Dracaena Care Guide: How to Grow Dracaena

Dracaena is a genus of plant that belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The stems of dracaena plants are thick and tree-like, and the spear-shaped leaves can be entirely green or variegated with edges of white, red, and yellow. Small dracaena varieties grow to three feet tall, and larger types can reach up to 10 feet in height. These tropical plants are native to Africa, Southern Asia, and Australia.

The Dracaena genus includes 40 species of plants. Popular houseplant varieties include:

1. 1. Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata): This plant gets its name from its spiky, red-streaked leaves. The dragon tree is more drought tolerant than other dracaena varieties.
2. 2. Mass cane (Dracaena fragrans): Also known as corn plant, this tree has thick, drooping green leaves and a thick, woody stem. Mass cane can grow up to six feet tall indoors. 'Massangeana' is a popular cultivar of D. fragrans that features a broad streak of yellow down the center of the leaves.
3. 3. Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana): This variety gets its name from its stems, which growers can train to curl into a bamboo-like shape. Lucky bamboo plants can grow three feet tall indoors.
4. 4. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa): This short, shrubby plant is native to islands in the Indian Ocean and can grow multiple stems in a pot. Its spiky leaves feature yellow edges.
5. 5. ‘Janet Craig’ (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’): This cultivar has glossy, large green leaves and can tolerate lower light conditions.

Dracaena plants can grow in low-light conditions and have minimal growing requirements. Follow these steps to ensure your dracaena thrives indoors:

• Plant dracaena plants in well-draining pots. Dracaena plants can grow in standard potting soil in pots with drainage holes.
• Place your plant in an area with indirect sunlight. These plants grow in indirect light and can even live in low light conditions. Certain varieties with colored leaves do better in bright indirect light—too much direct sunlight can burn the plant.
• Control the temperature of the growing environment. Dracaena plants grow best at room temperatures of 65 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and will not tolerate temperatures below 55 degrees.
• Let the topsoil dry between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot and yellowing leaves. Dracaena plants are also sensitive to fluoride, so if your tap water is high in fluoride, use distilled water. Brown spots or dead areas in the leaves are an indicator of fluoride poisoning.

Dracaena are relatively low-maintenance houseplants, but follow these tips to best care for your plant:

1. 1. Mist the leaves of your plant. Mist the leaves of the dracaena plant or place the plant near a humidifier to increase the humidity. If the leaf tips are brown around the edges, the environment is too dry.
2. 2. Prune your dracaena plant. Prune the top of the plant during its growing season in the spring and summer to encourage bushier growth. You can also prune off brown tips or dead leaves. The lower leaves of the dracaena will yellow and fall as the plant is growing new leaves.
3. 3. Fertilize your plant to encourage growth. Feed the plant once or twice a year with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer. If you want it to grow bushier, feed it with plant food more often in the spring and summer during its growing season.
4. 4. Repot your plant every two years. Repot your dracaena plant with a new potting mix.
5. 5. Protect your plant from pests. Dracaena can attract spider mites or mealybugs. Spray the leaves and the soil with neem oil to ward off pests.

Dracaena are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested and can lead to vomiting. Keep the plant out of the reach of your pets.

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