The Ultimate Guide to Growing and Caring for a Dragon Tree
Introduction
Dragon trees (Dracaena marginata) are beautiful and easy-to-care-for house plants that are perfect for beginners. They thrive in low light conditions and can tolerate some neglect, making them a great choice for busy people or those who are new to gardening.
Benefits of Dragon Trees
In addition to being easy to care for, dragon trees also offer a number of benefits, including:
- They help to remove cancer-causing pollutants from the air, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
- They are non-toxic to humans, but toxic to pets, so avoid growing them if you have cats or dogs.
How to Grow a Dragon Tree
Choosing the Right Location
Dragon trees prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, as this can scorch the leaves. They also prefer warm temperatures between 18-24ºC, but can tolerate temperatures as low as 15ºC.
Planting Your Dragon Tree
You can keep your dragon tree in the pot you buy it in and simply place it into a decorative pot. When it comes time to repot your plant, use a free-draining peat-free potting compost rather than multi-purpose compost. Dragon trees are slow growing, reaching their mature height after 8-10 years, so they will need repotting only every three to four years.
Watering Your Dragon Tree
Avoid overwatering dragon trees. Wait until the top half of the compost is dry before watering – it should be about half dry. Look out for brown leaf tips – this indicates that you are underwatering, but if you see yellow leaves this could mean that you are overwatering.
Caring for Your Dragon Tree
- Wipe the leaves every so often to remove dust and keep the leaves healthy.
- Pull out any leaves that have gone brown or died. It’s normal for dragon trees to shed a few leaves now and then, to make way for new growth.
- Dragon trees will need repotting only every three to four years, as it’s better to keep them slightly root bound. This will help prevent the compost getting too moist.
- Feed around every fourth time you water during the growing season, with a general house plant fertilizer.
- Dragon trees thrive in rooms with average humidity so there’s no need to mist the leaves.
Pruning Your Dragon Tree
There’s no need to prune a dragon tree. Simply take out any dead or damaged leaves.
How to Propagate a Dragon Tree
To make a new dragon tree from the parent plant, cut the tip off one of the stems, around 8cm long and pencil thick, and just above a node (where a leaf or stem is attached). The best time to do this is in spring. Cut off a third of the lower leaves and put it your cutting in a jar of water. After a few weeks you will see when roots appear. Replace the water in the jar weekly to prevent disease, then, once you can see a good set of roots, pot your cutting into potting compost.
Pests and Diseases
Dragon trees can be susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including:
- Red spider mite
- Scale insects
- Thrips
To prevent pests and diseases, keep your dragon tree healthy by following the care instructions above. If you do notice any pests or diseases, treat them immediately with an appropriate pesticide or fungicide.
Advice on Buying a Dragon Tree
- Dragon trees are fairly slow growing so if you are looking for a feature plant, buy a good sized tree
- Other names that this plant may be sold under are Dracaena marginata. There are other types of dragon tree, such as Dracaena draco, which is more commonly grown outdoors in mild areas
- Always check plants for signs of damage or disease before buying
Where to Buy a Dragon Tree
Dragon trees are widely available at most garden centers and online retailers.
