Easy, Breezy, Beautiful...Dracaena
There are a few houseplants that warrant a spot in my home, and just about every leafy member belonging to the Dracaena group is such a plant. With the exception of a few temperamental beauties in this robust family – and even those aren’t overly demanding – Dracaenas are generally rugged and carefree. That’s why you find them widely available in commercial and office environments. That’s why there’s always a variety of them on sale in greenhouses, florist shops, supermarkets and any other place that sells plants. And that’s why my home is never without an assortment of them.
I love this group of plants, a group that doesn’t command too much attention and looks good in spite of it. They are attractive, versatile, tolerant and undemanding. You don’t have to jump through hoops for them to look good – like some other plants...ahem...such as Alocasias...ahem. If you have less than ideal conditions in your home or office for indoor plants, you are much too busy to care for fussy foliage but you really want some greenery indoors then look no further than the Dracaena group.
Exotic-looking with spiky, striped, solid or variegated leaves, these tropical plants that resemble palm trees, corn plants and grass are wonderful houseplants, having adapted extremely well to life indoors. Each member of this plant group that originates from warm places such as the Canary Islands, Madagascar and Africa is unique in appearance. There are so many specimens available that you can fill your home solely with Dracaenas and it’ll appear as though you are growing houseplants from many different plant families. Most of the Dracaenas do not look anything alike but there is something they all have in common: each member makes a bold statement, commanding attention with its unique form.
The name Dracaena is derived from the Greek word ‘Drakaina’, which means female dragon. There are a couple of different stories as to how this name came to be.
1) The name refers to the red gum produced when the stem of a Dracaena is cut, which looks like dragon’s blood when it is thickened. It was formerly used in medicines as well as in magic and alchemy in Roman and medieval times.
2) In the Greek myth ‘The Eleventh Hour Of Hercules’, Hercules or Atlas (depending on which version is told) kills Landon the hundred-headed dragon in order to bring back three golden apples from the dragon-guarded ‘Garden of the Hesperides’. The dragon’s red blood flowed over the land and the trees that we now know as ‘Dragon Trees’ sprung from it.
Regardless of where their name originates from, Dracaenas are striking houseplants for interior spaces. And because they are so common, you will find oodles of advice on how to care for them. Below is my own contribution for a family of plants that I absolutely adore and adorn my home with.
Caring For Your Leafy Dragon
Dracaenas are accommodating plants that will tolerate – the key word here being tolerate – low light conditions - although they appreciate and thrive in ample light. Direct sun is not necessary but a little morning sunshine doesn’t hurt. I allow my own Dracaenas to enjoy the morning rays shining through an east window or the indirect sunbeams of a southeast window filtered through a curtain. Both locations are welcome by all the members of this family. My reward for providing more light is lovely, variegated leaves and well-defined, coloured margins - not to mention faster growth. Already somewhat slow-growing, Dracaenas placed in exceptionally low light grow very, very slowly. Bright, indirect light is the optimum. I would recommend that you avoid the sizzling, direct sun in the afternoon.
Dracaenas are highly prone to root rot so it’s important to water carefully. Less is always best; you are on much safer ground if you under-water. Do not use heavy soil. It should be light so that it can drain well. When it’s time to water, drench the soil until water comes out of the bottom. If no water comes out of the bottom, pour a little more into the potted plant until some does. After half an hour or so, empty out any water sitting in the bottom saucer. Do not water your Dracaena again until the soil is fairly dry; then repeat the cycle. You should never be afraid to pour in that moisture until the plant is saturated every time you need to water- as long as you have fast draining soil! Giving plants measly sips of water can cause large dry pockets in the soil, which can keep the root system from getting a drink at all. Water well. Allow the soil to dry until it’s moderately moist. Repeat.
Repotting should be done in the spring when plants are actively growing. It doesn’t matter what brand of soil you choose as long as it’s a good quality, fast-draining, sterilized variety. Dracaenas enjoy being a little snug in their pots – this also helps avoid over-watering – so move the plant to a larger home only when absolutely necessary.
Average household temperatures are fine. If you are comfortable, so is your Dracaena. Just make sure you shield this group from chilly encounters. These warm-weather lovers are extremely sensitive to cold drafts and chilly temperatures. Is your plant sitting in a draft? Do you have it on a cold windowsill? Is it near patio doors that are opened throughout the day, causing the plant to get hit by cold air constantly? Are the leaves touching cold glass? Is it located in a room where you lower the thermostat significantly? Is it in front of a window that you open daily for fresh air – in the middle of winter? If your plant is placed anywhere where cold air hits it, move it. Correct any situations that have the potential to cause cold damage or your Dracaena will deteriorate rapidly.
Watering with tap water is hardly a problem with this group – unless there is fluoride involved. They are very sensitive to this chemical. If a Dracaena is watered regularly with fluoridated water, concentrations of this chemical will build up in the leaf tips and cause them to turn brown as plant cells die. Not all municipalities add fluoride. You need to find out what chemicals are present in your own local water. If your tap water does contain fluoride, watch your houseplants for adverse effects. Many houseplant growers will argue that their plants are not affected by fluoride. Maybe they’re not. But maybe yours will be. My opinion is that your plants should have the final say. If you determine that fluoride is damaging their health, you can switch to bottled, distilled or rain water. Bear in mind that if you do switch to another type of water, you will not notice an immediate improvement since plants can store elements in their cells. Be patient.
Dracaenas, being very adaptable, will tolerate (there’s that word again) dry air but most of them do require (and prefer) high humidity in their environment. Air that is too dry will lead to brown tips on the leaves. Dracaenas deprived of proper humidity are also susceptible to pest invasions. Humidity levels that are terribly low are an automatic invitation to insect attacks, especially by the insufferable spider mite. There are many ways that you can increase the humidity in your home, in individual rooms or around your plants. A few things you can do include: pebble trays, double potting, grouping, humidifiers. For more information, visit: Improving Humidity.
