Care Tips
Habit: Medium to large semi-woody, single-stemmed or multi-stemmed perennials growing up to 3 m tall indoors producing from solid green to variously green, lime, white, yellow, cream to pink variegated grass-like to sword-shaped leaves usually crowded towards the ends of the stems. Flowers are rarely produced on indoor plants.
Temperature: Plants grow best between 15 to 25ᐤ C and temperatures below 4ᐤ C may result in the death of the plant. Avoid placing plants in windy or drafty locations which can lead to less attractive plants.
Light Exposure: Indoors, plants will grow well in bright, indirect light to some exposure to direct light. If placed in too dark of a location, leaves will yellow rapidly and fall off.
Watering: Dracaena plants are relatively drought tolerant and can be watered only when the top 5 to 10 cm of soil feels dry to the touch. Always check the soil moisture first but as a rule of thumb watering once every two weeks in the rainy season, once a month in the cold dry season and once a week in the hot dry season.
Fertilising: Give plants a well balanced fertiliser once or twice a month during the hot dry season and rainy season but not during the cold dry season when plants are resting (semi-dormant).
Pruning/Repotting: Remove any yellowing leaves as necessary. Depending on the species or cultivar Dracaena may need repotting every three or four years depending on size; repot in spring as new growth is starting. Generally, the larger the plant, the greater the need for repotting.
Pests/Diseases: Thrips, mealybugs and scale may attack plants; while fungal pathogens cause various leaf-spot diseases and cold injury causes yellow or dead bands across the leaves.