How to properly care for dracaena at home
Dracaena appeared relatively recently in the post-Soviet space, but quickly won the hearts of flower growers. Breeders have bred many species and varieties of plants, and each of them has its own unique characteristics. Read more about how to properly care for the dracaena so that it will delight the eye for a long time with its spectacular appearance. Subject to cultivation technology, caring for it will not bring much trouble.
Description and characteristics of the plant
At home, the trunk of a dracaena does not reach more than 200 centimeters, although in nature it grows up to 10 meters or even more. Sheet plates are dense, elastic, formed in the form of a rosette. Over time, the lower leaves dry out and fall off. For its resemblance to a real palm, the dragon tree is sometimes called a false palm.
How to transplant correctly after buying at home
After purchase, the flower is placed in a shady place for 2 weeks. During this time, the dracaena will adapt to the new conditions of detention, and it will be easier to transfer the subsequent transplant. The soil for the plant should be loose, breathable.
Selection of jars
The size of the pot depends on the size of the dracaena. In any case, the container should not be much larger than the one in which the flower was kept before purchase. As the bush grows, the diameter of the pot increases. At the age of 4-5 years, a flower needs a container 25 centimeters high and 20 centimeters wide.
Landing
Drainage holes are made in the pot, then the dracaena is planted as follows:
- a layer of expanded clay or small stones is placed on the bottom of the container;
- then sprinkle a substrate composed of garden soil, peat and sand;
- the root system is straightened and planted in the center of the pot;
- covered with soil, watered.
After transplanting, the pot of dracaena is placed on a shady windowsill.
Maintenance Features
After transplanting, the dracaena requires care: watering, feeding, pruning. If the air in the room is too dry, it is humidified. If the plant begins to wilt or stretch too far, it can be easily propagated.
watering mode
You can irrigate the soil in a pot with top or bottom irrigation. Dracaena does not tolerate excessive moisture, so the topsoil should have time to dry out.
At different times of the year, the irrigation regime is different.
In winter
In winter, plants have a relative dormancy period, so watering at this time is reduced. The soil is irrigated about once a week. If the flowerpot is close to the radiator, watering is increased.The leaves are wiped with a damp cloth, moistening them and removing dust.
In summer
In the summer, the dracaena is watered 2-3 times a week. During this period, the flower grows rapidly and needs frequent watering. Drying out the root system can lead to the death of the plant. For irrigation use settled warm water.
air humidity
If the air in the room is dry, the tips of the dracaena leaves begin to turn yellow and dry. To increase the humidity, the pot is placed in a tray filled with pebbles, which are poured over it with water. Additionally, you can spray the plant and the air around it with a spray bottle.
Another option is to place containers filled with water near the flower.
top dresser
Dracaena is fed 3-4 times a month in spring and summer. During these periods, the plant is actively increasing its green mass, and fertilizing will not only help it grow, but also help to increase its immunity. For this, a complex mineral composition is used for decorative deciduous plants. In autumn and winter, the dracaena is fed no more than once a month.
To note! To avoid burns of the root system, the plants are fertilized after watering with plain water.
Breeding methods
At home, the dracaena is bred in several ways: apical cuttings, stem pieces, seeds. The latter method is not very common among flower growers, as it is long-term.
Tops
This method is often used when the dracaena begins to fade. For this, the apical stem is cut, placed in a container of water for rooting. To speed up the process, the top is covered with plastic wrap.Soon roots will appear on the cutting, and it is first planted in a small pot, increasing it as the dracaena grows.
Rod pieces
In an adult plant, the stems are usually bare, and the dracaena becomes like a palm tree. This does not always make the flower attractive. You can update the bush by cutting and rooting pieces of stems. They are planted horizontally in containers, covered with glass or foil to create greenhouse conditions. As soon as the shoots appear, the shelter is removed.
Seeds
Seeds are sown in March or April. The propagation of Dracaena by the seed method is as follows:
- drainage is poured on the bottom of the box, light loose soil on top;
- make a groove in which the seeds are laid out to a depth of no more than 1 centimeter;
- watered, covered with soil, cover the container with glass.
