Dracaena Plant: Care Guide, Types, and Common Problems & Treatments of This Beautiful Bush

We all have grown indoor vine plants in our homes to make our walls beautiful by hanging nature’s charm. But what about other spaces, such as shelves, tabletops, bathrooms, and kitchens? Decorate these empty spaces of your house with some beautiful bushy Dracaena plants this spring. 

It is a low-maintenance plant that requires indirect sunlight and can give your interior the recognition and attraction it deserves. You can add multiple varieties of it having different color contrasts and sizes. 

To get detailed information about the plant, along with its caring tips, propagation guide, some common types, related problems, and their solutions, continue reading.

Dracaena Plant: Overview and Specs

The Dracaena genus is a large group of houseplants and is grown mainly for upright, straplike foliage having green or variegated hues. The plant has white flowers that grow from spring to summer with a light fragrance. Dracaena has various species that mainly comes in two varieties named, Trees and succulent shrub. In which the trees are known best for the outdoors and shrubs to enhance your indoor appearance. 

In the right condition, they can reach 5 to 6 feet tall and beautify the corners in living or dining rooms. With a wide variety of leaf shapes, colors, and patterns, Dracaena is also used in mixed containers or seasonal displays. 

Common Name	Dracaena; having different species with varied names
Botanical Name	Dracaena spp.
Family	Asparagaceae
Plant Type	Shrub, household
Mature Size	2-10 ft tall and 1-2 ft wide
Flower Color	White
Foliage Color	Blue/Green, Gray/ Silver, Purple/Burgundy, Gold/Chartreuse
Soil Type	Moist, well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic
Sun Exposure	Partial
Propagation	Stem Cuttings
Hardiness Zones	10-12 (USDA)
Native Areas	Asia, Africa, Australia
Toxicity	Toxic to dogs and cats

How to Care for Dracaena Plants?

Dracaenas are houseplants and hence can be placed inside with bright indirect light or kept outdoors with shades, as they are drought-tolerant and easy to care. However, there are certain Dracaena plant care tips that you should remember to keep it healthy and promote growth: 

• Sunlight

  Place the plant in a spot with indirect sunlight. While it can tolerate short periods of direct light but avoid long exposures. It can grow indoors as well but if placed outdoors, prefer a location with partial shade or dappled sun. 

• Soil

  You can use any peat-based commercial potting mix with slight acidity. If grown in tropical regions, the soil should be rich and well-drained. Keep the soil moist and let it dry between watering. 

• Water

  During the growing season (spring through fall), keep the soil moist by watering thoroughly each week. While during winters, let the soil go drier and water moderately every two weeks. 

• Humidity & Temperature

  Most of the species thrive at temperatures of 70–80 degrees F but will react badly if it drops below 50 degrees. These tropical plants need a high humidity level, around 60%. If placed indoors in an extremely dry environment, use a mist or room humidifier.

• Fertilizer

  Feed Dracaenas with a water-soluble fertilizer monthly during summer and spring. Avoid using fertilizer in fall and winter, as the plant growth slows down during this period. 

• Repotting

  If you have left the plant in the same pot to grow for a long period, it can experience brown edges and tips due to the buildup of fertilizers and salts. To avoid such a situation, regularly leach the soil, or you can repot the plant every couple of years and replace tired soil. 

• Cleaning & Pruning

  Dracaena doesn’t need a lot of pruning, but you can remove dried leaves to give it a more neat look. If the plant has grown too tall, you can cut the stem at a 45-degree angle, and the plant will generate new branches from there. The best period to do so is spring and summer, when the Dracaena is at its peak growth. Also, occasionally wipe the leaves to remove dust. 

How to Propagate Dracaena?

Dracaenas can be easily propagated through rooting stem cuttings during springs, as the plant grows actively during this season. Here is the process of  how you can produce a new plant even with a bare section of stem:

1. First, find a healthy stem on the dracaena plant and cut an 8-inch length with the help of sharp sanitized pruners. Make sure the cutting has several leaf nodes with at least two leaves. 
2. Then, dip the bottom into the rooting hormone, and if the stem is short, cover its bottom half inch in the powder. 
3. Now, it’s time to propagate the stem. There are two ways for it: 
   • In Water

     Place the cutting in a jar with clean, distilled water, and place the container in a warm location with bright indirect sunlight. 

   • In Soil

     Use a small peat pot with a drainage hole and soilless mix. Moisten the mix and immediately place the stem cutting into it. Firm the mix around it and insert a pencil or wooden craft stick to keep the cutting upright. Put the pot in a place with indirect sunlight and water it every day for the first month, and then only a couple of times a week. 

     Keep the soil moist, not wet, and within six to eight weeks, you may notice the roots are getting developed. Once they have formed, you can repot the Dracaena in a small container filled with good-quality soil or directly plant it in a prepared garden bed. 

