Controlling the Size of Dracaena

Dracaena Plant Sizes

• Controlling the size of a dracaena starts with planting a variety that best suits the location's size constraints. The diverse Dracaena family includes plants small enough to use in dish gardens to those that soar high above your garden area. For example, mature corn plants and Madagascar dragon trees usually range from 15 to 50 feet in height with 3- to 20-foot spreads. In contrast, lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana), which grows in USDA zones 10 and 11, only reaches about 2 to 3 feet tall with spreads smaller than 12 inches.

Pruning Dracaenas

• Dracaena plants can handle pruning at any time of year, making it easy to keep your plant at an appropriate size for its growing area. Not only can pruning help control plant size by keeping the height at a manageable level, but also it promotes new, vigorous growth if you desire a larger, fuller plant.

  Using sharpened pruning shears, you can trim off the stems, called canes, at any height level you wish, but Florida Master Gardener Tom Bruton doesn't recommend cutting canes shorter than 6 inches long. Once you prune your plant to the desired height, maintain its size by pulling out the center of any new growth as it develops.

Lighting Conditions

• Dracaena plants can grow at just about any lighting level, but typically thrive best in areas that offer bright, indirect light. To promote plant growth and fuller foliage, locate your plant in a section of your yard that receives partial sunlight. If, on the other hand, you prefer a smaller size or a plant that grows more slowly, place your dracaena in a fully shaded outdoor area. Keep in mind, however, that plants that grow in excessive shade also bear smaller leaves, fewer flowers and less vivid colors.

Indoor Container Plants

• Using dracaenas as houseplants is an easy way to control size. As indoor container plants, both the corn plant and the Madagascar dragon tree only reach about 6 feet tall, while lucky bamboo generally reaches no taller than 5 inches in height. One reason you can control the size of indoor plants is because you can easily adjust indoor temperatures.

  For optimal plant growth, keep the daytime temperatures between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the nighttime temperatures about 10 degrees cooler. To slow down plant growth, keep the daytime temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but don't allow the temperature to fall below 55 degrees or you risk damaging your plant. Temperatures set above 90 degrees can cause various health problems, including chlorosis or leaf notching.