Dragon tree: professional tips about the dracaena

The dragon tree is often found as a houseplant. Plantura has summarized all the important facts about the dragon tree for you.

Dragon tree: characteristics and origin

The dragon tree (Dracaena) is a very popular and popular houseplant. Like the yucca palm, it belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagales), even if that might be a bit irritating at first glance. The origin of the name is in Greek and means something like "female dragon". There are several naming theories. On the one hand, the dragon tree often forms more than one new shoot at the point where an old one has been removed - like a mythical dragon that grows back two heads when one is cut off. On the other hand, the name could come from the fact that escaping resin at injured areas turns reddish when it hardens and is traditionally referred to as dragon's blood. Wherever the name comes from, the dragon tree is an easy-care eye-catcher for every living room that can cope with little attention. It only blooms in very few cases because the conditions in our living rooms are suboptimal for this. The variegated foliage, however, forms green, red or white colored leaf margins depending on the species and thus adorns the indoor palms, which can grow up to two meters high. We'll tell you how you can successfully grow this popular houseplant yourself.

Dragon tree species: the most popular and beautiful species

The genus of the dragon trees is one of the numerically smaller ones. There are currently more than 50 Types of the dragon tree known. We give you an overview of the most popular species and list special features.

Dracaena fragrans

• Commonly planted dragon tree species
• Strongly fragrant flower (with proper care)
• Shiny, green variegated leaves

Dracaena deremensis

• Mostly white leaf margins, dull green leaves
• Relatively short but very broad leaves
• Special aesthetics due to wide leaves

Dracaena reflexa

• Previously known as Dracaena marginata
• Growth up to 2 m high
• Dark green leaves
• Pretty tough; low maintenance requirements
• Mostly reddish variegated leaf margins
• Tolerant of fluctuations in light and temperature

Dracaena draco

• Also known as the "Canarian Dragon Tree"
• Elongated, sword-shaped leaves
• Reaches heights of up to 1.60 m

Dracaena surculosa

• Looks like a bamboo
• Origin: Tropical Africa
• Requires high temperatures (constant> 15 ° C)
• Relatively broad leaves with spotty patterns
• Can be increased by division

More information about Dragon tree species and varieties can be found here.

Dragon tree: the perfect location

The perfect location for the dragon tree depends entirely on its species. You can roughly say that the less green their leaves are, the more light the plants need. It is possible to slowly increase the light exposure of the dragon trees with more green leaves Get used to it, however, it is safer if you place your green dragon tree in a partially shaded location place. Colorful species, on the other hand, can safely be exposed to higher levels of radiation.

Tip: Rotate your dragon tree regularly so that there is no one-sided growth. With this you can avoid unsightly crooked growth.

Which location is best for pet owners and whether the Dragon tree is poisonous or not, find out here.

Propagate the dragon tree yourself

The propagation of the dragon tree can easily be carried out using cuttings. We give you step-by-step instructions so that nothing can go wrong.

1. If possible, cut off the dragon tree 10 cm below the tip of the shoot
2. Seal the interface (usually with wax)
3. Use sharp scissors to cut off leaves to 1 cm left in order to focus the nutrient supply on the roots and to minimize transpiration through leaves
4. Place the cutting in a container with water or in an airy substrate for propagation
5. Roots should form at the end of the stem within the next two to three weeks
6. Dragon tree is ready for planting in pot

Caring for the dragon tree properly

As mentioned at the beginning, the dragon tree only needs a small part of your attention. With little effort, great results can be achieved that make the heart of every dragon tree owner beat faster. We'll tell you what is important.

Watering the dragon tree

The dragon tree likes to be watered regularly so that the earth stays moist throughout. However, you have to make sure that there is no waterlogging in the saucer or planter in order to avoid mold and rot. In the darker winter months, evaporation is reduced, here you should also adjust the amount of water a little.

Fertilize dragon tree

The dragon tree is a very vigorous plant. That is why it is important that you fertilize your darling regularly. Organic fertilizers are particularly suitable for long-term, healthy fertilization. These improve the structural properties of the plant substrate, promote soil life and also provide nutrients over a longer period of time. An organic liquid fertilizer like our Plantura is easy to use Organic indoor & green plant fertilizerwhich is simply administered via the irrigation water.

