Dracaena is a popular houseplant because it is easy to grow and very forgiving of novice gardeners. It’s also a top pick because there are so many varieties with different sizes, leaf shape, and color. A variegated dracaena plant, like the Song of India dracaena, for instance, gives you beautiful, multicolored foliage.

About Variegated Song of India Dracaena

The Song of India variety of dracaena (Dracaena reflexa ‘Variegata’), also known as pleomele, is native to islands in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. In the wild or in a garden with the right conditions, this dracaena will grow as tall as 18 feet (5.5 m.), with a spread out to eight feet (2.5 m.). Indoors, as a houseplant, you can keep this variety much smaller, and, in fact, they generally only grow to about three feet (1 m.) tall in containers. Song of India plants are described as variegated because the leaves are multicolored with bright green centers and yellow margins. The colors fade to lighter green and cream as individual leaves age. The leaves are lance-shaped and grow spirally around branches, up to one foot (30 cm.) long.

Song of India Plant Care

Notoriously difficult to kill, dracaena will look best and be healthiest if you provide it with the right conditions and minimal care. These plants need indirect light and warm temperatures. They prefer humidity, so you can set the container on top of a dish of rocks in water, or you can mist your plant regularly. Make sure the pot drains well and keep the soil moist but not wet. Provide a balanced fertilizer once or twice a year. As with all dracaena varieties, the pretty leaves of Song of India will turn yellow as they age. As the bottom leaves on the plant yellow, simply trim them off to keep the plant looking neat and tidy. You can also trim and shape as needed, and you may find that the plant need staking for support as it grows taller.

What is a corn plant? Also known as mass cane, dracaena corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is a well-known indoor plant, especially popular for its beauty and easy growing habit. Dracaena corn plant, which grows happily in a variety of conditions with very little attention, is a favorite of novice gardeners. Let’s learn how to grow a corn plant.

Dracaena Fragrans Info

Dracaena is a large genus with at least 110 species of shrubby plants and trees, including Dracaena fragrans, a slow-growing plant with glossy green, lance-shaped leaves. The leaves may be solid green or variegated, depending on the variety. The size of the plant also varies, ranging from mature heights of 15 to 50 feet (4.5 to 15 m.), with leaves measuring 7 to 59 inches (18 cm. to 1.5 m.). Native to tropical Africa, dracaena corn plant won’t survive frosty weather, although it is suitable for growing outdoors in the warm climates of USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 12. Dracaena corn plant has also been recognized by NASA’s Clean Air Study as a plant that aids in removal of indoor pollutants, including xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde.

How to Grow a Corn Plant

These tips on basic corn plant care will help get you started in successfully growing a dracaena corn plant. Dracaena corn plant prefers temperatures between 65 and 70 F. (16-24 C.). Corn plant tolerates full to low light, but performs best in light shade or indirect or filtered sunlight. Too much light will scorch the leaves. Water as needed to keep the potting soil evenly moist, as excessively dry soil causes the leaf tips to turn brown and dry. However, beware of overwatering. Slightly dry is better than soggy. Decrease watering during the winter, but never allow the soil to become bone dry. Water your corn plant with non-fluoridated water. Letting the water sit out overnight before watering allows much of the chemicals to evaporate. Fertilize Dracaena corn plant monthly during spring and summer using an all-purpose liquid fertilizer for indoor plants. Don’t fertilize the plant in fall and winter.

Dracaenas are a large family of plants prized for their ability to thrive indoors. While many gardeners are happy to just to keep their dracaenas as houseplants, it’s possible to make things much more interesting by training them as bonsai trees. Keep reading to learn more about how to train a dracaena as a bonsai.

How to Make a Dracaena Bonsai Tree

Dracaena marginata, commonly known as a Madagascar dragon tree or red-edged dracaena, is the species that’s most frequently trained as a bonsai. In the wild they can grow to 12 feet (4 m.) in height, but if kept in a small pot indoors, they should stay small. If you want to train a dracaena as a bonsai, start by laying the potted plant on its side in the bright sun. Over the course of several days, its branches should start to grow up toward the sunlight at a 90-degree angle from their previous growth. Once this process has begun, turn the container right side up again and rotate the plant every few days to encourage the branches to grow in whichever direction you wish. Light wire can also be used to tie branches together and train them into a desired shape. The way you go about dracaena bonsai pruning depends upon the shape you want your plant to achieve. Trim tall branches to achieve a low-growing look, or trim away lower leaves for a taller, swaying appearance.

Dracaena Bonsai Care

Dracaena plants do remarkably well in low light. After you have trained your plant into its desired shape, move it out of direct light. Not only will the plant prefer this, but it will slow its growth and help keep it a manageable size. Water your plant once a week or so, and keep humidity high by placing its container in a shallow dish of water and pebbles.

Dracaena is a popular houseplant, treasured for its ability to brighten living spaces with little care or attention from the home grower. In addition to its use as a houseplant, various types of dracaena are often found at nurseries and garden centers. While many people choose to grow the plant outdoors as an annual, the plant can also be overwintered and enjoyed for many growing seasons to come, even by those living beyond the plant’s growing zone. Read on to learn more about keeping dracaena in winter.

