The long leaves of the dragon tree, Dracaena, are usually solid green with a hint of scarlet along the edges, but the cultivars ‘Tricolor’ and ‘Colorama’ alternate stripes of green, cream, and red, thus the nickname ‚”rainbow plant.” The long, lanky cane trunk of the dragon tree has a rough, scaly feel. Combined with the ruff of long, pointy leaves, the description of a mythical dragon comes to mind.
This is a shy dragon. Don’t put it in the spotlight
A native of Madagascar, the dragon tree does well in low to indirect bright light and looks good in a grouping to fill a narrow corner. If placed near a sliding glass door, filtered light will keep a dragon tree content, but strong direct sunlight will turn its leaves brown. Leaf droppage is normal as the plant grows taller. Excessive leaf loss can be caused by the shock of repotting or exposure to sudden temperature changes. A corner that receives blasts of hot or cold air through an open doorway would not be the best hangout for this mild dragon.
Just like a pet, the dragon tree likes to have water when it is dry. The soil can be kept damp but should not soggy. Waiting to water until the top inch of soil is dry to the touch is a good idea.
This house dragon can be fed monthly with liquid fertilizer or every two to three months with plant food sticks. Pushing a couple of food spikes into the pot of a large plant on the first day of a new season is a simple way to remember to feed indoor plants.
Leaves do last a long time on a dragon tree, so they should be dusted occasionally. An electrostatic dust wand works wonderfully.
A good pruning tip on Guide to Houseplants, www.guide-to-houseplants.com/dragon-tree.html:
‚”You can cut off the cane at any height. Within weeks, it will sprout a new cluster of leaves from where it was cut.” The process works well. (See photos.) The top portion with leaves can be placed in a container of water until roots grow and then planted in a new pot with fresh potting soil. The bottom portion should be placed in soft light to reduce stress as it rebuds. The results are a shorter leafy plant from the rooted top and new growth on the still-potted lower cane. Two from where there was one.
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