It is a good idea to replace the top section of growing medium annually, to replace less fertile and compacted material.īoth repotting and refreshing/top dressing are best done in the spring. Topdressing your container with a new layer of compost on the top is worthwhile doing more often, however. marginata grows rather slowly, and will typically only need to be repotted every 2-3 years. See more on common houseplant bugs in this guide. It is a good idea to keep on top of any problems by checking over your plant regularly and rinsing off any pests that you find. These can do some damage, though will not usually kill your plant. However, some pests that might be found on this plant are mealybugs, sap-suckers like scale and thrips – and spider mites. Where things do go wrong, it is more likely to be a sign of overwatering or otherwise less than optimal conditions. marginata is blissfully untroubled by many common pests and diseases – and it is largely an extremely trouble-free plant to grow. When watering, try to use rainfall where possible – take care with water that contains higher levels of salt or fluoride.īoth overwatering, and watering with water that is high in salt or fluoride, can cause browning of the leaves on your dragon tree plant. “Otherwise, careful monitoring is important, with the potting compost being allowed to dry out before watering.” “Ideally, plants should be planted in pots with drainage holes on a saucer so excess water can be removed,” explains Roy. While these plants can cope rather well with dry conditions, they cannot tolerate waterlogged, soggy conditions. Like other drought-tolerant plants, overwatering is the most common issue. Watering is where many houseplant owners may go wrong when it comes to caring for D. In terms of the growing medium: a well-drained, fertile, loam-based compost is the best choice. marginata should be placed in a container of sufficient size to accommodate its root system, with around an inch or so of the medium around each side. marginata can be moved outside, ideally in dappled shade and not in full sun, where it can be enjoyed perhaps as part of a patio arrangement,” says Roy, a Master Horticulturist and Professional Gardener. “Once temperatures are consistently above 10☌, D. While this plant can do well as a lone houseplant, it may do better when grouped with several other low-maintenance tropical plants. However, if the conditions are particularly dry, consider increasing humidity by grouping this with other houseplants, and perhaps by misting lightly every week or so in drier periods. Regular household humidity should be absolutely fine for these plants. Optimum temperatures for a dragon tree are between around 21-26☌. marginata should be grown indoors, in a light and bright location, but out of direct sunlight, which can cause burning to the foliage.Ĭhoose a location where temperatures consistently remain above around 15☌. Other named cultivars include ‘Colorama’, ‘Magenta’, and ‘Tarzan’. marginata ‘Variegata’ are the most commonly grown cultivars here in the UK and have received an RHS Award of Garden Merit. There are a number of named cultivars to consider when choosing a dragon tree to grow as a houseplant in your home.ĭ. It is well suited to indoors growth and can thrive even with little care. They are moderately easy to care for (as you will learn below) and will thrive in a reasonably wide range of conditions. marginata is an extremely popular houseplant for a number of reasons.įor one thing, it has a bold, architectural form that can lend itself to a range of interior design styles. These plants have sword-like green leaves with reddish edges, which fan out a little like a palm atop a slender trunk. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from (v)/detailsĮven though a Dragon Tree grown as a houseplant cannot hope to compete with the wonderful wild specimens, it can still be a very attractive addition to your home. 1 Dracaena marginata (v) | Madagascar dragon tree. It is a tender plant (H1B hardiness rating), meaning it is generally grown indoors in the UK but can be grown outside in the summer months when temperatures are consistently over 10☌. In its native range, it produces tiny white flowers in the spring, though it is extremely rare for this plant to flower at all when it is grown indoors. Typically, when grown in a container indoors, Dragon trees will have a height of around 2m or so, rarely exceeding 1.5m. When grown as a houseplant in temperate climates, it will not grow anywhere near as large. It is a tropical plant, which thrives in the intermittent heavy rains and droughts of its native range. It is a towering tree, which can grow over 3m in height, with trunks as wide as a man’s leg, or even wider.
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