Overwintering Dracaena Plants

Dracaena cold tolerance varies greatly depending upon which variety is being cultivated in the garden (most are zones 9 and above). While some do not tolerate frost or cold temperatures, other varieties may tolerate conditions in cooler USDA growing zones like zone 7-8. Those growing dracaena as houseplants won’t require any special considerations when preparing for winter, but anyone having outdoor plantings will need to take necessary steps to help the plant survive upcoming cooler conditions. Growers living on the margins of the plants’ cold hardiness zone may be able to successfully overwinter the plants by providing a thorough mulching in fall; however, the best course of action is to dig the plants up and bring them indoors. In the fall, as temperatures begin to cool, carefully dig around the dracaena plants. Leaving the root ball intact, transplant the dracaena into a large container. Bring the container indoors and place it in a warm location that receives indirect sunlight. Throughout the winter, the plant will need only occasional watering when soil becomes dry. Replant into the garden next season when all chance of frost has passed. If plants have grown too large to transplant into pots or have become difficult to move, there is one additional option for the grower. Since dracaena plants are easily propagated, gardeners have the option of taking stem cuttings. Rooting stem cuttings in a new container will allow new dracaena plants to be easily taken indoors and overwintered until warm temperatures have arrived. In addition to convenience, taking stem cuttings will allow the gardener to easily and cost effectively increase the number of plants he/she will have to plant into the garden the following growing season.

The addition of houseplants is a great way to create green space indoors, as well as brighten and liven interior spaces. One popular option, dracaena plants, are loved for their carefree growth habit and their ability to thrive under the care of even novice gardeners. In addition to being exceptionally easy to maintain, propagating dracaena plants is also quite simple.

How is Dracaena Propagated?

Plant propagation is the process by which gardeners are able to create new plants. While starting new dracaena plants from seed is a possibility, many years are often required to establish seedlings. In some cases, plants grown from seed will not be the same as the parent plant. 

Luckily, many plants can be propagated another way. By taking cuttings, or other small pieces of the parent plant, growers are able to root and grow an exact clone of the parent plant. Not only is the process easy, but it is much more efficient and cost effective than purchasing new plants.

How to Propagate a Dracaena

There are two ways by which one may take cuttings of dracaena – from the top and through stem cuttings. Since both methods of growing new dracaena plants will take root quickly, the method of dracaena plant propagation chosen is simply the preference of the grower.

Top Cuttings

The first option is to take top cuttings, which result from the removal of the top of the plant. While completely removing the top portion of the parent plant may sound alarming, growth should resume quite quickly from growth nodes after cutting. 

Make a cut below the leaf line of the plant, making sure to include several nodes of the plant’s stem. Cuttings can be planted in a container with moist soil, or they can be placed in a vase of clean water. 

Cuttings propagated in water require little time before roots begin to form. Once roots begin to form, pot up the plants in a container.

Stem Cuttings

Stem cuttings are one of the most common means of plant propagation. Growing new dracaena in this manner is perfect for gardeners who want to produce multiple plant clones at one time. 

For first time plant propagators, this method may seem drastic, but rest assured that growth will resume as long as at least half the plant stem is left intact. To take stem cuttings from dracaena, repeat the process of taking top cuttings. 

However, instead of cutting the stem back past one to two leaf nodes, you will cut a larger portion of the stem. Cut the stem section of the plant into 8-inch (20 cm.) portions, taking special note as to which end is the top and bottom. 

Place the cutting segments in soil or in water, as described by the top cutting method. Place the containers in a warm location which receives indirect sunlight. Note: You may add rooting hormone to the cuttings if desired.

Despite its tropical appearance, the dracaena is a wonderful first plant for an unsure plant owner. But take care how much water you offer or you may see dracaena leaf drop. Read on for more information on why a dracaena is losing leaves and what to do about it.

About Dracaena Leaf Drop

The leaves of the dracaena are magnificent, long, thin and green as palm foliage, with some types like the striking Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata), edged in bright pink. 

These Common houseplants are also spiky and can scratch you if you aren’t careful. If your dracaena plant starts dropping leaves, you may be alarmed. But some dracaena leaf drop is completely natural. 

Like other plants, the dracaena drops older leaves as it matures. So if your dracaena is losing leaves that have been around awhile, it’s probably just a healthy self-cleaning.

Leaves Falling Off Dracaena

If lots of dracaena leaves are falling off the plant, something is definitely wrong. But the cause of the dracaena leaf drop is very likely something you are doing yourself, so it’s easily corrected. 

When leaves are falling off a dracaena, the primary suspect is not pests or diseases. Rather, it’s the curse of houseplants everywhere: overwatering. Plant owners see a plant’s leaves drooping a little and reach for the watering can. But too much water might have been what caused the droop in the first place. 

Dracaena plants can’t stand sitting in wet soil and they let you know of their discomfort by dropping leaves. Wet soil can lead to rot and/or fungal issues too, so it’s a great thing to avoid. How can you tell if dracaena leaves are falling because of too much water? Just take a look. 

•The tree should be planted in well-draining soil. If a dracaena is planted in a container, the pot must have lots of drainage holes and any saucer should beneath should be emptied regularly. To double check whether your plant is getting too much water, pop off the pot and look at the roots. If the roots seem to be rotting and the soil is soggy, you’ve found the reason for leaves falling off dracaena. Cut off damaged roots and repot in a better situation.

•When a dracaena is losing leaves, overwatering is the first place to look, but the problem can also be caused by too little water. Touching the soil at the bottom of the pot will let you know if this may be the case.

•Dracaena leaf drop might also be caused by a cool wind or too much heat. Check the location of the container and move it farther from a window or heater.

So you’ve been given a plant with spiky leaves but no further information, including the name of the plant. It looks familiar, rather like a dracaena or yucca, but you have no idea what the difference between a yucca and dracaena is. How can you tell which it is? Read on to find out how to tell a yucca from a dracaena plant.

Yucca vs. Dracaena

What’s the difference between yucca and dracaena? While both yucca and dracaena have long strap-like, pointed leaves, this is where the similarities between the two end. First of all, yucca hails from the family Agavaceae and is native to Mexico and the Southwest United States. Dracaena, on the other hand, is a member of the family Asparagaceae, which encompasses an additional 120 species of trees and succulent shrubs.