Over the years, I’ve never found this group of plants to be very heavy feeders. I’d suggest going easy on the feeding by giving them a dose of liquid fertilizer no more than once a month during the spring and summer months. I’d even go so far as suggesting that you dilute that mixture to half recommended strength. Over-fertilizing can cause damage. If you’re not sure whether you should feed or not, err on the side of caution and feed very little. Do not feed Dracaenas at all during the late fall and throughout the winter.
It is normal for Dracaenas to shed the lower leaves as they age. As time progresses, the lower growth drops and is replaced by new growth on top. A small amount of yellowing leaves being discarded during this gradual process is normal. What’s not normal is when too many leaves simultaneously turn yellow and drop. Under-watering and over-watering can both cause premature leaf drop so check your watering habits and adjust them accordingly.
Dracaenas, like many other indoor plants, accumulate dust on their leaves, which clogs their pores and makes it harder to breath. They will benefit from an occasional cleaning of the foliage – and they’ll love you for it! If you’re in the mood for this added effort, and your plant is not too big to lug around, place it in the shower and hose it down. You can put aluminum foil over the top of the soil to avoid saturating it and making a mess. Smaller plants can be rinsed in a kitchen sink under running water or with a spray nozzle. Plants that are too big and heavy to move around can have their leaves wiped clean with a wet sponge. No matter what type of method you choose, pay particular attention to the undersides of leaves where pest infestations harbor. Giving your plant an occasional shower or wiping down its leaves regularly provides many benefits: it keeps bugs at bay, helps leaves to breathe easier, stimulates growth, increases humidity (albeit for a short period) and improves appearance. You don’t need commercial products for your plant’s leaves to shine, just an occasional washing with water. Just remember to carry out the grooming during the day, preferably during the morning hours, so the leaves have a chance to dry before nightfall. Leaving a plant wet at night can encourage or invite fungal/disease problems.
That’s all she wrote...
Ultimately, you don’t need to worry or fuss very much over this easy plant. You can expect that some Dracaena members will grow very tall – although it’ll take some time before these slow growers are significantly large. Proper watering, well-draining soil, decent lighting, warm temperatures, healthy humidity levels, an occasional cleaning and the right container size will provide you with a beautiful specimen. Oh, and some conversation now and then also helps. What? Don’t you talk to your plants?
Once the basic needs are met, these houseplants thrive. As an added bonus these quick-to-forgive plants will hang in there even when growing conditions are not quite up to par, giving you enough time to correct and improve the situation for them, which kindles their performance and appearance. For better or worse, Dracaenas persevere, never succumbing easily to the big greenhouse in the sky. With proper care, they will grace your home with their lovely foliage for many years.
Many Attractive Specimens To Choose From
There are many distinct and beautiful Dracaenas to choose from, making this group one of the most important and diverse family of plants. They are so popular and widely-available for purchase that it’s a rare occurrence when you don’t find any Dracaenas included in a houseplant lover’s assortment of greenery. There is at least one, if not many of these plants in almost every plant hobbyist’s collection.
Below are names of some of the Dracaenas available. These names have been collected from books and online resources. This list is far from complete or accurate.
Dracaena Arborea - Tree dracaena
Dracaena Bicolor
Dracaena Cincta - Red Edge Dracaena
Dracaena Cincta Bicolor
Dracaena Cincta Tricolor
Dracaena Compacta
Dracaena Compacta l. surprise
Dracaena Compacta Malaika
Dracaena Compacta Variegatum
Dracaena Deremensis Compacta
Dracaena Deremensis Costaricana (Dracaena Costaricana)
Dracaena Deremensis Janet Craig
Dracaena Deremensis Janet Craig Compacta
Dracaena Deremensis Lemon Lime
Dracaena Deremensis Limelight
Dracaena Deremensis Lisa (Dracaena Lisa, Lisa Cane)
Dracaena Deremensis Michiko (Dracaena Michiko, Michiko Cane)
Dracaena Deremensis Warneckii
Dracaena Deremensis Warneckii Compacta
Dracaena Draco - Dragon Tree
Dracaena Fragrans Cintho
Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana - Corn Plant
Dracaena Godseffiana - Gold-dust
Dracaena Gold Coast
Dracaena Kanzi
Dracaena Magenta
Dracaena Marginata - Dragon Tree
Dracaena Marginata Colorama
Dracaena Marginata Tricolor
Dracaena Pubescens
Dracaena Reflexa – Song Of India
Dracaena Reflexa - Song Of Jamaica
Dracaena Riki
Dracaena Sanderiana – Ribbon Plant, Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena Santa Rosa
Dracaena Steudneri
Dracaena Surculosa
Dracaena Surprise Head
Dracaena Thalioides
Dracaena Ulises
Dracaena Warneckii Uliseo
Dracaena White Jewel
Do You Hydroculture Take This Dracaena...?
No doubt about it, the hydroculture method and Dracaena plants are a match made in heaven. I have members of this group all over my house and they’re growing and thriving in this innovative style of raising houseplants.
Dracaenas convert quite easily with very few visible signs of stress. For the few that whine through the process, there will be loss of some lower leaves and slight wilting. Keep the plant warm during the conversion, increase humidity and spray mist now and then to provide much-needed moisture. You can also place your Dracaena on a pebble tray during this period.
The first glimpse of water roots can begin as early as two weeks or as late as one month, rarely more. Once they do arrive, your plant will be on its way. With the elimination of over-watering in the hydroculture method – one of the only ways to kill this plant – your Dracaena will flourish into the striking specimen it’s meant to be.
Easy, breezy, beautiful...
Return to the Hydro Log main page
