Maintaining the dragon tree: watering & cutting properly

If a dragon tree is not cared for properly, it quickly loses its charm as a houseplant. We therefore have all the helpful care tips for you.

Of the Dragon tree (Dracaena) is a very frugal houseplant that is satisfied with little attention. However, there are things you need to keep in mind when caring for it to keep your dragon tree comfortable. We'll tell you which maintenance measures you shouldn't forget and give you valuable tips.

Caring for the dragon tree is essentially limited to watering, fertilizing, cutting and repotting. In the following section, we explain when the right time is for the steps mentioned and what you should pay attention to when performing them.

Watering the dragon tree: how often and how much?

The dragon tree needs a constant supply of moisture. Due to its original origin from tropical and subtropical areas, it is used to relatively constant conditions all year round, which is also reflected in its water requirements. However, the roots of the dragon tree are very sensitive to waterlogging. To avoid this, do a finger test before watering and feel how much moisture is still in the soil.

Fertilize dragon tree: how often and how much?

The dragon tree only needs regular fertilization in the phase of greatest growth (March to August). The best way to do this is to use an organic fertilizer that provides nutrients over a long period of time. Furthermore, organic fertilizers have a great influence on the structural properties of the plant substrate positive, resulting in good permeability, water supply and the avoidance of waterlogging contributes. Of the Plantura organic universal fertilizer offers exactly the right ratio of ingredients for the vigorous growth of your dragon tree. Due to its fine grain structure, it can simply be placed on the surface of the potting soil without being incorporated. By lightly pouring on, you can ensure that the nutrients are dissolved more quickly and reach the roots. The use of organic fertilizers can only be used in normal culture, however, in hydroponics one still has to resort to liquid fertilizers.

More information about the Fertilizing your dragon tree You will find here.

Caution: Those who mean it too well can quickly damage their dragon tree, as it is very sensitive to overfertilization. The principle “less is more” should therefore be taken into account.

Repot the dragon tree

The dragon tree is a plant for which regular repotting makes perfect sense. On the one hand, the soil is loosened by the substrate exchange and thus the permeability for air and water is increased. On the other hand, with the above-ground part of the dragon tree, its root ball also grows, which is why your dragon tree will be happy to have a larger planter when repotting. More details on the Repot the dragon tree can be found in our special article.

Cutting the dragon tree

Basically, a dragon tree can do without a regular pruning. If you don't like the branching anymore, more dry or withered leaves hang or your darling just grows over your head, but you can do it without any problems cut back.

The best time to cut the dragon tree is at the beginning of spring. Your dragon tree is then about to reach the phase of greatest growth and can quickly compensate for the biomass lost through the pruning. Basically: A cut can also be carried out at any other time of the year if the circumstances so require. We offer detailed instructions in our special article on the Dragon tree cutting.

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