Dracaena Care & Tricks

Light and Temperature

• Bright light can yield stronger leaf colors and more hardy growth rates. Potted plants kept in moderate to bright light can grow 6 inches or more each year. Lower light levels are tolerated, but faded leaf pigment indicates a need for increased exposure. Full sun at midday, or prolonged direct sunlight, could be too much for indoor plants. Keep indoor plants at a moderate room temperature and away from heat sources, such as radiators. Shield outdoor plants from frosts and freezes.

Water

• A bit of a balancing act is required to keep these plants watered properly. Too much water can cause the leaves and trunk to wilt, and extreme cases of over-watering can cause the roots to rot. Limp leaves on a droopy trunk are obvious signs of excess watering. Allow such plants to dry out until good posture returns, and water less often afterward. Outdoor plants may need more water during the summer, but never let the plants stand in water.

Humidity and Feeding

• Remove dust or cobwebs from the leaves, using a dampened soft cloth. Apply a light mist of room-temperature water once or twice a week to indoor plants. Mist outdoor dracaenas less often if weather is rainy or humid. Add liquid plant food to the watering can every two weeks, but reduce feedings in the winter, when growth slows. Plants that are too warm or dry will exhibit excess leaf drops at the lower trunk.

New Plants From Old

• Select a new shoot with a minimum of two leaf pairs. Cut off the shoot, and strip off the two lower leaves. Dip the stem in rooting powder, and plant the cutting in potting soil or compost up to the leaf bottoms. Water it in well, and place it in a terrarium. Remove the terrarium cover for a few minutes each day while watering. Keep the soil damp, and in three weeks you can repot your new dracaena.