Dracaena is a robust and easy-to-care for indoor plant. He acquired his survival skills in his homeland of ÁAfrica and Asia, where he had to face harsh climatic conditions.

The Dracaena genus includes between 50 and 150 different species. There really is a dracaena for all tastes.

Dracaena growth

The plant It develops a woody trunk similar to a palm tree. Even when grown indoors, the plant can reach a height of up to 2 meters.

However, It usually stops growing after 1.60 meters in height. For it to grow well, it definitely needs a large pot.

The ideal place for the dracaena

The plant It prefers bright places all year round, but does not like direct sunlight. If the sun is too strong, the leaves dry out from the tips and turn brown.

It does not tolerate drafts well and should not be exposed to cold ground, so it is necessary to protect it from it, especially in winter.

The Dracaena can spend the summer outdoors, in a sunny or partially shaded locationor planted in a frost-proof winter garden.

It is advisable to rotate the plant periodically because it adapts well to light. The plant will twist if you don’t turn it from time to time. In winter, the temperature should not drop below 15 to 18 ºC.

Popular species and varieties

• Canary Islands Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco):This variety is native to the Canary Islands and has long, dark green leaves. As an indoor plant it reaches a maximum height of two meters.
• Brazilwood or Trunk of Brazil (Dracaena fragrans): The Brazil trunk originally comes from the tropical countries of Africa. Its flowers appear in the wild from March to May and have an aromatic scent.
• Fine-leaved Dracaena (Dracaena marginata): This species has thin reddish-brown stripes on the edges of the leaves.
• golden leaf dracaena (Dracaena surculosa): The leaves of this variety are slightly dotted.

Dracaena care tips

1. Plant it correctly

Dracenas are sold commercially in pots. But Many times the substrate used is not optimal and the pot soon becomes too small.

Therefore, it is best to transplant the newly purchased dracaena directly to a larger container that must be filled with permeable humus substrate.

2. Use the right soil

for this plant Standard soil or a mixture of compost and good garden soil is suitable. The pH value of the substrate can vary from slightly acidic to neutral (5.5 to 7).

Dracenas do not tolerate waterlogging at all. To avoid waterlogging, you can Mix expanded clay with soil. The granules increase permeability and reduce the risk of waterlogging.

It is only transplanted when the old pot has become too small. The houseplant is also suitable for hydroponics.

3. Water and fertilize regularly

The plant is frugal in terms of water needs. It is best to always keep the soil slightly moist. You should not let the root ball dry out completely, as this can quickly cause the edges of the leaves to turn yellow.

In summer it can be watered generously without causing waterlogging; Otherwise, the roots will begin to rot. In the winter months you can water less so that the substrate dries out. If possible, use rainwater.

The rest of the care is limited almost exclusively to remove old leaves that have become unsightly.

From March to September, it is best Fertilize weekly or every two weeks with liquid fertilizer for green plants. From October to February it is enough to pay every four or six weeks.

4. prune the dracaena in spring

It is possible to prune the dracaena to encourage branching, but pruning is not without problems. The trunk and bark are very sensitive and rot easily.

You can prune the dracaena throughout the year, but the best time is in spring. To prevent the penetration of pathogens and prevent drying, It is essential to seal the cuts with wax for trees after pruning.

However, regular pruning is not necessary, You can also let the dracena grow naturally.

If the dracena is too dark, it often develops very long shoots. You should trim them so that the fresh leaves can grow back and branching is stimulated.

5. Transplant the dracaena

Dracenas are very fast-growing indoor plants, so It is advisable to transplant them every spring.

Once the plant is several years old, it is enough to transplant it every two or three years. The new pot should always be about three centimeters larger than the previous one.

6. Overwinter

Dracenas are very sensitive to cold and, therefore, They should be moved to a cool, bright winter location before the first frost. The ideal is a temperature of about 10 ºC, as long as it has enough light.

During winter watering can be significantly reduced and fertilization is also eliminated.

7. Propagate the dracaena with cuttings

The best way to propagate dracaena is with head or trunk cuttings in spring or summer.

To root, simply Place the cuttings in a glass of water or a pot with moist, low-nutrient soil. The first roots will form after a few days. New shoots can also be seen quite quickly at the top of the trunk.