18” Dracaena Marginata (Dragon tree)

Dracaena Marginata (Dragon tree)

Dracaena from the Greek word drakaina or female dragon is a native of the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. For gardeners, Dracaena are one of the hardiest, easy to care plants. The belief is that the more you neglect them, the better they do. Besides their ability to grow outdoor away from the direct sun, they also do exceedingly well in relatively low-lit conditions indoors. They are also known for having excellent air purifying capabilities.

Adopting and caring for Dracaena Marginata (Dragon tree)

Adopting: Adding a vibrant, well-grown Dragon tree to a plant collection is a feeling only a plant parent can understand. At eplants, we bring you display-ready plants, with high-quality growth, compact shape and well-formed leaves

Locating: Strong, direct sunlight can bleach, even burn the leaves of a Dracaena, so it is better to have them in shaded, lower light areas. If you are growing them indoors, or a well shaded balcony, we recommend that you move the plant around to a spot that has better light once every few weeks

Potting: Since these plants are natives of the tropics, they need porous, well-drained soils. They do well in a 30:30:30:10 mix of coco-peat, compost, coarse sand and Perlite

Watering: Dracaena need less water than most indoor plants. It’s a good idea to hold off watering them until the top layer of soil is dry to the touch. Drooping or yellowing leaves could indicate over-watering or poor drainage

Fertilising: If your potting mix is right, these plants will not require too much fertiliser. However, nourishing them with an organic liquid fertiliser two or three times a year will help them do well. If you are using a chemical mix, ensure that they don’t touch the stalk or its leaves. This could damage the plant

Dracaena are tough, drought-tolerant plants with aggressive root systems that make excellent houseplants. Sometimes they are grown as single-stemmed plants. At other times they are grouped or even braided together in the same pot.

Did you know

Chinese Bamboo or Lucky Bamboo is not a bamboo but a type of Dracaena