Dracaena is native to the humid tropics. Therefore, indoor care will require specific conditions. In the wild, the plant is considered a large shrub, with trunks of some species reaching up to 20 meters in height. Several undemanding species are used for indoor cultivation.
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Before purchasing a dracaena, it's important to familiarize yourself with its care requirements. Even the slightest violation of these requirements will cause the leaves to dry out and the crown to become deformed. Pests may infest the plant. A beautiful ornamental flower will become a specimen that's unlikely to please the eye. Therefore, careful care of your dracaena at home is essential.
Types of Dracaena – Photos and Names
Dracaenas are often called false palms because, after some pruning, they look very similar to them indoors. The plant is distinguished by a long and vigorous growth cycle—it grows throughout its life. Flowering is virtually impossible to achieve indoors, with the exception of certain species.
Dracaena fringe
Resembling a tree, it features long, narrow leaves arranged in a pattern reminiscent of tousled hair. The leaves of the Dracaena marginata branch out from the center, creating a unique and beautiful ornamental pattern when they fall.
Dracaena Deremskaya
The Dracaena d'Argentina's color and shape distinguish it from other species. Its leaves are wider and have white stripes, making the plant more attractive.
Dracaena Sanderiana
Dracaena sanderiana resembles bamboo in appearance. Its leaves are long, green, and striped with yellow. For a decorative effect, the leaves are twisted into a spiral, and the stems are woven into baskets or other shapes. In its natural state, the stems are straight.
Dracaena fragrans
This plant variety is known for its thick, unstable trunk, which requires support. Its foliage is large and green, emanating from the trunk itself. It has a strong and pleasant aroma, noticeable even without the flower stalk. Flowers are rarely seen; it grows no more than a meter.
Dragon tree
In the wild, it can grow up to 20 meters tall, but indoors it doesn't grow more than a few meters. The trunk resembles a tree. The leaves are sword-shaped, green, and edged with red.
The plant is very beautiful and rich in appearance. However, inexperienced gardeners often encounter problems when propagating it, especially with the cutting method.
You may be interested in:Dracaena marginata
Marginata is one of the most beautiful dracaenas. When pruned correctly, it looks very impressive. It graces many offices, hotels, and homes. It is easy to establish and propagate.
Caring for indoor dracaena
Dracaena is an easy-to-grow ornamental foliage plant. Proper care is recommended to ensure its foliage remains vibrant in color. High humidity is one of its key requirements. Therefore, avoid placing the plant near succulents and other flowers that don't tolerate humid conditions.
Choosing a pot
To plant a plant approximately 70 centimeters tall, you'll need a container 20 centimeters in diameter and 25 centimeters high. It's recommended that the container be stable, as a tall plant can easily tip it over. A drainage material, such as expanded clay, should be placed at the bottom. The pot will need to be replaced as the root system grows.
Soil for growing dracaena
The plant prefers neutral soil. For this, a mixture of three parts soil, several parts peat, and one part sand is recommended.
Store-bought soil mixes for dracaenas are well suited. You can also use ready-made potting soil for indoor plants. When planting, you'll also need to ensure proper drainage; expanded clay is best.
You may be interested in:Room temperature
Dracaenas are native to warm climates, so the room they're growing in should be warm. The room temperature should be between 19°C and 30°C. At low temperatures, the plant stops growing. Dracaenas don't tolerate dry air, so it's recommended to humidify it.
During the winter months, that is, during the dormant period, the ideal temperature is 16-18 degrees Celsius. If the room temperature drops below this, the plant will stop growing, and watering should be stopped completely during this time.
Illumination
Dracaena thrives in bright rooms but doesn't tolerate direct sunlight. On hot days, the pot should be shaded slightly to prevent sunburn. Therefore, if your plant is placed on a south-facing windowsill, it should be kept out of direct sunlight. West- and east-facing windows are considered ideal.
If you place a dracaena planter on the north side, you'll need additional lighting. Plants with variegated leaves thrive on both east and west sides. Insufficient light causes the plant's top to curl, and the leaves to fade and lose their decorative appeal.
How to water dracaena
In hot weather, water the dracaena every few days. It's not recommended to let the soil dry out completely. It should be kept moist. Spraying the leaves with soft water is recommended. When watering, be sure not to allow water to stagnate in the tray. Daily spraying can cause the leaves to become coated with limescale. Therefore, wipe them with a damp cloth to remove dust.
Plant fertilizing
Fertilize the plant several times a month during the summer. It's best to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. The plant doesn't tolerate chlorine and fluoride, so consider these factors before choosing a fertilizer.
Store-bought complex fertilizers for palms and dracaenas are best. When preparing the fertilizer, strictly follow the proportions specified in the instructions. Dracaenas respond well to fertilizer, but overfeeding can kill them.