Dragon tree in winter

The treatment of the dragon tree in winter does not differ that much from that in summer, since as a houseplant it is not subject to great fluctuations. During the shorter winter days, the growth of your dragon tree also slows down, so you should refrain from fertilizing. The irrigation must also be adapted to the reduced evaporation.

In case you are a little deeper inside you right Care of your dragon tree want to take a look, we have summarized everything that is important here in a little more detail.

Repot the dragon tree

Most dragon tree species are relatively vigorous. It is therefore important to always keep an eye on the size of the planter.

Why repot the dragon tree?

The dragon tree needs enough space to spread its roots, so it makes sense to offer it a larger area on a regular basis. The diameter of the new vessel only needs to be three to five centimeters larger than that of the old one. If the root ball doesn't bind the planting substrate too much, feel free to shake off some of the old soil. By filling up with new substrate, the soil is loosened and the permeability improved.

Tip: Repotting your dragon tree is much easier if the soil is not completely saturated with water. So do not water your darling for two days before repotting. He can cope with that without permanent damage.

When to repot the dragon tree?

Experience has shown that repotting is sufficient for the first two to three years. In the following years you will have to adjust the size of the pot more frequently to the height of your dragon tree - possibly even once a year. Basically, the dragon tree must be repotted when the roots have taken root through the entire planter.

Which substrate is suitable for repotting the dragon tree?

The dragon tree prefers slightly acidic soils, which is why you can prepare a good environment for it with commercially available potting soil. The pH of the substrate should be just above 6. You can either read on the packaging of the planting substrate or use a pH test strip to check the pH range in which the potting soil is.

Tip: If the selected substrate does not quite meet the requirements, you can help a little yourself. Simply mix in a little peat or coffee grounds.

You can find more tips from the experts in our special article "Repot the dragon tree”.

Cutting the dragon tree

Unfavorable conditions (especially poor lighting conditions) can lead to the dragon tree developing rather unsightly leaf growth, or simply not growing enough leaves. You can counteract this by shortening the dragon tree. We explain how to do it.

When to cut the dragon tree?

It is difficult to pinpoint a perfect time to cut your dragon tree because the timing always depends on the reason for the cut. If you prune your dragon tree for the purpose of propagation, this should preferably be done in spring so that the cuttings can grow well during the long summer days. However, if you prune your dragon tree to keep it in a nice shape, then the timing is relatively unimportant. A cut should be adjusted as needed, for example if the leaf growth subsides. If you intend to make a radical cut, we recommend doing this in the winter months so that the loss of substance can be compensated for in spring and summer.

Dragon tree how to cut?

1. Separate the dragon tree a few centimeters below the leaf base of the main shoot. This promotes branching or the formation of new secondary shoots.
2. Seal the interface (for example with candle wax).
3. After a few weeks (usually two) new shoots form below the interface.
4. After a few more days, the first leaf roots grow.

A more in-depth guide on how to set up your Ideal cutting of the dragon tree, You will find here.

Dragon tree: yellow and brown leaves

The coloring of the leaves of the dragon tree can have many causes. If you have problems with such phenomena yourself, simply go through our checklist to get to the bottom of the matter:

• Direct sunlight: The variegated, mostly two-colored leaves can lose their stability when exposed to too much sunlight and turn slightly yellow. The following applies: the greener the leaf, the less sun your dragon tree can withstand. A simple change of location can fix the problem.
• Deficiency symptoms: The dragon tree is very vigorous, which is why it needs to be supplied with sufficient water and nutrients. If he lacks either of the two, he can let the leaves hang down. You can counteract this with a regular dose of water and fertilizer.
• Waterlogging: Unlike symptoms of deficiency, excessive caring can also harm your dragon tree. If the water in the planter is too high, root breathing can be restricted or even interrupted, which also leads to yellow leaves.
• Fungal disease and putrefactive bacteria: Dragon trees are susceptible to fungal and bacterial attack. Both are caused by low temperatures and excessive and permanent moisture in the plant substrate, which is why this infestation often takes place during the winter. Infestation by fungi or bacteria usually manifests itself in the softening of the trunk and later also in the discoloration of the leaves. The best way to get rid of fungal and bacterial infestation is through preventive measures. Make sure the temperatures are adequate and avoid waterlogging in any case.

In addition to the dragon tree, there are numerous other plants that could enrich your interior. We have one for you List of the best plants for indoors compiled.