Q: Please tell me what I can do about my Dracaena. It is all stem and a few fronds at the top. Is there a way I can bring it all down to my size? Also I have some Lucky Bamboo with a similar problem–all stem and not much show. Any help will be gratefully appreciated.

A: Dracaenas are generally rugged, carefree houseplants with a robust and tropical appearance. They are widely used for both home and office plantings. Many tolerate low light conditions. Allow dracaenas to dry slightly between watering. Wait until the soil surface is dry to the touch then water the plant thoroughly. Avoid watering with cold water. A standard commercial houseplant potting mix may be used. Feed dracaenas with liquid foliage plant fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer months. Time release fertilizer pellets may be used also. Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is part of the same family. The more common Dracaena are Dracaena deremensis, Dracaena fragrans (corn plant), and Dracaena marginata. When the plant stems become too long or too bare pruning it to the desired height will force it to branch out. All of the Dracaena listed above are indoor specimens for Northeast Florida; it gets too cold here to plant them outside. Check out this website from Clemson University about Dracaena http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/indoor/foliage/hgic1504.html

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