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Toddlers Destroyed Plant


Question
Hello,
I am going to assume what I have is a Madagascar Dragon Tree (although it only has one main trunk; is that common?) At any rate, this plant has grown so beautifully; it is about 4 1/2 ft. tall, and just today my twin 2 year old boys pulled off all but about 1 foot of the plants leaves at the top. I just about cried. Is there anything I can do to nurture the plant / bring back it's health so it keeps thriving, and gets it's leaves back? I feel awful for it! Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hello Tiffany,

No worries at all here. If what you have is indeed a Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) it'll be fine. You could hack the top clean off the plant and it'd grow new leaves. It won't require any special care at all other than being careful not to overwater, as it won't be using as much water with all its foliage gone.
Also, it is normal to just have one main stem but if you'd like to fill the pot out a little here's some links on cane cutting and air layering to get more plants from the one you have. Cane cutting is about half way down the first one.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-37web.html

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/ornamentals/airlayer/airlayer.html

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