Dracaena – The Perfect Green Companion at Your Home
Want greenery indoors but stressed about plant maintenance? In such a case, Dracaena must be your first choice as it is a low-maintenance and elegant indoor plant. With many benefits, this plant freshens up your house and offers a safe living environment. Elevate your space instantly by growing this versatile plant.
Like other indoor plants, it can be grown from seed or propagation methods. It can be challenging to keep it growing for years. Thus, it is vital to understand ways to maintain the Dracaena plant. Follow our Dracaena plant caring tips to keep your plant healthy for long!
Proven Tips for Dracaena Plant Growing
Caring for a Dracaena requires the right balance of water, light, and nutrients. Follow these important steps to give your plant the ideal environment:
Provide the Right Lighting
Dracaena needs indirect and bright sunlight to thrive. But it can also tolerate low-light conditions in some cases. Place the pot near any window where dull light reaches the foliage. The sunlight must not be direct as it can burn the leaves.
But if you find the Dracaena plant dull, it may require more light for a few hours. Find a spot at your home with dappled sunlight or partial shade. Keep the plant for at least three to four hours to keep it alive. Filter the indoor light by placing curtains to avoid rays scorching the Dracaena foliage.
Maintain the Ideal Temperature
To thrive in Dracaena, the ideal temperature is 65 to 78oF during the daytime. But at night, the plant can bear a temperature drop of 10oF only. If the temperature becomes less than 55oF, it may damage the plant. Place the plant away from hot or cool appliances.
As Dracaena belongs to rainforest habitat, it thrives in high humidity levels. But it stays the same even in the natural humidity levels of the room. In dry regions, you can either set up a humidifier or place pebbles under the plant to keep water below the pebbles.
Use Well-Draining Soil
Soil for growing Dracaena should be well-drained. Whenever you are about to water the plant, check if it is dry completely. The soil must not always be dry or soggy as it can damage the plant. It should always be moist, so spray water on leaves and soil whenever it gets dry.
You may observe leaves getting brown from the tips when the soil gets extremely dry. But if the soil is soggy, it can kill the plant completely. If your plant appears to be dull and droopy, give it more indirect sunlight and mist water on the leaves.
Water Properly
Compared to other indoor plants, Dracaena needs less water to stay hydrated. Misting soil and leaves slightly with good drainage is enough. While watering the sapling, check if the top soil layer is entirely dried out. If you notice droopy or yellow leaves, it happens due to poor drainage or overwatering.
But if you see yellow and shedding leaves from the bottom of the plant, then it is normal. Instead of using tap water, use purified water because Dracaena is quite sensitive to fluoride in tap water. Check fluoride toxicity by noticing dark brown leaves or yellow edges (dead areas).
Fertilize Occasionally
Use fertilizer once or twice a year to help the Dracaena plant thrive. It is good if you use natural fertilizer for better health of the Dracaena Lemon Lime plant. Consider liquid fertilizer that mixes easily with the drained soil during summer.
In winter, avoid using fertilizer to prevent slowing down the plant growth. Natural fertilizers should be considered over chemical ones to keep the plant safe and healthy.
Prune for Health and Shape
Dracaena tends to grow like other houseplants, i.e., 4 to 10 feet. Keep them short and beautiful by doing regular pruning. The best time for pruning is the growing season, when you can chop the extended leaves and branches.
Use a pruner or knife to trim the leaves and maintain the plant size. Regular pruning also keeps the Dracaena plant healthy and beautiful.
Pest Control and Prevention
Dracaena is vulnerable to different pests, just like other indoor plants. Observe your plant to check for spider mites, which are commonly found in dry environments. You may notice webs or stippled leaves as signs of pest attack. Spray neem oil over the leaves periodically to kill pests.
Scale and mealybugs leave sticky substances on the leaves, which can damage the plant. If you notice small bumps on the foliage, it is because of scale insects. Use insecticidal soap or spray diluted neem oil for the treatment. The sign of fungal disease is the brown spots on the leaves, which are caused by overwatering or poor air circulation. Pluck those leaves and move the pot to the airy space.
Check for Common Problems
Yellow or wilted leaves are the basic indication of overwatering or poor drainage. Keep the soil moist instead of soggy, and grow Dracaena in a well-drained pot with proper drainage. Another reason for yellow or brown leaves is the overexposure of sunlight.
Move the plant to a place where there is indirect and bright sunlight. If you keep it in low-light condition, the discoloration can happen. Avoid using tap water if you see brown tips; instead, use purified water.
Clean the Leaves
Clean the leaves regularly by showering water to keep the Dracaena plant pest-free and healthy. It will lose its beauty due to accumulated dust on its leaves. So keeping the Dracaena Marginata Plant clean is necessary.
By using a soft cloth, wipe the dust from the base and tip every day. Avoid using harsh chemicals as they can clog the pores on leaves and damage the plant. While cleaning, inspect for pests and treat them immediately.
Bringing Out the Best with Our Dracaena Plant Caring Tips
Follow the best Dracaena plant growing tips to keep the plant healthy and green. Elevate your house space by installing a beautiful and low-maintenance Dracaena plant. With all love and attention, you can thrive on this indoor plant and keep your house fresh. Let My Green Leaf tips let you enjoy the benefits of having houseplants by purifying the environment for living!