How to Tell a Yucca from a Dracaena

What other yucca and dracaena differences are there? Yucca is most commonly grown as an outdoor plant, and dracaena is very commonly an indoor houseplant. However, both can be grown either inside or out, depending on the region and type grown. Dracaena thrives in household temperatures and will even do well outside provided temperatures are around 70 F. Once temps drop below 50 F. (10 C.) however, the plant suffers cold damage. Yucca, on the other hand, is native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean. As such, one would expect that it prefers warm temperatures, and it does for the most part; however, it is tolerant of temperatures down to 10 F. (-12 C.) and can be planted in many climates. Yucca is a small tree or shrub, covered with sword-like, pointed leaves that grow to between 1-3 feet (30-90 cm.) in length. The foliage on the lower portion of the plant is commonly made up of dead, brown leaves. Although dracaena also has long pointed leaves, they tend to be more rigid than those of yucca. They are also darker green and, depending upon the cultivar, may even be multi-hued. Dracaena plants also usually, although not always, depending upon the cultivar, have multiple trunks and look much more like a real tree than that of yucca. There is, in fact, another similarity besides the pointed leaves between yucca and dracaena. Both plants can get fairly tall, but since dracaena is more of a houseplant, pruning and the choice of cultivar generally keep the plant’s size down to a more manageable height. Additionally, on dracaena plants, when the leaves die, they fall from the plant, leaving a characteristic diamond shaped leaf scar on the stem of the plant. When leaves die on yucca, they tend to remain adhered to the trunk of the plant and new leaves push out and grow atop them.

Dracaena is one of the most popular of houseplants because it is easy to grow and it comes in numerous varieties, all with stunning foliage. Growing dracaena from cuttings is a great way to rejuvenate an older plant, to get new plants for your home, or to share with friends.

Propagating Dracaena Cuttings

There is more than one way to propagate dracaena by cuttings. One of the simplest is to take off the crown. Cut just below the bunch of leaves at the top of the plant and be sure you get at least one node. Place the cut end in water and put it in a warm spot. The roots should start to grow quickly, as long as you keep it warm. Plant your cutting in soil when the roots have gotten between one and two inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) long. Alternatively, you can dip the end of the cutting in rooting powder and plant it directly in soil. With this method you get a new plant, and your old dracaena will start growing again from the cut point. You can use the same basic strategy and remove stems from the side of the plant. Not all dracaena will have side stems, and some take many years to branch out. If your plant does have these stems, you can take off any of them and use the method above for additional dracaena cutting propagation.

Growing Dracaena from Cuttings

Give your cuttings the best possible start to ensure you get big, healthy plants. Dracaena tolerates a range of soil types, but drainage is important. Use a houseplant potting mix, but add vermiculite or peat moss to improve drainage, and be sure the pot has holes at the bottom. Once it’s potted, find a warm spot for your dracaena, and be sure it gets plenty of indirect light. The surest way to kill a dracaena is to over water it. Water the plant about once a week or when the top inch (2.5 cm.) or so of soil has dried completely. Use an indoor plant fertilizer as recommended and watch your new dracaena cuttings take off.

As common as spider plants and philodendron, so is the houseplant dracaena. Yet, dracaena, with its dramatic upright foliage, also works well with other plants as a complementary accent. What companions are suited for dracaena? The following article contains information on planting with potted dracaena pairings including suggestions for dracaena plant companions.

About Planting with Dracaena

Dracaena is an easy-to-grow and care-for houseplant. There are a number of cultivars that generally differ primarily in height. That said, container growing dracaena will restrict its size. For instance, D. fragrans, or the corn plant dracaena, can grow up to 50 feet (15 m.) in height in its tropical Africa, but inside in a container, it will top out at no higher than 6 feet (2 m.). Depending upon the height of the dracaena plant companions, it may be more likely that you select the smaller Song of India (D. reflexa ‘Variegata’) with its variegated yellow and green leaves that will only attain a height of around 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.). When choosing plants that work well with dracaena, you must keep in mind its requirements. The nature of companion plantings is to combine plants that have similar light, feeding, and water requirements. Dracaena plants thrive in rich, well-draining potting soil. They only need to be watered well once a week and fed during the growing season (March-Sept.) once or twice. They are not heavy feeders nor do they need to be consistently moist. They need a moderate amount of indirect sunlight as well.

Companions for Dracaena

Now that you know what dracaena’s needs are, let’s look at some possible potted dracaena pairings. When garden centers or florists put together mixed containers, they usually use the rule of “thriller, filler, spiller.” That is, there will be a “thriller” such as the dracaena with some height which will act as the focal point, some low-growing “filler” plants, and a “spiller,” a plant that creates interest by cascading over the edge of the container. Since dracaena is a medium light plant, try accenting it with low to medium blooming annuals such as some colorful impatiens, and then accent with a purple sweet potato vine. You can also mix in perennials such as coral bells, along with some creeping jenny and maybe a petunia or two as well. The number of companion plants is dictated by the size of the container. Be sure to leave them some room to grow if they are not full-sized already. A general rule of thumb is three plants to a container, but if your container is huge, throw the rules out the window and fill in the planter. Keep your “thriller,” the dracaena, towards the center of the container and build out from there. For added interest, not only mix it up by adding perennials and annuals, but also choose plants with different colors and textures, some that bloom and some that don’t. Really, as long as you keep dracaena’s growing requirements in mind (moderate, indirect light, moderate water, and minimal feeding) and accommodate these to your companion choices, your options are limited only by your imagination.

Dracaena is a very common and easy to grow houseplant. In some regions, you can even add it to your outdoor landscape. While few problems plague this popular plant, brown leaves on Dracaena are fairly common. The reasons for a Dracaena with brown leaves range from cultural to situational and into pest or disease issues. Continue reading for a diagnosis on why your Dracaena's leaves are turning brown.

Why are My Dracaena's Leaves Turning Brown?