Tips!

If grown in water, don’t forget to replace the water every other day, while if planted in soil, repot it every year or if you notice any fungal issues. 

Popular Types of Dracaena

There are more than 170 species of Dracaena plants available in this world, but only a few are commonly used as houseplants. Similar to various types of cactus, most dracaenas are low-maintenance and air-purifying, making them a suitable choice for your home to match with nature. Here are some popular varieties of Dracanea listed below: 

Dracaena Dragon plant has thinner, grass-like leaves that fall off from multiple thick stems. If you want a taller plant with less floor space, dragon tree is a great choice. 

Having strap-like leaves, the corn plant emerges in a fountain-like cluster that has a thick woody stem, and it can grow up to 6 feet in a pot. While in outdoor settings, the height may reach up to 20 feet. The corn plant has broad, green leaves with yellow or white stripes and can be used as fillers in empty corners or living rooms. 

This variety is known for its upright, pointy leaves with yellow and green variegation. Snake plants need low maintenance and can tolerate low light and irregular watering conditions as well. 

Reflexa has dark green and chartreuse stripes on narrow leaves with veining. Song of India has a bushy appearance and glossy leaves with shorter lengths, making it a perfect choice to set on tabletops or shelves. 

Also known as ribbon dracaena, the plant has curled stems facing in the direction of sunlight. Looking at its name, it does not look like a bamboo as it is smaller in size. One of its famous varieties is Variegata which has striking yellow and green foliage. Lucky bamboo can be easily grown in water or soil and can look pretty well with minimalist decor for small spaces. 

It is a cultivator with slender, bamboo-like branches and lance-shaped dark green leaves. They are densely peppered with striking creamy yellow spots, which gave them the nickname “Gold Dust.” 

The plant has a long stem with narrow leaves. Its fun, grassy texture gives it an attractive appearance. You can grow Anita as a small Dracaena tree on your balcony or in indoor settings. 

Also called rainbow plant, it is a lighter color version of the Madagascar dragon tree with narrow strap-like leaves that have a center of medium green surrounded by a narrow gold band. The edges are colored with a red stripe. 

One of the most common household plants with dark green, shiny leaves. It is an easy-to-grow plant and can be used to decorate shelves and tabletops. 

Dracaena deremensis has many other popular varieties, including Rikki Dracaena, White Jewel, Limelight, Dorado, Lemon Lime, Warneckii, Malaika, Hawaiian Sunshine, Lemon Surprise, etc. They have different appearances and can give indoor settings a peaceful and attractive look. 

Common Problems and Solutions for Dracaena

Though they need little care, Draceana plants are still vulnerable to some diseases, and problems mainly arise due to poor watering and sunlight exposure. Such ignorance and poor care may lead to various issues with the plants, which are discussed below along with their solutions: 

Pests

Dracaenas are highly vulnerable to pests like spider mites, thrips, scales, and mealybugs. If you notice webbing and stippled foliage, spider mites are the culprit, and to eradicate them, periodically spray the plant. You can also use Neem oil. 

On the other side, if you find sticky residue or small bumps on the leaves, mealybugs and scale insects are the cause. They turn the leaves yellow and affect the plant growth. To treat them, use Neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Yellow Leaves

This issue may develop due to overwatering. That’s why it is suggested to let the soil dry out completely and always plant the Dracaena in a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil. 

Brown Tips

Brown tips signify the plant is getting excessive sunlight, or maybe the plant wants distilled water. These plants are sensitive to fluorides, and hence using filtered water is preferable. 

Scorched Leaves

Again, too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. So, move the pot to a place with indirect sunlight or use a sheer curtain to block excessive rays. 

Droopy Leaves

Either little light or excessive water causes droopy or wilted leaves to your Dracaenas. You should regularly check the light exposure and moisture levels of the plant and take necessary measures accordingly. This problem can also arise due to a lack of nutrients in the soil, which can be treated with fresh soil or added fertilizer.

Fungal Issues

If the soil always stays too wet, the plant may develop leaf spot, a fungal disease that causes small, brown spots on the leaves. Remove and discard such leaves and maintain proper air circulation around the plant. Another fungal issue is root rot, which turns the plant’s leaves yellow and wilts or falls off. To remedy it, replace the soil and avoid overwatering.

Tips!

It is suggested to regularly observe your plant and take necessary measures when you notice any suspicious changes. 

Close Up!

Dracaena plants are one of the most preferred choices to add the contrast of nature, beauty, and aesthetics to your interior settings. These indoor plants can be used for decor purposes on your shelves, living room, tabletops, and other places, or they can be grown in the gardens or balcony with partial sunlight. 

So, just show your gardening and designing skills and gift your home a charm of greenery this spring with different eye-catching species of Dracaena!