How to care in winter?
If dracaenas are grown in a warm room during the winter, care is similar to the summer period. However, it's best to keep the temperature below 18 degrees Celsius during the winter. In this case, watering is reduced to once a week. Fertilizing is not recommended during the winter and fall.
How to transplant a dracaena at home
Repotting is an important step for a plant. It's usually best to repot it into a larger container. Place some drainage material at the bottom of the pot. Remove the plant carefully to avoid damaging the roots.
To replant a dracaena, you should:
- A little sand and soil are poured into the new container onto the drainage;
- The plant is placed in the middle and soil is added;
- Water with room temperature water;
- Add more soil mixture, leaving a few centimeters from the top;
- The soil is compacted and sprinkled with peat.
Until the plant reaches three years of age, it is repotted annually. The top layers of soil should also be replaced with fresh soil annually. With proper care and timely repotting, the dracaena gains strength.
How to prune dracaena for branching?
To ensure a plant delights the gardener with an attractive crown, it needs to be pruned correctly and on time. This procedure is also performed as a preventative measure, removing old shoots. This is done once the stems reach at least 40 centimeters. At this point, pruning is done in a specific spot to maintain a compact and distinctive appearance.
To encourage new shoots, pruning is done during the plant's active growth period. During this period, the dracaena's sap is actively flowing, making it less susceptible to disease.
A standard pruning technique helps the plant branch better. The first pruning is performed when the plant reaches at least 30 centimeters in height. The top is trimmed with a knife or pruning shears, and the cut is treated with charcoal or paraffin. The plant is placed in a shaded room with a temperature of at least 24 degrees Celsius.
After a few months, lateral shoots will begin to appear. If deformed shoots become visible, they should also be removed. The cut sites are treated with charcoal and special preparations that promote branching.
You may be interested in:Propagation of dracaena at home
Once the plant reaches a large size, it's advisable to propagate it. Dracaena deremskaya, Dracaena marginata, and Dracaena sanderiana are most commonly propagated indoors. Propagation is carried out at the end of spring, when growth is in full swing.
The procedure is carried out in several ways:
- stem cuttings;
- cuttings of the top
- propagation by tops.
Propagating dracaena by cuttings at home is the easiest way.
Cut a cutting no more than 9-10 centimeters high and place it in a container of water. Place charcoal on the bottom beforehand. Treat the cut with ash. Cover the container with plastic wrap and place it in a room with a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius.
To ensure adequate ventilation for the future plant, the film is opened daily. It's also a good idea to change the water and add activated charcoal or charcoal.
Dracaena diseases with photos and their treatment
The plant gets sick for several reasons:
- infectious;
- physiological.
Physiological diseases arise from improper care, resulting in reversible or irreversible consequences. Infectious diseases, however, indicate the presence of pests.
If dracaena is not cared for properly:
- The tips dry out and the leaves fall off.As in the photo. This means the dracaena wasn't cared for properly at home. If drying starts at the bottom, it's due to physiological aging. The tips dry out, and then the entire leaf. To make the plant appear healthier, it's recommended to trim off the dried part; it's not necessary to remove the entire leaf.
- The leaves are turning yellowThe appearance of a yellow tint and drying of the leaves indicates a dracaena disease. This usually occurs due to overwatering or, conversely, underwatering. Regulating the water supply to the soil is recommended.
- The appearance of brown spotsThis occurs with frequent drafts or low humidity in the room. These spots also indicate a burn. To prevent this, the plant should be shaded. Also, remember to mist.
- Drying and appearance of black spotsThis problem indicates poor soil. Most likely, salts have accumulated in the soil, and the fertilizer contains a large amount of fluoride. To resolve this, repot the plant and change the fertilizer.
- The leaves are starting to rot.Leaves can rot due to insufficient heat and light. If the disease is infectious, the leaf will become covered with a watery, brown coating, separated by a green stripe. It's advisable to reposition the pot, adjust the watering schedule, change the soil mixture, and adjust the room temperature. This is especially common for Dracaena Marginata when cared for indoors.
- If the dracaena was kept in a room with temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the leaves gradually begin to wilt and fall off. The root system also begins to rot.
Infectious diseases of dracaena:
- Alternaria;
- heterosporium;
- phyllostictosis;
- bacteriosis.
These diseases, except for bacterial blight, are treated with special preparations called fungicides. Bacterial blight in dracaena is incurable. The affected plant is destroyed immediately.
Pests often spoil the appearance of plants and destroy them. The most common pests observed are:
- mealybug;
- false scale insect;
- mite.
Any houseplant requires proper care. To make a dracaena a beautiful addition to your home, you'll need to know how to care for it and maintain it.
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