us problems or be unsightly. Can the trunk of Brazil be pruned? Not only is it possible to do it with some previous knowledge, but it is highly recommended. Maintaining a controlled structure in this plant and performing an occasional pruning will make it maintain greater vitality and health.
If you want to learn how the Brazilwood is pruned, join us in this EcologíaVerde article, in which we explain how to prune a Brazilian trunk step by stepas well as the basic care you need afterwards.
When to prune a trunk from Brazil
The Dracaena or palo de agua is best pruned between mid-spring and early summer, or until mid-summer if you don’t live in an area with very strong sun. At these times is when the plant is most active, and it will have a better chance of recovering from the wear and tear that pruning entails without suffering from diseases or becoming too weak.
Also, if you want you can take advantage of pruning to reproduce the trunk of Brazil. In this case, the best time to prune a trunk from Brazil It is in early summer, around June in the northern hemisphere, so that the cut green trunks are most active and develop roots more quickly.
Another point is maintenance pruning, which in the case of this plant simply consists of removing dry leaves or leaves in poor condition that the plant shows. This can and should be done throughout the year, since it is not traumatic at all for the trunk of Brazil, quite the opposite.
Tools to power a stick of water
Pruning this plant is not particularly difficult or complicated, so if it is the maintenance of a Brazilian trunk common potted, the only tools to prune a trunk from Brazil what you will need are some pruning shears well sharpened and duly disinfected before starting work. Having a good edge is very important so that the cuts are as clean as possible, so that the plant heals them better.
If what you are going to prune is not the small green trunks but its main woody trunk, there are several things to consider. The first is that, if you cut this trunk, it is difficult for the plant to sprout again at that point, since it has lignified. Most Brazilian logs sold in florists and specialty stores are actually sections cut from larger Brazilian logs that have been rooted in a greenhouse. In fact, it is because of this that its roots are so small and sensitive to waterlogging or rotting due to excess watering.
In any case, you will not be able to prune a thick trunk with pruning shears, so you will need a pruning knife. Use a specialized one for pruning and it is vital that it is well sharpened and sterilized.
How to prune a trunk from Brazil step by step
Once the tools are ready, know the steps to prune a brazil log or water stick with these simple instructions:
- Disinfect the pruning shears you are going to use with alcohol or a specific solution. If you are pruning multiple plants, sterilize them again after each use.
- Find the stem you want to prune. Make sure it is a green trunk so that it can sprout again.
- Typically, these green trunks are cut to about half their full height, though this is just a guideline as you can actually prune as high or low as you like depending on the location and circumstances of your plant.
- Make a single clean cut, but don’t make it completely perpendicular to the stem. A slightly inclined cut helps the plant to heal more easily, in addition to preventing water, sap or any other substance from accumulating on the wound that could favor the appearance of fungi or diseases.
How to take care of the cuts of the trunk of Brazil pruned
After pruning, the Brazilian trunk requires that we apply healing paste on the wound, since it is quite sensitive to infections and problems if left untreated. You can buy healing paste at any specialized store, although making it yourself is very easy and can give better results. follow these steps to make a healing paste for plants:
- Prepare candle wax and heat it slowly until it melts.
- Once liquid, add a little fungicide powder, which is easy to buy at any nursery or online, and mix well until it is homogeneous.
- After this, and before it solidifies again, spread the mixture over the cuts made, covering them well.
- Once the wax cools, it will completely cover and seal the wound, protecting it from attack by pests and fungi.
In this other EcologíaVerde guide you will be able to learn much more about the care of the trunk of Brazil and its reproduction.
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