The seed box is placed in a bright and warm place. When the seedlings reach 4-6 centimeters, they are transplanted into separate small pots.
How to prune correctly
An adult plant with very bare trunks can be pruned. The procedure will stimulate the growth of side shoots, and the dracaena will soon turn into a lush bush again. If there are no urgent indications, the stems are cut in spring and summer. You do not need to use scissors or secateurs, but a sharp knife, which is used for cutting from top to bottom.
Diseases and pests
Dracaena can be affected by certain diseases and pests. Also, the decorative appearance is lost due to some errors of the grower when caring for a flower.
Lower leaves dry out
Gradual drying of the lower leaves is a natural process and should not be a problem. If the leaf plates turn yellow and fall off sharply, this may indicate a lack of moisture in the soil.
In the summer, the dracaena loves frequent watering, at least 2-3 times a week.
Discoloration of variegated leaves
Leaf discoloration can occur due to thrips. They get rid of it by applying a soap solution to the sheet metal plates, which, covered with a film, are left for 2-3 days. If this procedure does not help, use insecticides Fitoverm, Actellik. The variegated leaves may also wilt when exposed to bright sunlight.
Leaf tips and edges dry out
One of the reasons for the drying of the tips and edges of the leaves is an overabundance of salts in the soil, which are formed as a result of frequent and abundant feeding. In this case, the plant is transplanted into a new substrate.
Also, a negative phenomenon can occur due to rare watering, dry indoor air.
Withered foliage
There can be several reasons for this state of dracaena: lack of watering and nutrition, dry indoor air, fungal disease. Also, the foliage can wilt due to drafts, keeping a flower on a brightly sunlit window sill.
Yellow color
Stagnation of moisture in the leaf axils, as well as excessive watering, can lead to yellowing. Excess water at the roots contributes to the appearance of fungal diseases. Also, the color of the leaf plates changes due to a parasite - a shield, which is easily removed with a damp cotton ball. Another reason for the yellowing of the leaves is the lack of nitrogen fertilizers.
die at the top
The main reason for the negative phenomenon is the formation of fungi due to excessive soil moisture. The disease affects the root system, due to the rot the tip of which gradually fades. Dracaena can only be saved by cutting and rooting the upper part of the plant.
Important! Contaminated soils are not reused, because pathogenic microorganisms remain there.
varietal variety
Of the many species and varieties of dracaena, only a few are grown. Below is information on the most common.
Marginata
It is a plant with narrow leaves, on which a longitudinal stripe of green, pink and white color is pronounced. Dracaena grows quickly, so it is planted in a stable, heavy pot. The flower is easily propagated by apical or stem cuttings.
Fragrant
This plant has wide leaves up to 80 centimeters long. Leaf plates can be smooth-edged or wavy, single-colored, variegated, striped. Dracaena grows well on a windowsill with bright, but diffused lighting.
Sander
This dracaena is also called the Bamboo of Happiness. Its shoots and foliage are attractive. Sandera stems are specially shaped in the form of a spiral with many leaves at the top. The peculiarity of this dracaena is that it can grow in water.
Care Checklist
Experts have created a memo, or checklist for a florist, in which the steps needed to care for the dragon tree are outlined. They are the following:
- Place the pot with the plant in a well-lit place, but shaded from direct sunlight.
- Water after the topsoil has dried.
- As dust accumulates on the leaves, wipe them with a damp cloth.
- In spring and summer, fertilize the dracaena once a week, in autumn and winter - once a month.
- Transplant the plant into a pot, the diameter of which does not exceed 2 centimeters from the previous one.
- Humidify the air with a spray bottle.
If these rules are followed, the florist will have no problem caring for the dragon tree.
Tips & Tricks
Experienced gardeners give the following tips and tricks for keeping dracaena:
- Place the flowerpot away from heaters in the winter.
- Avoid drafts.
- It is imperative to make holes in the pot and arrange drainage from expanded clay, broken shards, small stones at the bottom.
- Avoid sudden temperature fluctuations.
Dracaena is an unpretentious ornamental plant. It grows quickly, is rarely affected by diseases and pests, and with proper care it will please with its spectacular appearance for a long time.