Dracaena: planting and care at home, cultivation and properties, types

Dracaena is a popular indoor plant that is found in almost every home. Each of the varieties of culture belongs to the exotic. This plant originally appeared on the African continent. Its name translates as "female dragon" . It is due to the fact that some varieties secrete dark red juice, which has an oily consistency. This substance seemed to some like the blood of dragons.

Dracaena description

Dracaena belongs to the Asparagus family. This culture is presented in the form of succulent trees and shrubs. It is most often found in Africa. However, some species can be seen in South Asia and in the tropical part of Central America.

Dahl's dictionary indicates that the name "dracaena" translates as "female dragon" or "dragon" . At home, tree-like varieties of culture are predominantly grown, which visually resemble cordilins. Sometimes this plant is called false palm. This is due to the external properties of culture. At the same time, in fact, the plant does not belong to palm trees.

Most often, varieties such as Godsefa, bordered, dragon are grown at home. Other species are considered more demanding to care for.

Dracaena is characterized by a very spectacular appearance. According to information received from various sources, there are 40-300 varieties of this culture. While the plant is young, its weakly branching shoots are complemented by a large number of sessile leaf blades, which are distinguished by a leathery texture. They are wide or lanceolate. The leaves may be solid green, but there are also variegated varieties.There are also plants whose leaves are complemented by stripes of different widths. They can be yellow, white or pink.

As the culture grows, the trunk becomes bare and woody. As a result, the bush acquires a majestic appearance. In some varieties, a bunch of leaves is formed in the upper part of the plant. Because of this, the culture becomes like a palm tree. There are also cultures whose leaf blades are arranged in whorls or in a spiral.

Club-shaped roots do not form shoots. On the cut, they are distinguished by a red-yellow tint. This culture is characterized by slow development. However, he lives for quite a long time. When grown at home, dracaena blooms quite rarely. If this does happen, fragrant paniculate inflorescences appear on the bushes, which include white or light pink petals.

This plant looks quite spectacular and is considered very unpretentious. Dracaena is often used for interior decoration. It can be a single crop or used for composition.

Advantages, disadvantages and features

Dracaena is considered a safe plant that does not contain poisonous or toxic substances. This culture is completely harmless to people and pets. In addition, the flower cleans the air of harmful impurities and microbes. With its help, you can speed up the recovery process after intestinal operations and surgical interventions.

Dracaena also promotes healing of skin lesions and prevents the development of dermatological pathologies. In addition, the culture strengthens bones and muscles. People who grow such a flower are less likely to suffer from dental pathologies.

Besides obvious advantages, dracaena also has a number of disadvantages. So, it can lead to the development of allergies in people who are prone to such reactions. To minimize the negative impact of dracaena on he alth, it is recommended to follow these rules:

Take care of the flower in time and wipe its leaves regularly. It is important to avoid the accumulation of dust on the surface of the plant.
If you are prone to allergies, do not put the dracaena near the bed.
Restrict access of children and pets to the plant.
Don't eat the leaves.

How to take care of her at home

In order for the dracaena to develop well, it needs to be properly looked after. In this case, you should follow a number of rules.

Light setting

Dracaena is considered a light-loving crop. Many flower growers call the culture shade-loving, but this is a mistake. It is best to place the flower on the east or west windowsill. It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight. Therefore, the plant must be placed in places with diffused lighting.

If there is not enough of it, the dracaena will begin to lose its attractive color. It is also worth considering that plants with green leaves can thrive in partial shade, while variegated varieties need more light.

Feeding mode

In autumn and winter, the growth of dracaena begins to slow down. Therefore, the plant does not need constant fertilization. At the same time, from April to August, it is required to make various mineral complexes. This is done at intervals of 2 weeks. Size, age and stage of development should be considered before using supplements.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionDracaena needs substances such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. In this case, the ingress of fluorine into the soil should be avoided, since an excessive amount of this element provokes drying out of the tips, the appearance of yellow spots and falling leaves.

