How Often Should You Water A Dragon Plant

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Dragon Tree - Dracaena marginata

TEMPERATURE: 65 to 75 degrees F (18 – 24 degrees C)
Lite: Low to Brilliant, indirect
HUMIDITY: Low to Moderate
Rubber: Toxic to cats and dogs when ingested
DIFFICULTY: Easy

Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata), or Republic of madagascar dragon tree, is ane of the almost popular houseplants effectually. If you oasis't seen it at a friend or family's firm, you've probably seen information technology in your local garden center. Information technology's beautiful, inexpensive, widely available, and low maintenance.

Also known as money constitute or money tree, this easy-to-grow houseplant is believed to bring good fortune to its owners.

Growing to virtually six feet alpine indoors, this small indoor tree makes an impressive display in your home. The trunks become twisted and contorted over time, and tufts of strappy leaves with pinkish-cerise margins grow from the ends of the stems.

H2o

Dragon tree needs moderate water. For the all-time results, water simply when the superlative 1-inch of soil becomes dry out. I insert my finger into the soil to the outset knuckle. If the soil feels dry, I give the plant a thorough watering. You lot can reduce watering to once a week in the wintertime months.

This plant is sensitive to the fluoride in tap h2o. I recommend watering with filtered, distilled, or rain water to forbid the tips from browning.

Over-watering will crusade the canes to rot, and then try not to give your plant too much.

Humidity

Although it tolerates dry out air very well, dragon tree prefers and grows better with slightly higher humidity.

If the air in your home is dry, mist your constitute daily with a spray canteen on the mist setting or use a handheld mister. If y'all take more than humid air in your habitation, you can become by with misting only two or three times a week.

Yous tin can also place dragon tree on a humidity tray (shallow tray filled with pebbles and water), or place it about a high-quality humidifier. If you're unsure about humidifiers, you can read my review of my favorite houseplant humidifier (the 1 I'm using right now) or click hither to view it directly on Amazon.

Fertilizer

Feed your dragon tree twice a year – once in early spring and once more in summer. Dracaena marginata is not a heavy feeder. I feed mine in mid-March and again in mid-June, and that keeps it happy all twelvemonth. It does non require feeding during fall and winter.

Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer. My favorite is Jack's All-Purpose Fertilizer, but any all-purpose food will piece of work. Read my review of Jack's Fertilizer to see why I dear information technology so much. I employ information technology on nearly all my houseplants except those that require special nutrients – like cacti and succulents.

Light

Dragon tree can tolerate low calorie-free conditions, but it really thrives in medium to vivid, indirect sunlight. Hot, direct sunlight will burn the leaves, specially of variegated cultivars.

However, variegated cultivars will also non perform well in low light. They demand a much brighter spot to continue their color. For any cultivar, a half-24-hour interval of sun from an east-facing window is platonic.

Dragon Tree - Dracaena marginata

Temperature

Optimal temperature is 65 – 75 degrees F (18 – 24 degrees C). Dragon tree can tolerate temperatures as low equally 55 degrees F (12 degrees C) at dark, but only for brusque periods. For the best results, endeavor to proceed temps higher up 60 degrees F (xv degrees F) at all times.

Potting

Plant dragon tree in whatever well-draining potting soil formulated for houseplants. I like this one by Happy Frog because it contains mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial soil microbes, simply any good-quality potting mix will work.

When your plant outgrows its electric current container, replant in a pot 2 inches (5 cm) larger in diameter. Don't utilise a pot that's too much larger, as dragon tree is a slow grower.

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate dragon tree is to clip off the stem tips and identify them in a moist potting mix to root. The stem that's been cutting on the original institute volition sprout new growth soon plenty. This works well when your found becomes also tall and needs to be cut back.

Stem cuttings can also exist taken (without foliage). Plant with the lesser end of the cane in moist potting mix and wait for it to root.

Maintenance

The leaves of this found go dusty easily. Clean the leaves regularly by wiping them with a soft sponge or cloth dipped in warm, soapy water. You can too requite the institute a shower once in a while if needed. Only make sure to apply warm water.

Troubleshooting

Here are some mutual problems y'all may experience when growing dragon tree and suggestions for how to fix them:

Brown Leaf Tips – If foliage tips are turning brown, this is an indication that the air is too dry. Increase humidity past daily misting, placing virtually a humidifier, or placing the plant on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water. Dark-brown leafage tips can too indicate under-watering or watering with tap water containing fluoride. Switch to bottled or rainwater instead.
Wilted Leaves – If the leaves of your dragon tree brainstorm to wilt, you're probably over-watering. Although tolerant of an unpredictable watering schedule, over-watering is the one thing that can easily kill or damage the found. Reduce watering to only when the top 1-inch of soil dries out, and ensure your potting soil and pot drain well.

Where to Purchase Dragon Tree

This houseplant is so mutual, information technology is widely available in nurseries and stores with garden centers like Walmart, Lowe'south, Home Depot, etc. Phone call around or stop into your local plant seller and you lot should have no problems picking up a dragon tree.

In that location are several plants with the common name of "dragon tree," so brand certain you lot bring the botanical proper name, Dracaena marginata. But this establish is and then striking, you should be able to recognize information technology on the spot.

If for some reason yous're unable to find information technology locally, I ever recommend buying houseplants on Etsy. I accept had such a good feel buying hard-to-find houseplants from individuals on the site. I like shopping on Etsy because the growers really care nearly quality and their reputation.

Click here to run across the current listings for dragon tree on Etsy.

Yous tin also check out Amazon. Many big and minor nurseries sell plants through the site. Click here to see the current dragon tree listings on Amazon.