Foliar changes on houseplants occur occasionally. In the case of browning Dracaena leaves, the cause could stem from many things. These tropical plants thrive in temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-26 C.) and can experience leaf browning in cooler temperatures. The most common cause when Dracaena leaves are brown arises from the type of water you use. Dracaena's are extremely sensitive to excess fluoride. In certain municipalities, fluoride is added to drinking water and can make levels too high for Dracaena. This will accumulate in soil from irrigation water and can cause yellowing of leaf tips and margins which progresses to brown as the toxicity builds up. Fluoride toxicity can also come from potting soils with perlite or from using a fertilizer with superphosphate. Avoid potting soils with those little white pellets (perlite) and use a balanced liquid fertilizer and non-fluoridated water. Flushing the soil to remove excess fertilizer salts will also help prevent leaf damage.

Other Reasons for Browning Dracaena Leaves

If your water isn't fluoridated and you have a medium free of perlite, perhaps the cause of a Dracaena with brown leaves is low humidity. As a tropical plant, Dracaena needs ambient moisture and warm temperatures. If humidity is low, brown tips form on the plant. One easy way to add ambient moisture in the home interior is by lining a saucer with pebbles and water and placing the plant on it. The water evaporates and enhances ambient moisture without drowning the roots. Other options are a humidifier or misting the leaves daily. Fusarium leaf spot affects many types of plants including food crops, ornamentals and even bulbs. It is a fungal disease that thrives in moist, warm temperatures and survives in soil for many seasons. Young Dracaena leaves are brown to reddish brown with yellow halos. As the disease progresses, the older leaves will develop lesions. Most of the discoloration is at the base of leaves. Prevent the disease by using a fungicide and avoid overhead watering when leaves are not able to dry out quickly.

Dracaena is a large genus of spiky-leaved plants that range from attractive indoor plants to full-sized trees for the garden or landscape. Varieties such as Madagascar dragon tree/red-edge dracaena (Dracaena marginata), corn plant (Dracaena massangeana), or Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) are most popular for growing indoors. Dracaena plants are easy to grow and tolerate a fair amount of neglect. Although most are purchased when they’re small, adventurous gardeners may like to try their hand at dracaena seed planting. Growing dracaena from seed is easy, but the slow-growing plants require a little patience. Let’s learn how to plant dracaena seeds.

When to Sow Dracaena Seeds

Early spring is prime time for dracaena seed propagation.

How to Plant Dracaena Seeds

There are a few things to consider when growing dracaena seeds. First, purchase dracaena seeds at a seed supplier that specializes in indoor plants. Soak dracaena seeds in room-temperature water for three to five days to enhance germination. Fill a small pot or container with seed starting mix. Be sure the container has a drainage hole in the bottom. Moisten the seed starting mix so it’s lightly moist but not saturated. Then, sprinkle the dracaena seeds over the surface of the seed starting mix, covering them lightly. Place the pots on a heat germination mat. Dracaena from seed germinates in temperatures between 68 and 80 F. (20-27 C.). Cover the plants with clear plastic to create a greenhouse-like atmosphere. Place the container in bright, indirect light. Avoid sunny windowsills, as direct light is too intense. Water as needed to keep the seed starting mix lightly moist. Loosen the plastic or poke several holes if you notice water dripping down the inside of the bag. The seeds may rot if conditions are too damp. Remove the plastic covering when the seeds germinate. Watch for the dracaena seeds to germinate in four to six weeks. Transplant the seedlings into individual, 3-inch (7.5 cm.) pots filled with standard potting soil when the seedlings have two true leaves. Fertilize the seedlings occasionally using a weak solution of water-soluble fertilizer.

Dracaena varieties are among the most favorite and beloved of houseplants. They are easy to care for, can be ignored for a while and bounce back, are proven to clean and filter the air, and produce beautiful foliage. So when your best dracaena starts to flounder, you want to know what’s wrong and what you can do about it.

What’s Wrong with My Dracaena?

While a dracaena houseplant is generally easy to grow and difficult to kill, there are some dracaena diseases and issues that you should be aware of and watch for. Characteristic symptoms can tell you what is wrong with your potted houseplant:

• Tan or brown coloring on the white areas of leaves and dead or yellow leaf tips may indicate fluoride toxicity or alkaline soil.
• Soft, brown spots on roots that smell rank may indicate soft rot disease.
• Reddish or light brown spots surrounded by a yellow halo may mean your dracaena has leaf spot disease.
• Yellow or dead bands across leaves can indicate your plant got too cold.
• Visible pests, damaged leaves, or stunted growth may indicate an infestation of thrips, shore flies, scales, mealybugs, or fungus gnats.

Managing Dracaena Disease Problems

Once you have identified the disease or diseases of dracaena affecting your plants, you can take steps to manage them. Treating sick dracaenas is not always possible, depending on the problem and its extent. For fluoride toxicity or alkalinity, check your water and soil and make adjustments as needed to help the plant recover from the damage. For fusarium leaf spot, use a fungicide to treat it. Institute better watering practices to limit the infection, avoiding overhead watering and making sure your plants aren’t crowded. Cold damage can potentially be trimmed off and the plant may recover depending on the extent of the damage. Going forward, keep your plant indoors or cover it outside when there is a danger of low temperatures. If you see pests on your plants, consult with your local nursery to find an appropriate pesticide. To prevent or reduce pest infestations, reduce watering and avoid standing water in the soil. Reducing standing water and having good drainage is also important for preventing soft rot disease, as is buying only plants that are certified to be disease-free. Unfortunately, there is no good treatment for this disease, and if you find it in your plant you may need to destroy it. Managing dracaena diseases and other issues is best done through prevention. There are some steps you can take to manage and treat diseases, but by providing your plants with the best growing conditions many of them will never trouble you.

