Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated starter fertilizer or a balanced all-purpose feed (for example fertilizers labeled 12-12-12).
Check the plant label for suggested spacing. Crowding plants can result in fewer blooms and weak growth as the plants compete for light. Exceptions to this might be regions with a short growing season, shade plantings which tend to grow slower and fill in less quickly, or a need to fill an area with color quickly such as for a special event or if planning to entertain guests outdoors.
Remove the plant from the container. If plants are in a pack, gently squeeze the outside of the individual plant cell while tipping container to the side. If plant doesn’t loosen, continue pressing on the outside of the container while gently grasping the base of the plant and tugging carefully so as not to crush or break the stem until the plant is released. If the plant is in a pot, brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake the roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Push the soil gently around the roots filling in empty space around the root ball. Firm the soil down around the plant by hand, tamping with the flat side of a small trowel, or even by pressing down on the soil by foot. The soil covering the planting hole should be even with the surrounding soil, or up to one inch higher than the top of the root ball. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks to get them well established.
Vining annuals require vertical space to grow, so provide a trellis, fence, wall or other structure that allows the plant to grow freely and spread.
My Dracaena has been growing very nicely since 2019. Shortly after bringing it in for the winter, I noticed what I call a “new shoot” coming up on the opposite side of the original plant. I was thrilled because it was doing so well. This was the first time it got a new shoot. Unfortunately, shortly after this new shoot appeared I noticed that the leaves of the original plant were getting brown. Not only that, but the upper portion of the plant stem seemed to be soft and mushy. Here is my question–should I cut the top of the plant down to the point where it seems to be mushy and discard the upper piece.? If so, what should I do with the bottom of the stem. which is not mushy, and hope the bottom will grow again? I would appreciate any suggestions that you might have? Since I have had this plant for so many years, and was doing so well. Since plant was a gift from a friend of mine who is now deceased, I would feel terrible if you told me the plant is not worth saving.
Thank you for reading my comment and thank you so much for your time in trying to help me.
Hi Elaine,
We agree that it’s worth trying to save a plant that has sentimental value. A common cause of accidental overwatering occurs when people bring houseplants back inside at the end of summer and forget to monitor the soil moisture. Indoor plants don’t normally need as much water as a plant growing outdoors. Outside water consumption is higher due to the plant’s exposure to more heat, light, and water evaporation from air movement. It sounds like your Dracaena may have developed stem and/or root rot from being too wet. Please see our article on How to Rescue an Overwatered Houseplant for tips on steps you can take to try to help your plant.
The mushy stem is concerning and should be cleanly cut off just below where the soft tissue starts. In other words, you want to be sure you’re cutting just past the soft tissue, into healthy tissue, so you are thoroughly removing potentially diseased areas of the stem. Unfortunately, if the plant is diseased, it could already be spreading throughout the plant.
You’ve had your Dracaena for a long time, and sadly, it’s not unusual for plants to just naturally expire over time. We suggest that if your plant has reached its end, that you honor your friend by getting a new Dracaena, or perhaps choose something new that you think your friend might like. Enjoy the experience of shopping for a new plant and remembering your friend in a new way.