growing logs

[stanbesida]

my wife purchased one of these logs from Tenerife last year and it is supposed to grow within 6 weeks but is has never grown. I purchased another one last week and it says to scrape the wax off the bottom of the log and put it in water. Does anybody have any hints on making them flourish and which end of the log should be scraped off, i.e. which is the top and which is the bottom?

[carolegif]

These are tourist rubbish. It is supposed to be a yucca plant when it grows. I have never known one to survive, so cut your losses and go and buy a yucca plant from the garden centre.

I have bought seed abroad though, and my beefeater tomatoes from Spain are doing a treat.

carolegif

[Jules001]

sorry I can't remember what I did with mine many years ago, but mine definitely grew and grew quite well as I remember, so don't give up home and bin it just yet.

[Jules001]

sorry should have previewed my answer that should read hope!

[Thunderbird+]

If its from Tenerrife, then its highly likely to be a 'dragon tree' (Dracaena draco) Its like a national emblem for the island and a big tourist attraction, they recon some of the trees are 2 thousand years old or more!
Its not very thoughtful of them, not to indicate which end is the bottom etc, if you planted it up the wrong way it would'nt stand a chance. I have a differant type of dracaena and I've just checked the leaf-scars and they have a concave shape (dished) to them, hope that helps.
I grew one once from some seed that someone brought me back as a souveneer and kept it growing for a few years.
The tree does look similar to a yucca when small and has a red sap known as dragons blood, lots of folk-lore attached to it.
I've never tried growing a log but wish you sucsess.
Ps One solution may be, saw it in half and plant one up one way and the other, the other way, at least you will have a 50-50 chance. Good Luck.

[stanbesida]

Many thanks to everybody who has sent answers