Grow Dracaena for Outstanding Indoor Plants
Add Color and Variety to Indoor Gardens with the Dracaena Plant
Feb 24, 2009
Dracaena plants, also known as Female Dragon plants or Corn plants, are tropical and have their origins in Africa, Southeast Asia and to a lesser degree Central America. Dracaena is pronounced, dra-c-na. There are basically two groups of Dracaena, trees and shrubs. The trees are called dragon trees and are found in arid deserts and such places. The shrubs, being tropical in nature make ideal houseplants and are found in homes, hotels and offices around the world.
Types of Dracaena Plants
Dracaena plants are evergreen with different leaf variations. They are cane plants and have their leaf stems branching out just below the flat top of the stem. One stem may have 3 or 4 leaf stems and these stems can grow up to 2m. The leaves are lance shaped and can reach 60cm. long by 8cm. wide. Some favorite dracaenas are:
- Dracaena rikki, deep green leaves.
- Dracaena deremensis, stripped leaves.
- Dracaena marginata, red edged leaves.
- Dracaena fragans, green leaves with a yellow stripe and the most popular of all dracaena houseplants.
Growing a Dracaena Plant
Dracaena plants are easy to grow as houseplants but getting the growing medium right in the first place is most important and is the key to success.
- The compost must be porous and well drained. Always ensure that drainage holes are kept free of clogged compost or soil.
- For dracaena plants it is best to use peat based compost. Keep the compost evenly moist but the occasional spell of drought will be tolerated.
- Be careful not to over-water and do not leave the plant sitting in a saucer of water.
- Growing a dracaena indoors will require a temperature of 18 -25 degrees centigrade.
- Avoid placing the plant on a window-sill with direct sunlight.
- Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season.
Increasing the stock of dracaena plants is pretty simple. Once the plant has entered its dormant period, November to January, it is safe to cut the main stem at the desired height. Further cut the length of stem into pieces a few inches long and set these in warm moist compost. After a few weeks they will root and send up new shoots. After a few more weeks slice these new shoots away from the old stem, taking a heel with each cutting and set the new cutting in sand based compost. These will grow into individual plants and as they grow they will develop new stems with individual leaf heads.
Another method of propagating is by air layering just like with Dumbcane plants. This is done by cutting through the stem and wrapping the cut end in a plastic bag filled with wet moss. Within a few weeks new roots will appear. At this time sever the stem just below the plastic and plant the new root ball in fresh compost.
Dracaena Pests and Problems
Mealy bugs and red-spider mite can be an annoyance to dracaena plants and can be eradicated by spraying the entire plant with a suitable insecticide. Stem rot is also a problem with dracaena and is caused by over watering.
Most dracaena plants enjoy the same indoor conditions so it is a good idea to vary the display by choosing different varieties. Rubber plants, Dumbcane plants and Swiss Cheese plants also add interest to a dracaena indoor display.
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