Fow...first you must tell your hubby not to water your plants...If he continues, you'll have plant problems as long as you have plants.

Whatever you decide to do with your margintas, 'air-layer, root,' tell your husband, HANDS OFF!

Can you post pictures? It's ashame..10-yrs-old trees.

Where is the rot? Is the main trunk soft? And how large are your trees?

If large, is it possible to remove a few stems, and root in water?
All you have to do is cut off a stem nearest the trunk, set in water, change daily or every second day and wait. Once stems are rooted, pot in well-draining soil.

Air-layering isn't difficult. Have you ever AL'd before?
It's not difficult..if you chose to AL, make sure you have everything needed before making the cut. Tooth-picsk, Sphagnum Moss, plastic, 'to wrap around moss' tis, and a spray bottle, 'to moisten moss.'

A photo would help, Toni

Toni -

Thanks for the reply. Pictures are linked below.

I should clarify that it was, in fact, my wife who has overwatered. She's been suitably chastised and will not be watering any longer, trust me ;)

The rot has, to date, only been visible in the roots (though it was extensive). The trunks are not soft on any of these yet. The two in the first 5 pictures are approximately 6.5-7' tall. The other 3 pictures show the three that share a pot and are about 3.5' tall.

Unfortunately none of these dracaena have shoots/branches I could use to propagate - all are straight up, as you'll see. So I can't take any stems without either air layering or just chopping pieces of stalk off, which is what I'd been hesitant to do.

They've all lost more leaves than is evident here, probably in the range of a dozen or more on each of the large plants and closer to 8-10 on the smaller ones.

I suppose the question is, would cuttings like I'd have to do even be strong enough to root, given the weakened state of the plants. Hard to know for sure, of course.

I should also mention that I do know it's best to pot in a container inside a ceramic pot and not directly into the ceramic pot. As a matter of personal taste I'd always gone with direct potting into the pots like you see, including large gravel in the bottom and potting soil mixed with perlite. My experience had always been good up until now (isn't that always the way this stuff happens?). Of course, had I potted within the pot this post wouldn't even exist, likely. But for now I need to do what I can to save them.

Also, as I mentioned in the previous post I had been meaning to repot these, especially the smaller plants (isn't that ALSO always the way?) which were quite intertwined below the surface. If they survive separation is in order, as well as a good chop to reduce gangly-ness (true for the big ones as well).

Thanks in advance!

-M

Here is a link that might be useful: Dracaena with root rot

M...I'm sure you 'took care' of your wife with the utmost severity..lol...j/k..Really kidding!

I see what you mean..there's no side shoots to root.
M, for one thing, your Dracaena isn't getting enough light. The trunk looks thin compared to its height. They require very bright sun.

What size is its pot? It's possible your plant is/was root-bound, halting growth.. Although I'm against over-potting. IMO, plants should be repotted in a container 1-2 sizes larger than the previous pot. Besides, D. marginata does better when a little pot bound.

Yep, if one is going to use a pot w/o drainage, instead of direct planting, it's best to pot in a plastic growing pot, setting a piece of sheet styrofoam inside the outer pot, 'without drainage holes,' then placing the growing pot atop the styrofoam.
Marginata, 'like a few other Dracaenas, Drako for one,' prefers soil to dry out between waterings. I treat mine like a succulent, (to a degree) although marginata requires humidity, therefore, leaves are misted daily, and every so often, given a shower.

What type of root hormone did you use? Are you talking about Superthrive or a rooting hormone?
SuperThrive is a fantastic hormone, helps stressed plants, seedlings, and cuttings.

If it was my plant, I'd cut three or four pieces of trunk, root, then pot in fresh, well-draining soil. Rooting the trunk is simple. Afterwards, each piece can then go in one pot, or if you prefer a solo look, pot in separate containers. Placing all in one pot will look more compact. It's a matter of opinion, when you think about it.

As long as the stems aren't soft, I believe they'll root. If a section is rotted, simply cut into firmer tissue.

M, which other plants were you meaning to repot? Toni