The Madagascar dragon tree is a fantastic container plant that has earned a rightful place in many temperate climate homes and tropical gardens. Keep reading to learn more about dragon tree plant care and how to grow a red-edged dracaena plant.

Dracaena Marginata Info

Dracaena is a genus of about 120 different species that come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. One of the most popular species is the Dracaena marginata, also frequently called dragon tree, Madagascar dragon tree, and red-edged dracaena. This last name is the most evident in its appearance, as it produces very long, variegated leaves that are green in the center and red on both sides. Dragon trees are hardy in USDA zones 10b and above, which means that most gardeners have to keep them in pots that come inside during the winter. This is no problem, however, as the trees are extremely well suited to container life and indoor climates. In fact, they are some of the most popular houseplants out there.

Dragon Tree Plant Care

In nature, a dragon tree will grow to about 15 feet (4.5 m.). It’s unlikely to reach that kind of height in a container, but that’s just as well, since the whole point of keeping it potted is to be able to bring it indoors! A Madagascar dragon tree is remarkably tough, with a strong root system, which means it can handle being potted and repotted. They require little feeding and will thrive with just a regular slow release fertilizer once in the spring and once again in the summer. They do best when temperatures are between 65 and 80 F. (18-27 C.) This is ideal, as it is the temperature most homes are kept. They will survive lower temperatures, but their growth will slow down severely. The best light is bright and indirect, and watering should be frequent. Fluoride can cause leaf discoloration, so it’s best to use non-fluoridated water.

Dracaenas are palm-like trees and shrubs that are often grown as houseplants. They come in many shapes, heights and varieties, but many have strappy sword-shaped leaves and are evergreens. Dracaenas are usually tough, carefree houseplants. But you may experience problems with dracaena plants from time to time. Read on for common dracaena problems and how to help.

What’s Wrong with my Dracaena?

Problems with dracaena houseplants usually involve inappropriate cultural care rather than something more serious. Plant diseases are very rarely a problem. Dracaena cultural care is not difficult, but you need to pay attention to their requirements to keep them healthy. These plants need bright but indirect sunlight. They also need to be irrigated with tepid water on a regular basis when they dry out. So what’s wrong with my dracaena houseplant, you ask? Dracaena plant issues in the home are usually water or pest related.

Common Dracaena Plant Issues

Too little water or very low humidity can cause the plant to get dry tips and edges. Too much water can result in dracaena plant issues like a sudden loss of leaves or root rot. Leaf loss and root rot can also be caused by poor drainage. If you put these plants in direct sun, your dracaena problems can include round dry patches and streaks on the leaves. Yellowing tips can mean excess fertilization. This can also result from too much fluoride in the water. Scale insects and mites are the most common insect pests of dracaena. You’ll see them on the leaves or else notice yellowing. Wash them off with soapy water or buy a treatment at the garden store.

More Serious Problems with Dracaena

Those growing dracaena plants outdoors will have to face more serious dracaena problems. These can include fusarium leaf spot and soft rot. Leaf blight may also occur on these plants but is less common. If your dracaena plant issues show up as reddish or tan spots with yellow halos, the plant may have fusarium leaf spot, a fungus issue. The spotting will be on young leaves and usually near the leaf base. The way to prevent fusarium leaf spot is to cease overhead watering. The way to fix existing leaf spot is to apply a fungicide according to label directions. If your problems with dracaena involve soft rot, the plant will look and smell like it is rotting. Lower leaves collapse. This is not a problem that can be cured, so dispose of the plant.

Dracaena plants are a fixture in many homes, gracing a spot in front of a window or bringing needed decor to a corner. Their large size and height can make them a focal point. In warmer climates, dracaena lives outdoors year-round. Since the dracaena is highly visible, we want to keep it healthy and looking great. Appropriate care includes fertilizing dracaena correctly. This article will help with that.

Prior to Feeding a Dracaena Plant

Before we discuss feeding a dracaena and dracaena fertilizer needs, let's talk about some problems that might resemble fertilization errors. Leaf tips and edges may turn brown from the wrong kind of fertilizer. However, they may display this problem from too little humidity as well, so before you fertilize, correct humidity issues if needed. Mist daily, place a pebble tray nearby, or purchase a room humidifier. Adding proper humidity will be suitable for your plant and it will begin to look better even before fertilization. Yellowing of leaf tips and edges sometimes indicate the plant has gotten too much fluoride. This might come from the water or from the soil. Perlite in soil can provide fluoride as can superphosphate fertilizer. Consider what is turning your plant tips yellow before fertilizing dracaena. Streaks and spots can result from too much direct sunlight. Poor soil drainage, too much water, drafts, temperature changes, or insect infestation can cause leaves to drop off, so clear up these problems before fertilizing dracaena. Ideally, you have a healthy plant to repot into fresh soil before fertilizing, but if not, clear up any issues that you can. Learning how to fertilize dracaena will likely make your plant healthier and possibly promote a surge of growth.

Dracaena Fertilizer Needs

Some experts recommend to fertilize these low feeders only once in spring and again in early autumn. Others say to feed once or twice a month during spring and summer. Feed them in March through September, allowing a period of dormancy during winter. Use a low dose, balanced plant food. If your dracaena is inside, you may want to use less fertilizer than for those growing outside. Dracaena grows slowly, so proper care allows the plant to grow in its timeframe. Pruning this plant may promote growth as well. Remove damaged parts of leaves with sharp pruners, keep the soil moist, and provide proper light for a happy and beautiful dracaena plant. Choose a feeding schedule and learn when to feed a dracaena for the most rewarding results.

