Repotting the dragon tree: instructions & expert tips

A dragon tree can be a loyal companion as a houseplant for years. This loyalty should be rewarded with occasional repotting.

Of the Dragon tree (Dracaena) is very frugal when it comes to the demands on his care. However, so that you can enjoy your dragon tree permanently - that is for many years - you should repot it at regular intervals. We explain how it works in 8 steps.

Repotting the dragon tree: why?

The dragon tree is often driven out in the root ball, whereby the plant substrate often has a high proportion of peat. Due to the range of grain sizes, the plant substrate tends to sag when watered regularly and to condense in the process. The permeability of the earth suffers greatly and the availability of oxygen goes into the basement. However, the dragon tree is an oxygen-loving plant, which is why the deficiency can be difficult for it. Repotting also involves loosening or renewing the substrate, which can help your dragon tree to regain its vitality. Therefore, when renewing the plant substrate, use something with a balanced grain size spectrum, for example with a higher percentage of pearlite.

Repotting the dragon tree: when is the right time?

The dragon tree shows the strongest growth in spring. Although it can only grow up in closed rooms in our latitudes, it is influenced by the increased radiation intensity. The right time for regular repotting is before the increased growth in the spring. If pests, root rot or the like occur in the meantime, it is of course advisable to repot the dragon tree at any time.

Instructions for repotting the dragon tree

Repotting your Dracaena is not absolutely necessary, but it can give your dragon tree new vitality. If you do not repot for too long, this can lead to reduced growth and withered leaves. The best time to repot your dragon tree is generally before the phase of greatest growth in spring. After repotting, the roots can then develop in the fresh and permeable substrate and fully fill the new habitat.

Repotting the dragon tree: choosing a suitable substrate for repotting

The substrates in which the dragon tree is usually sold are often characterized by high proportions of peat. Due to its high content of organic material, peat tends to sink and thus compact itself with regular watering. By mixing in volcanic rock granulate or similar draining substrates when repotting, you can increase the permeability and ensure a better oxygen supply.

Prepare the dragon tree for repotting

You can make it much easier for your dragon tree to start in the new bucket if you water the root ball again vigorously after removing the plant from the previous bucket. You can also put the root ball in an immersion bath for a short time so that the soil is completely soaked. By watering you protect your dragon tree from dehydration by the new, possibly drier substrate.

Repot the dragon tree in a larger pot

It is important to meet the dragon tree's growing needs. When choosing the new vessel, make sure that it is at least 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter than the old one. In order to ensure rapid growth in the new substrate, it is important to water the newly potted dragon tree sufficiently. The initially relatively dry substrate must soak up completely so that the moisture is not drawn directly from the old root ball.

Maintain the dragon tree after repotting

After repotting, the dragon tree needs little attention in terms of its care. Once your darling has arrived at their new home and has established themselves in the new planter, continue with the care as usual. We recommend regular fertilization during spring and early summer. A liquid fertilizer like ours is very suitable Plantura organic indoor & green plant fertilizer. Should an unsightly growth form appear, you can restore the desired shape with a care cut. Accurate instructions and valuable Tips for caring for the dragon tree and Cutting your dragon tree can be found in our special articles.

Look for a suitable location for the dragon tree

The optimal lighting conditions for the dragon tree depend entirely on the color of its leaves. Has her Dracaena rather light leaves with more green parts, you should choose a partially shaded location to avoid radiation damage. If your dragon tree tends to have a reddish color, there are more anthocyanins in the leaf, which protect against radiation damage, which is why it also feels comfortable in a full sun.

Here again the most important things about repotting the dragon tree summarized:

• Water the dragon tree vigorously before repotting
• The circumference of the new vessel should be at least 2-3 cm larger than the old one
• Mixing in volcanic rock granulate increases permeability and ensures a better air supply
• After repotting the dragon tree, water it enough
• Then continue with maintenance measures as normal

Our tip: If you want to forego regular repotting, you can consider growing a dragon tree hydroponically. The dragon tree is cultivated in a substrate made of permeable volcanic rock to give it support. The nutrient supply is operated solely through the nutrient-enriched water. The advantage here is that repotting has to be carried out significantly less often than when growing in a commercially available substrate.

In addition to repotting, there are other maintenance measures that should be carried out regularly for the dragon tree. What exactly do you do with the Caring for dragon trees should be noted, see this article.