The trunk of Brazil or water stickscientific name Dracaena fragrans, is a shrub native to tropical climates highly appreciated in gardening for its striking leaves up to 1 meter long. It is a highly sought after plant for decorating interiors and exteriors in homes around the world, since it does not require very complicated care.
If you want to learn how to take care of this plant at home, both in the ground and in a pot, keep reading us in this EcologíaVerde article in which we tell you all about the care of the trunk of Brazil and its reproduction.
Brazil trunk plant, water stick or Dracaena fragrans: characteristics
The Dracaena fragrans is part of the family Asparagaceae, and it is a very popular plant in interior decoration due to its large vertical size. Its growth is slow, and it forms its large leaves in rosettes in which the new upper leaves replace the older ones, which are lost.
When planted in the ground it can reach up to 6 meters high, but in a pot, logically, its growth is very limited and it adapts to the space. The brazil trunk flower it only appears in fully adult plants, although the plant is of scarce flowering. These flowers are white in color and highly fragrant, hence the scientific name of the species.
One of the most beneficial properties of this plant is that its ability to cleanse and purify the air of some harmful chemicals has been shown.
Trunk of Brazil: reproduction
The most used reproduction technique with the brazilwood or water stick Its the reproduction by cuttings. It consists of cutting a small young branch, planting it so that it takes root and becomes a complete new plant. For this, it is vital to choose a young and green branch and cut it with previously disinfected tools.
You can dip the bottom of the cut branch in rooting protein, either store-bought or homemade, to improve its chances of rooting before planting. In addition, it will be necessary that the substrate has been enriched with fertilizer and offers good drainage. In these first days, the plant will need humidity and a warm environment to be able to adapt to its new environment and develop.
In this other post we tell you more about How to make cuttings.
Trunk of Brazil: care
The Brazilian trunk is a very popular plant and is often recommended to beginners in gardening and horticulture due to its undemanding care. These are the basic care of the brazil trunk:
Light for the trunk of Brazil
This plant needs lots of natural light, so it will appreciate being located next to a window or at some point where it receives that contribution of light it needs, although always avoiding direct sunlight. It is also preferable to place it in an area without drafts.
water stick irrigation
As far as irrigation is concerned, the Brazilian trunk requires little irrigation, this being necessary only when the land is very dry. This will generally occur up to twice a week in warmer climates and seasons, and up to once every two weeks in cooler climates or seasons. On the other hand, despite the fact that it is necessary to avoid flooding its substrate, the plant does require abundant environmental humidity, so it is advisable to spray warm water on its leaves every two or three days.
Temperature
Since it is a plant from tropical climates, it suffers a lot from low temperatures. Its optimum temperature is between 22 and 26ºC, and below 14ºC it can be in danger.
Pruning
Brazil trunk pruning can be done for aesthetic reasons and to prevent the plant from taking up more space than desired. When pruning this plant, it is very important that the cut is made at an angle of about 25 degrees, with a very sharp and disinfected tool. Once the cut is made, it is recommended to cover it with a melted candle to prevent infections and pests. We recommend you learn more about it in this other post on How to prune a Brazilian trunk.
Transplant Dracaena fragrans
Lastly, Brazilwood requires occasional repotting like most potted plants. In this case, as it is a slow-growing plant, a transplant every 2 or 3 years will suffice. Here we give you a guide on Transplanting a plant: when and how to do it.
My Brazilian trunk plant with yellow leaves, what do I do?
When this occurs, it tends to be because the environment is too dry for the plant, especially if only the tips of the leaves turn yellow or dry. Don’t water it any more than you already do if this is the only symptom. Instead, make sure spray water at room temperature on its leaves every 48 hours. It is important that the water is not too cold, you can heat it a little before spraying it if the water from your tap comes out very cold.
It is also possible, if it is the whole leaves that are turning yellow, that you are watering your plant too much. Check that the pot has drainage holes and that they work properly.
If the leaves that turn yellow are only the lower ones, you do not need to worry: it is part of the natural cycle of the plant.
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