In addition to adding a refreshing interior design touch, many houseplants can help improve air quality indoors. One such plant, dracaena, is a long-time favorite due to its vibrant and colorful foliage. This, in tandem with the plant’s ease of care and low light requirements, make it ideal for bringing lush foliage into the home all year long. In order for plants to truly thrive, it is important to take specific watering requirements into consideration. With a few simple guidelines, even a garden novice can enjoy beautiful dracaena houseplants. How much water does dracaena need? Keep reading to learn more.

Dracaena Water Requirements

Although dracaena plants are native to subtropical regions, these houseplants do not tolerate wet soils. When potting up dracaena, make certain that the plants are situated in a well-draining container. This step will help to prevent root rot and other stress-related diseases. How much water does dracaena need and when to water dracaenas? A general rule of thumb is to only water dracaena when the soil feels dry to the touch. Water plants thoroughly, or until water freely flows from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Many growers choose to place a saucer under planting containers to collect excess water. Be sure to drain the saucer after watering so as not to leave any standing water. It should also be noted that dracaena plants are sensitive to fluoride. Fluoride is often found in public water supplies. Exposure to fluoride through watering, use of perlite potting mix, or other fertilization method may also cause leaves to turn brown or yellow. If this issue becomes evident, consider watering the plants using bottled water once every few weeks. Dracaena plants also benefit from a light misting of the leaves several times a week. This is especially important during periods of low humidity, such as that which occurs throughout the winter. Without sufficient moisture, growers may notice that leaf tips begin to yellow or turn brown.

Dracaena is one of the most commonly sold houseplants, but dracaena in the garden outside is more less common. This is a beloved houseplant but not everyone can grow it outdoors. It requires constant warmth, so only attempt this if you have a warm, near tropical climate.

Can You Plant Dracaena Outdoors?

Dracaena varieties are among the most popular houseplants because they have gorgeous foliage, come in a lot of different sizes and colors, and because they are difficult to kill. One sure way to kill your dracaena is to plant it outdoors in a climate that is too cold. Dracaena is a tropical plant that won’t tolerate frost. If you live in zones 9, 10, or 11 though, go for it. Dracaena thrives outdoors in areas that are frost free. Zone 9 can be a little risky in the winter months. If you live somewhere that gets an occasional frost, be prepared to protect your outdoor dracaena plants with some kind of covering.

Growing Dracaena Outdoors

If you do have the right climate for it, dracaena in the landscape can add drama and beauty. There are so many varieties to choose from with different heights and shapes, leaf colors, leaf patterns, and textures. These plants aren’t too picky, so nearly any soil type will do. They do best in richer soils, though, so add compost or other organic material to give it the best conditions. For light, choose a spot that is not in direct sun. Most dracaena do best with a lot of indirect light but not too much shade. Make sure your plant gets enough water but avoid standing water. It should be somewhere with soil that drains well. Use a basic fertilizer every couple weeks during the growing season to encourage more growth. Be sure that you know the specific needs of any dracaena variety you choose. They should be very similar, but there may be some differences, especially in size and how much space the plants need. Some varieties stay low, while others grow up to several feet (1 m.) tall. Once your dracaena is established outside, you won’t have to give it much attention or care. These plants are famously easy to grow and this is true of growing them outdoors too as long as you give them the right conditions.

Dracaena is a genus of very attractive plants that are especially popular as houseplants. But when we bring plants into the house, sometimes our pets think we’ve laid out a salad bar for them. 

Dogs and cats don’t always know what’s good for them, so it’s important to have a good sense of how dangerous it is if they take a bite out of your plants. Keep reading to learn more about dracaena pet poisoning.

Can Pets Eat Dracaena Plants?

The short answer is no. Dracaena is toxic to both cats and dogs. Or rather saponin, a chemical compound that is found in the plant, is toxic to them. A dog eating dracaena leaves can result in vomiting (sometimes with and sometimes without blood), diarrhea, weakness, drooling, loss of appetite, and depression. A cat eating dracaena will result in the same symptoms, possibly with the addition of dilated pupils.

What to Do if You See Your Cat or Dog Eating Dracaena

If you catch your dog or cat eating dracaena leaves, you should contact your veterinarian. The biggest concern with dracaena pet poisoning is the symptoms it induces. Vomiting, excessive drooling, and diarrhea can all quickly lead to severe dehydration, which is a serious problem if left untreated. 

Fortunately, it’s easily treated by a vet, who can get your pet back on its feet quickly in a safe environment. If you’re ever concerned about your pet’s health, it’s better to be safe than sorry. And when it comes to dracaena pet poisoning, waiting it out can be very serious and even fatal.

Should I Get Rid of My Dracaena Plants?

If you’ve had a dracaena plant for a long time and your pet has never given it a second glance, it’s probably fine right where it is. If you’ve had problems, however, you should move it somewhere your pet can’t get to it, like a high shelf or a hanging basket. A room where your pet doesn’t go is also an option.

Dracaena is a popular houseplant for many reasons, not least of which is the spectacular foliage that comes in a number of shapes, colors, sizes, and even patterns such as stripes. There are many different dracaena plant varieties, so check them all out before you choose your next houseplant or two.

About Dracaena Plant Varieties

There are many kinds of dracaenas that are commonly used as houseplants. One reason that they are so popular indoors is that they are easy to grow and maintain. They accept low and indirect light and only need to be watered about once a week. A little fertilizer once or twice a year is all these plants need, and pruning isn’t necessary very often either. These plants became famous when a NASA study found that they can cleanse indoor air of toxins. There are many different dracaena plants to try, and by choosing a few for your home, you can get a great range of stunning foliage as well as cleaner, healthier air.

