Dracaena Compacta Care

Light and Humidity

• Plant three or four individual Dracaena compacta plants in one pot to achieve a full appearance. The plant prefers bright indirect sunlight. Choose a location in the home that provides morning sun and afternoon shade. A Dracaena compacta grown in low-light will have slow growth. The plant does not require humid conditions; it will thrive with only moderate humidity and can withstand dry air conditions.

Watering

• The Dracaena compacta grows well when it receives water once a week. Keep the plant moist to the touch but not excessively wet. Avoid letting it dry out or suffer periods of drought or it may start to exhibit brown spots on its foliage. A Dracaena compacta should never be left in standing water, or it may suffer root rot. Ensure the pot has drainage holes. It does not tolerate overly wet soil. Mist the plant with room temperature water every few days.

Temperature and Nutritional Needs

• The plant tolerates moderate room temperatures. Try to maintain the temperate at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The Dracaena compacta will benefit from a monthly application of a general purpose water-soluble fertilizer. Without adequate nutrients, the plant will develop weak, strap-like leaves. If the plant does not receive adequate phosphorus, it will suffer from dieback of its older leaves. If the plant suffers from an iron deficiency, its leaves may turn yellow.

Pests

• Scales and mealybugs can overwhelm the Dracaena compacta. Scales suck the plant's nutrients. The tiny insects occur along the plant's stems and reside beneath a waxy coating that helps protect them. Mealybugs also suck the plant's sap and appear as a mass of white along the plant's stems and leaves. Both pests cause the plant's leaves to turn yellow and die. Wash the Dracaena compacta with an insecticidal soap to remove scales. Rub a cotton swab -- saturated in rubbing alcohol -- across the surface of the mealybugs to kill them.