Dragon tree dilemma

Anne Swithinbank's masterclass on: Pruning Pruning a dracaena

- Anne Swithinbank

I took a saw to the main woody stem of our demonstration plant that was only a few centimetres away from the ceiling. Don't be scared to prune as Dracaena marginata is very accommodating

Q Our Dracaena marginata has shot Q up and hit the ceiling. Can I prune it and where should it be cut?

Andrea Hill, Stockport, Cheshire

A When it comes to tall house plants, the narrow-leaved Dracaena marginata, from Madagascar and the Réunion Island, is one of the toughest and easiest to grow. It is not a magnet for scale insects and will thrive in all kinds of light, though in shade the stems and leaves are apt to be thin and straggly. Better light encourages robust growth and these plants are capable of reaching the ceiling of an average house. Keep plants at a minimum of 55°F (13°C) because they begin to suffer at colder temperatures. Extremes of cold or heat, erratic watering or insufficient feeding will bring them out in yellow spots.

Dracaena marginata responds well to pruning, as shown by the new shoot on this plant