Popular Varieties of Dracaena

The number of dracaena plants available makes this a diverse and large group, distinguished from each other by the range of spectacular foliage features. Here are some of the more popular types of dracaena to choose from: Corn Plant- This dracaena is often just called corn plant and is the type that was used in the NASA studies. There are several cultivars in this group. The name comes from the leaves that resemble those of corn – long, arching, and sometimes with a yellow stripe. Lucky Bamboo- Most people are unaware that lucky bamboo, which isn't a bamboo plant at all, is actually a type of dracaena. It is often grown in water or soil environments and considered an important Feng Shui plant. Gold Dust- For a shorter, shrubbier dracaena, try Gold Dust. The leaves are green with yellow speckles that eventually turn white. Madagascar Dragon Tree- This stunner is also called red margined dracaena and has narrow leaves with reddish purple margins. Some cultivars, like ‘Tricolor,’ have red and cream stripes. Ribbon Plant- The ribbon plant is a small dracaena, four to five inches (10-13 cm.) tall. The leaves are lance shaped and have white margins. Deremensis- There are a few cultivars of this species of dracaena. ‘Janet Craig’ is common and has shiny, dark green leaves. ‘Lemon Lime’ is a newer cultivar with chartreuse, green, and white stripes on the leaves. ‘Warneckii’ has leathery leaves that are green with white stripes. Song of India or Jamaica- These cultivars come from the reflexa species. ‘Song of India’ has thin leaves with edges of cream or white, while ‘Song of Jamaica’ has darker green leaves with light green in the centers. There are so many different types of dracaena and they are so easy to grow that there is no excuse not to have one in each room of the house.

Dracaena is a genus of about 40 versatile, easy-to-grow plants with distinctive, strappy leaves. Although dracaena is suitable for growing outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, it is most often grown as a houseplant. Depending on the cultivar, dracaena may reach heights of up to 10 feet (3 m.) or even more, which means that regular dracaena trimming will probably be necessary. The good news is that pruning dracaena plants isn’t difficult. These sturdy plants tolerate trims with little complaint, and you can cut back a dracaena to any height you like.

How to Prune a Dracaena

Pruning dracaena plants produces a full, healthy plant, as two or more new branches, each with its own cluster of leaves, will soon appear. Dracaena pruning isn’t at all difficult. Here’s some helpful tips on how to cut back a dracaena. The best time for pruning dracaena plants is when the plant is actively growing in spring and summer. If possible, avoid dracaena trimming while the plant is dormant in fall and winter. Be sure your cutting blade is sharp so cuts will be clean and even. Ragged cuts are unsightly and can invite disease. Dip your pruners or knife into a mixture of bleach and water to ensure it is free of disease-causing pathogens. Cut the canes at an angle to reduce the risk of infection. Remove any damaged canes, brown leaves, or weak growth.

Starting a New Plant with Dracaena Cuttings

When you cut back a dracaena, simply stick the cane in a pot filled with moist sand or perlite. Watch for new growth to appear in a few weeks, which indicates the plant has rooted. Alternatively, stick the cane in a glass of water on your kitchen windowsill. When it has rooted, plant the cane in a container filled with potting mix.

While pests of dracaena are not common, you may sometimes find that scale, mealybugs, and a few other piercing and sucking insects require dracaena pest control. Too much nitrogen sometimes encourages excessive new growth, which draws aphids and other bugs that eat dracaena and weakens the plant. As you may know, a healthy, adequately fertilized plant is less prone to insects and disease than a weak plant.

Managing Dracaena Pests

Check regularly for dracaena pest problems. Take a look underneath the sword-like leaves, on the trunk, and at the base. A white cottony or waxy mass can indicate mealybugs or soft scale. If you find just a few bugs that eat dracaena, you may blast them off with a strong spray of water. Mealybugs go through stages, with the juvenile stage of crawlers doing the most damage. These pests cause stunting and leaf drop. Scale weakens plants and may lead to the stoppage of growth. A scale may be white, tan, or dark brown with several congregating in an area to pierce and suck the juices from the plant. Ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and other beneficial insects can sometimes control pests of dracaena grown outdoors. For large infestations, move on to insecticidal spray or the neem oil. A swarming mass of tiny bugs around your dracaena plant may be aphids. A strong stream of water might take care of these as well but continue to check that pests of dracaena do not return. Sometimes this piercing and sucking makes the plant secrete a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew. This often attracts ants, who then defend the pests to keep their food source. You’ll want to get rid of aphids and other pests before reaching this point. Usually more effective for the long-run, use an insecticidal soap spray or neem oil. Spider mites, not often visible to the naked eye, are a common pest of dracaena. Small brown or yellow specks or spots on leaves alert you to this problem. Follow the above treatment. There are numerous recipes for homemade pest control sprays available. Some include the most basic soap, water, and oil types. Some soak garlic or hot peppers for use as pest control. Always test a small hidden part of the plant 24 hours before a full spray to make sure the homemade concoction doesn’t cause damage. Some are best used as a soil drench, avoiding the foliage. Some sites advise 70% isopropyl alcohol for managing dracaena pests. Others use hydrogen peroxide and some even swear by cinnamon. For some problematic or heavy infestations, it is best to use systemic insect control containing Bifenthrin.

How to Avoid Dracaena Pest Problems

The best way to avoid dracaena pest problems is to be vigilant about keeping them away. Check for pests in the store before you purchase plants. Seclude new purchases for a few days to make sure no eggs will hatch or no pests are hiding in the soil. Keep an eye on your dracaena if you move it outside in spring. Feed and water correctly as you provide proper lighting. Too much water sometimes attracts pests. A healthy dracaena is better able to ward off disease and bugs that eat dracaena.

Dracaena are lovely tropical houseplants that can help set a calm and peaceful mood in your home. These plants are usually carefree, but a number of dracaena plant problems can weaken them so that they can't carry out their normal life functions. This article explains what to do when you see black stems on a dracaena plant.

Why is Stem Turning Black on Corn Plant?

