Dracaena, care tips and more information

If you are looking for a beautiful indoor plant that does not require much care, then Dracaena plant is probably the right one. Dracaena is an impressive indoor plant with relatively slow growth that can reach a height of 1-2 meters. It originates from the tropical countries of Africa and it fits perfectly in living rooms and professional spaces, as it has the ability to survive even in places with little light. The small varieties of Dracaena fit perfectly on the mantels, counters and desks while the taller ones make it perfect for adding life to a corner of the living room, dining room, or bedroom.

Like most houseplants Dracaena increases the quality of our lives and is important for our well being. It will help us breathe easier by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, increasing humidity as well as removing toxins to purify the air. 

Dracaena plants are easy, low-maintenance indoor plants that will thrive and adapt in almost any environment. 

Find below how to grow and care for your Dracaena plant: 

Light

Dracaenas grow best when they get 2-4 hours of bright, indirect sunlight every day. They will tolerate less light, but growth will slow down significantly and they won’t look as green and leafy. Never place a dracaena plant in direct sun, as the rays will scorch its foliage. Filtered indoor light (such as through a sheer curtain in front of a sunny window) or a semi-shade spot is an ideal location.

Water

Dracaena requires less water than most indoor plants. Always allow the top soil to dry out before watering. Touch the soil with your fingers every few days to see how moist it is. Cold water will shock the plant, so make sure it's lukewarm. Dracaena is sensitive to fluoride, which can be found in tap water, so it’s essential to use purified water when caring for this plant. Root rot is a common problem for dracaenas, so take care not to over-water them. 

Humidity

Natural room humidity is fine as the Dracaena is such a hardy houseplant, but it does prefer the higher humidity of its natural rainforest habitat. You can improve humidity with a commercial humidifier or by placing the plant on a tray of pebbles, with water reaching just below the pebble tops.

Temperature

Dracaena prefers temperatures ranging from 18 – 26 °C during the day. Make sure that you place your Dracaena away from cold drafts, heating and cooling appliances. At night, 10–13 °C is fine, but don’t let the temperature drop more than that. Dracaenas do not tolerate cold well. 

Fertilize

Feed dracaenas liquid fertilizer once a month during spring and summer. Choose a well-balanced fertilizer formulated for houseplants. Try to avoid wetting the foliage with liquid fertilizer. Stop fertilizing your dracaena during the dormant winter months.

Toxicity

Toxic to cats and dogs. It is not considered poisonous to humans but should not be swallowed. 

Pests and Diseases

Although Dracaenas are easy to grow, they are susceptible to a few pests. Scale insects, mealybugs, and mites love dracaena plants. Use a magnifying glass to check underneath the leaves for these pests once a week. 

If your plant suddenly drops a lot of its foliage, you should definitely check it for a pest infestation. Pests can be treated with an insecticide that contains pyrethrum. Wet the foliage with an insecticidal spray every 5-7 days, as needed, until the infestation is under control. Drenching the soil with insecticide can also help to control these pests.

Tip: One of the easiest ways to prevent pests is to regularly wipe the leaves gently with a damp cloth every few weeks. This will also prevent dust from building up on your dracaena, which is a common problem for indoor plants.

Pruning

Thriving Dracaena plants can grow up to 3 meters tall, but you can easily control their height with a bit of pruning. Prune dracaenas in the spring to control the size and shape, if desired. To reduce height, cut off the top part of the plant's main stem with pruning shears. You can cut it back as far as you want. Once you "top" the plant at the main stem, it won't ever grow taller than that. This encourages the Dracaena to get fuller and bushier rather than taller. Also, trim off unhealthy leaves at the nodes, which is where leaves sprout from the branch. 

Types of Dracaena plants

There are over 40 cultivated varieties of Dracaena, which are originally from forests in Africa. Find below some different dracaena varieties to choose the right one for you. 

Compact Janet Craig Dracaena has solid green leaves with short internodes, making it a shrubby plant that adapts well to low light conditions.

Dracaena fragrant Massangeana or Dracaena massangeana is commonly referred to as mass cane or corn plant, and is widely used indoors. It is characterized by its thick, woody canes and long strap-like leaves. Although moderate natural lighting is ideal, it is tolerant of low light conditions. This type of Dracaena grows slowly, so it can fit in a particular space for a long time without requiring much maintenance.

Dracaena Surculosa “Florida Beauty” is smaller and shrubbier than most other dracaenas, rarely reaching more than 60cm tall. This is also called the Gold Dust Plant or Spotted Dracaena. It can tolerate low light, but you’ll see more variegation with bright, indirect sunlight. 

Lemon Lime Dracaena has brightly-coloured yellow and green leaves with thin white stripes leaves. It grows well in low light. With its cheerful leaves, this plant is ideal for brightening up any room or shaded corner. 

Dracaena Marginata commonly known as red-edge dracaena or Madagascar dragon tree is may be the most popular dracaena variety. This variety has very thin, strap-like leaves and a skinny trunk. It grows very slowly and may take more than 5 years to reach their maximum indoor height of 1.5-2m. This tree prefers bright, indirect sunlight but will be fine in lower light. They make excellent houseplants because they are drought tolerant and among the more forgiving dracaena plants.

Dracaena Sanderiana Variegata is the same species as lucky bamboo, but its leaf margins are creamy white. It is sometimes grown in terrariums because it remains shorter than most other dracaenas.

Dracaena Reflexa commonly known as “Song of India” or “Pleomele” is an ornamental plant species that has multiple stems. The dracaena is known for its broad shiny evergreen leaves, richly-colour foliage, and thick woody stems. This adaptable house plant thrives indoors or in a partially-shady outdoor area.

Dracaena is an adaptable, easy-to-care for house plant that does well indoors or outdoors in partial shade. Studies prove that plants at home and the workplace can improve air quality and lower stress. Buy plants online from our wide range of indoor plants, and bring the beauty of outdoors into your indoor space today!