We have had this plant for years- 8-10, If I remember right. This is the first time it has done this. My husband's comment was it must be happy. I am assuming (yes, I know that is dangerous) that this is a seed head. Can anyone give me more information as to what to expect. How to care for them, the seeds, if indeed that is what it is. It is on a covered patio, no direct sun, but very bright light. We are Zone 9. Stays outside year round. I water when it feels dry.
I'd wait til they dry out and then you'd know for sure if it is indeed the seed pod. Others will know better than I, I'm not familiar with the plant.
Christine
what is that? A ginger?
The plant is Dracaena fragrans, and that is the newly forming flower spike with flower clusters. After the flowers are done blooming, you may get some seeds; they will be inside of little round fruits.
evansnana, you can always hand pollinate them to increase your chance of having seeds. :)
Please forgive me for not identifying the Dracaena, I didn't realize I hadn't in my excitement.
Metrosideros,
It will be getting cool here soon. As I said it is on a covered patio that we enclose for the winter. I try to make sure the temp. stays at least above 50. Barring power outage. Is there anything I should or should not do? Thanks for any insight. JLR
Hi JLR, if you are trying to make seeds you can give the plant a high phosphorus (P) & potassium (K), and low nitrogen (N) fertilizer, and give it plenty of water.
The flowers will be happening very quickly, and they will be active at night. If a lot of bugs hang around the flowers, you should get some seeds.
If there are a lack of pollinators, you might try using a feather duster to lightly brush up & down on the flowers, after it gets dark outside.
The seeds will grow easily if you plant them soon after they fall off the plant (remove the seed from the fleshy surrounding fruit).
I get plants that pop up on their own from seed that falls on the ground around my plants.
The seeds will usually produce the plain green form of the plant.
I don't know what you can do about the weather. A cold spell would probably kill fruit production. Maybe make an enclosure around the plant with tarps or linen sheets, to stop any cold winds.
Good luck!
Aloha, Dave
ooh. pretty. how exciting.