When a dracaena has black stems, it probably means that the plant has begun to rot. This happens because something has weakened the plant enough to allow harmful microorganisms to take over. Here are a few things that can weaken a dracaena: Most people forget to water their plants from time to time, but repeated improper watering over a long period of time can devastate a plant. You should let the soil become dry to touch and then water it enough that water drains out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Drain completely and then empty the saucer under the pot. Poor or old potting soil doesn't manage water properly. Change out the potting soil annually and every time you repot the plant. While you're at it, make sure the drainage holes in the pot aren't blocked. Inefficient potting soil can become a soggy mess that rots the plant. Watch for insects and mites that weaken plants and allow diseases to infect them. Mites are particularly troublesome for dracaena. Dracaenas are sensitive to fluoride, so it's best to use filtered water. The first symptoms of fluoride toxicity are dark streaks and brown tips on leaves.

What to Do About Stem Rot of Dracaena

As soon as you notice the stem turning black on corn plants or other dracaenas, plan to take cuttings. The parent plant will probably die, but your plant can live on through its offspring. You'll need a glass of water and a sharp knife or pruning shears. Cut one or more 6 inch (15 cm.) pieces of stem that have no black, smelly rot. Stand the stem in a glass of water with the lower 2 inches (5 cm.) underwater. Top off the water daily and change the water if it becomes cloudy. White nodules will form on the part of the stem that is below water, and roots will grow from these nodules. Buds will emerge from under the bark on the upper part of the stem. Another way to solve your dracaena plant problem is to root side shoots. This method is a lifesaver if you can't find enough healthy stems. Check the shoots carefully to make sure there are no signs of rot. Place them in a pot of moist rooting medium and cover the pot with a plastic bag to increase the humidity. Remove the bag after the shoots take root and begin to grow.

Quick Dracaena Facts:

• Botanical name: Dracaena spp.
• Height: 2 to 20 feet indoors (6 m)
• Spread: to 6 feet (1.8 m)
• Sun exposure: bright indirect light to partial shade
• Soil requirements: rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic material
• USDA Hardiness zones: 7-10
• When to plant: spring or autumn

Dracaena Care

You’ll have to look far to find a houseplant that requires less babying than the rugged plant dracaena. Strong and robust when grown as a houseplant, caring for a dracaena is very easy. There are around 120 varieties, all with straplike leaves that lend a tropical flavor to a room. They can be tall and imposing but thrive in lower light. This makes them great favorites for office plants as well as a dramatic statement in the home.

There are many varieties of dracaena, but the same rules apply generally to all of them, especially when enjoyed as houseplants. Here are some tips for their care and ideal growing conditions.

Light Requirements for Dracaena

Although a dracaena has a tropical look, it is by nature an understory plant and does not tolerate direct sun well. The best dracaena plant care calls for bright, indirect light, but many species will do well in lower light including shade. The foliage will grow thicker and more lush in a brighter location, but it does not require or thrive in direct sunlight.

Watering Dracaena

Dracaenas should be regularly watered with lukewarm water after the soil surface has dried. Avoid using cold water on a dracaena.

Dracaena Temperature & Humidity

Dracaenas make great houseplants since they appreciate the same ambient temperatures that human beings like, around 60 to 70 degrees F (15 to 21 C) during the day, and 50 to 60 degrees F (10 to 15 C) at night.

Similar to their natural habitat, dracaenas like relatively high humidity, so when humidity in the air decreases as it often does indoors in winter, it’s a good idea to spray them or place them in a tray of pebbles and water. However, the dracaena is somewhat forgiving of room temperatures, as long as they are not too cold.

Dracaena Soil Requirements

In the wild, dracaenas thrive in sandy or loamy soil. Indoors, dracaena houseplants need the same kind of drainage, but they thrive best in rich soil with a high organic content. Do not add perlite to the potting mix since it contains fluoride, to which the plant is sensitive.

Dracaena Fertilizer Needs

In their optimal conditions, dracaena houseplants grow perfectly well without fertilizer. However, during the growing season they will enjoy an occasional feeding with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.

Problems, Pests & Diseases

Dracaenas are generally robust specimens and rarely suffer from pests or diseases. Most dracaena problems are environmental.

Pests

As far as dracaena pests go, you may see the occasional spider mite, mealybug or scale infestation which can be treated with a spray of water, a mild horticultural soap or neem oil.

As mentioned earlier, dracaenas are sensitive to fluoride in your water, which may cause browning at the leaf tips, or sometimes yellowing. You can nip this in the bud by using rainwater.

Other issues can also result in dracaena browning, yellowing or drooping of leaves. These include not enough humidity, overwatering, poor drainage or sun that’s too direct.

Is a Dracaena Toxic to Cats or Dogs?

If your pet has a tendency to eat houseplants, don’t get a dracaena. Dracaena can be toxic to dogs and cats. Eating the foliage can result in vomiting, depression, weight loss, hypersalivation and dilated pupils.

Pruning Dracaena Houseplants

Thought they can start small and grow big, dracaena pruning is possible and often welcomed. If your plant has grown too tall, you can cut off the stem and root the cutting in water. A new crown of foliage will grow back on the stem where you made the cut.

How To Propagate Dracaena

People don't usually grow dracaena from seeds. Rather, growers propagate dracaenas commercially by vegetative methods, usually by rooting cuttings. Sometimes air layer methods are used if the stems, or canes, are large. Although cane cuttings from a dracaena can also be rooted, this produces an unattractive branching pattern with shoots angling from the upper portion of the cane. In the warmer seasons, a dracaena may produce shoots at its base which can be removed and rooted.

Types of Dracaena Plants

Several species of dracaena make excellent houseplants. Among popular dracaena indoor varieties are the corn plant dracaena (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana'), the Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata), and the very small ribbon plant (Dracaena sanderana) which tops out at 5 inches (13 cm) and has an upright stem and graceful green leaves with white stripes in the margins.