The log of happiness is an indoor plant that people love to give to those who move to a new residence. Despite the name, it is not a tree, but is actually a kind of dracena. The easiest and quickest way to get a new specimen is to take a cutting from a healthy plant. Once you have removed a secondary branch from the main trunk, simply remove the leaves and put it in water until it develops new roots. At that point, you can continue growing it in water or transplant it into the ground to make it grow again. Fortunately, propagating the log of happiness is very easy and doesn't take too long.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making a Cutting
Step 1. Remove the stems of the happiness log from their container
Take the plant out of the container and remove all the threads holding the trunks together. Gently separate the roots with your fingers, then divide all the stems. Pour the water from the container into a colander, in order to filter it and remove the pebbles.
Often, the log of happiness is sold with a few threads that hold the stems together. However these can damage the plant, so it is best to remove them
Step 2. Choose a healthy trunk with a long branch
The stem of origin should have at least 2 nodes, that is the lines that separate it into different segments. Once you have found the longest and healthiest trunks, look for a good branch, at least 10-15cm long, dark green and protruding from one of the tallest nodes.
The nodes are the parts of the plant from which the leaves arise
Step 3. Prune the branch
Use a sharp knife or small pruning shears to carefully cut the branch off the main trunk. Cut it as close to the stem as possible. At that point, use the shears or knife to remove another 0.5 cm from the bottom and even the cut.
Step 4. Remove the lowest set of leaves
Gently peel them off the cutting with your fingers. Leave at least one group of leaves intact at the top. By removing the lower foliage, the plant's energy will be used to develop the roots.
It is important to remove the leaves, so that they do not rot when you put the branch in water for the roots to develop
Step 5. Place the cutting in a jar filled with distilled water
Fill a glass container with 10 cm of distilled or bottled water. Dip the cutting into the water, with the cut side at the bottom of the jar, but do not completely submerge it. If you have made more than one cutting, you can put them all in the same container.
- It is important to use distilled or bottled water, because it must not contain chlorine which would otherwise damage the plant.
- If you want to use tap water, pour it into the jar and let it sit for 24 hours so that the chlorine can dissolve before you dip the cutting into the container.
Step 6. Expose the cutting to indirect sunlight for one month
Transfer it to an area that is lit but protected from direct sunlight. By staying in the water, the cutting will begin to develop new roots. Eventually, you can plant it like a normal plant. The roots will take about 30 days to come out.
Step 7. Replace the water every week
Once every 7 days, hold the happiness log and throw away the water contained in the jar. Replace it with new distilled or bottled water. In this way, the liquid will not stagnate. If necessary, add more water to replace that evaporated or absorbed by the plant.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for the cuttings
Step 1. Transfer the log to a larger pot
After about a month, when the plant has developed new roots, you can transfer it to its pot. Fill the bottom with at least 2.5cm of pebbles, marbles or gravel. Place the log in the new container, sinking it into the pebbles to keep it straight. At that point, fill the jar with about 10 cm of fresh, chlorine-free water.
You can also place the new happy stem in the pot that contains the original plant from which you took the cutting
Step 2. Change the water every month
The log of happiness that has grown in the jar needs fresh water on a regular basis. Every 30 days, drain the water from the jar and replace it with another bottled, distilled, or chlorine-free. If the liquid evaporates quickly during the month, add more fresh water.
Step 3. Alternatively, plant the log of happiness in the earth
This plant also grows well in a solid substrate. Find a small pot that is at least 8 cm deep with large drainage holes. Fill it with a soil mix that drains well, such as the one for cacti. Sink the lower end of the stem of the log 5 cm into the ground. Water the plant and keep the soil slightly moist at all times.
- Use bottled, distilled, or chlorine-free water to water the log.
- Fertilize the soil with a happy log fertilizer or diluted liquid indoor plant fertilizer to help the dracena grow.
Step 4. Display the log in an area well lit by indirect sunlight
This plant needs a lot of lighting to grow well, but would quickly spoil in direct sunlight. Find a well-lit area for the log, such as a partially shaded window sill, where it can receive plenty of light every day.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for the Original Plant
Step 1. Cut the log of happiness at the top, above the next knot
Take the plant you made the cutting from and place it on a cutting board. Find the node you got the branch from, then go down until you find the next one. Measure 1-1.5 cm above this last knot, then prune the top of the log with a sharp knife or pruning shears.
By cutting the trunk just above the knot, you will stimulate the growth of new branches
Step 2. Dip the cut part in unscented white soy wax
Light a candle and let it burn for about 30 minutes. In this way, the wax will become liquid. Once you have a small puddle of liquid wax, dip the top of the severed log into it to seal the cut. This way, you will protect the plant from infections.
The best type of wax for this purpose is the white unscented soy wax. Petroleum-based dyes, fragrances and waxes could damage the plant
Step 3. Return the trunk to its pot
Return the original plant to the container it was in previously with the other stems. Move the pebbles or gravel from the colander to the jar to hold the log in place. Fill the container with distilled water and return the stub to its original position.
