Vigorous looking specimens. I LOVE the exposed root thing you've started. I've been doing that too. Like you said, if a plant wants to be gnarly and wild, manipulating to exaggerate that sounds like fun to me too.

When I saw the last pic, I wondered, where did the rest of the cuttings go? It's really just the tips in that jar. I've done a LOT of cuttings of Dracaenas, but never one that short, where foliage needed to be removed. Not saying there's anything wrong with what you've done, just not what *I've* done before. Pretty confident they'll take root for you though. It's cuttings just like that which they sell with annuals in the spring as "spikes." Hormone not needed but if you already have it, shouldn't hurt to dip cuttings before putting in a pot. My instinct would be to put those in a pot ASAP, but can only speak from experience in regard to much taller/longer cuttings with a significant piece of trunk under the foliage. My last cutting was about 3 feet tall.

It me took a few days to get around to it, but I planted the tops. I dusted them with rooting hormone (not pictured). I really do not need more of these plants, so maybe I will give them away...

Ooh,

I don't think I could ever cut back any of my plants like that!

Looks good though! Hopefully it grows back vigorously!

That exposed root idea looks really good

Looks great. And absolutely agree! I give away most of the plants I propagate, until I can find a room-stretcher... I can't stop doing it, and never fail to find homes for the excesses.

Here are close-ups of the roots. Next repotting, I'd like to trim out the roots that go straight down from the middle of the trunk.

I finally remembered to take pics of a couple of trees I've done this with. No foliage visible, but this is D. marginata 'Tricolor.' This is only up about 1 1/2 inches so far.

Here's 2 shots of a regular D. marginata (with a little air plant between the trunks.) This one is about 4" above its' crown.

From the other side:

That air plant looks cool in there, purp!

Here are some one month updates.
Tri-color top didn't make it but the marginata is doing OK

TY! Your stumps look good for a month after the cut! They are slow growing plants. It's so weird that you put an update of this today. I was looking for another discussion this morning and wondered about your plants when I scrolled by this one. Very cool.

Sorry your one top didn't make it. Looks like you'll have several to replace it soon, still an increase, though not yet in individuals (for that one.) I think if you leave a bit more stem/trunk next time, that won't happen again.

2 months later

Marginata:

Tri-color:

Those are so cool. Love how resilient they are. Nicely done. Looking real good. The exposed root thing is a really neat idea. I'd never thought of that before.

Looking great!

Also, this character was hanging out on the curvy top. I've named him Lucky Lindy.

They're coming along nice!

I always follow along, plant stories are my fav kind. Beautiful flushes of new growth! TY for the cool update!

Really cool!!!!Hello Tiffany I hope all is well

Thanks so much for the update pictures!!! I'm getting ready to hack my beloved dracaena and I wondered how long it would take to grow some foliage. Awesome pics!!

Wow, that tricolor was really being held back by being only one growth point!

i love seeing the update photos of your progress.

Pit looks like your marginata is also atta ping a third growth point?

Thanks, all. I'm glad people are enjoying the progress pics.

Kathy Blackwood : Keep in mind, these are mature plants that are living outside while going through their summer growing period. They are enjoying lots of bright indirect light. I pruned some smaller indoor dracs last year, and they are growing much MUCH slower. 'Your mileage may vary', as they say.

laticauda : The third branch on the marginata is still just a tiny green nub. It looks exactly the same now as it did when it first broke through the trunk 2 months ago. The third one on the tri-color is definitely the runt of the litter, but it's starting to grow and catch up with the others now.

Maybe it just wants a bit of fertilizer? Hurry, before summer is over! Lol

Four months update:

Days are shorter, temps are cooler. I will bring them inside soon. Their growth has slowed down, despite me giving them a light dose of fertilizer. This will likely be my last update until next spring.

What do you do with them in the winter?

come spring time, if you remember, you'll be thankful for that last dose of fertilizer before winter!

Looking good, Jpcii!

I did this to my plants and the stems look like they’ve developed little holes in them. Any idea why or if that’s normal?

Melody, please add a pic. Are you talking about the stumps having holes, or the cuttings?

JPC, are you still around? What are your trees doing?

A pic I took this morning.