Temperature conditions

When growing dracaena at home, it should provide a temperature of +20 degrees. If the room is too hot, the culture will quickly wither and lose its attractiveness.

In the cool season, you can maintain the parameters at +15 degrees. The influence of cold air and drafts negatively affects the appearance of the dracaena.

How often to water

Dracaena is considered a moisture-loving crop. In this case, watering should be moderate. Too much moisture will cause the roots to rot. Therefore, it is recommended to control the drying of the soil clod. The soil should be moistened when the top layer dries by 3 centimeters.

In summer, it is recommended to moisten the bush 3 times a week and spray it all the time. In winter, the amount of watering should be reduced to 2 times. However, at high room temperatures, it is necessary to moisten the soil more often. For irrigation, use filtered or settled water at room temperature.

Cutting

Dracaena pruning is usually carried out during the breeding season.Usually this procedure is required when the bush loses its decorative properties. This is due to the fact that some types of dracaena can reach a height of 2-3 meters. In this case, the leaves are present only at the top. As a result, the bush becomes less attractive.

To cope with such problems, flower growers cut off the top of the plant. In this case, the resulting stalk can be subsequently rooted. The part of the culture that remains in the pot continues to develop and leaves appear on it. This makes it possible to get two ornamental plants.

Transfer

This procedure is required to be carried out as needed. This should be done at intervals of 2-3 years. Dracaena is characterized by a superficial root system. Therefore, a thick layer of drainage must be provided at the bottom of the pot to avoid moisture stagnation. Soil is best to buy ready-made. Palm substrate should be preferred.

If the land in the container is not depleted, and a transplant is already needed, the bush can be transplanted by transshipment into a larger pot. In this case, it is necessary to leave a clod of earth. A thick drainage layer should be provided at the bottom of the tank. After transplanting, the bush needs to be watered abundantly.

Transplantation can be done at a convenient time. The time of year doesn't really matter. However, spring is considered the most suitable option for the procedure. Before transplanting dracaena, it is recommended to pour boiling water over a new clay container. After that, you need to hold it in water for a while. This will help open up the pores in the material.

Then a clay shard should be placed on the bottom of the pot. In this case, its convex side is recommended to be directed upwards. Due to this, excess liquid will constantly drain into the pan. Drainage is placed on top of the shard. Its thickness should be 20-30 millimeters. For this, perlite or coarse sand is used.

The finished substrate needs to be laid out in a pot. Then you should pull the bush out of the previous pot and place it in the center of the new one. Then you need to carefully straighten the roots and fill the container with the substrate. The pot needs to be knocked on the floor from time to time so that the earth settles well and fills all the voids.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionWhen the container is filled with soil, it should be lightly tamped. After that, the dracaena needs to be watered and sprinkled with a spray bottle. Then the plant should be moved to a warm and shady place. After carrying out such work, the dracaena can get sick. However, after some time, it adapts to new conditions.

Reproduction instructions

For propagation of dracaena, it is permissible to use various planting material, which is obtained from the mother plant. In most cases, cuttings and layering are used for this. However, sometimes the flower is also propagated by seed. Each method has its pros and cons. At the same time, they directly depend on the correctness of the landing operations.

Shanks

This dracaena propagation method involves using the top of the stem. The stalk must be cut with a pruner along with a leaf bundle. The size of the segment should be at least 10-15 centimeters. This will make it easier to work with planting material. In this case, the cutting angle can be any. It is made even or at an angle. It is important to avoid damaging the bark. Otherwise, the stem is likely to rot.

Rooting cuttings is carried out in sand or vermiculite. It is also acceptable to use ordinary water at room temperature. After the formation of strong roots, the prepared part of the plant can be moved to a separate planting container with laid drainage.

Each cutting needs to be deepened into the ground by 2-3 centimeters, watered and covered with a cut bottle. Thanks to this, the escape will take root faster. The temperature in the room at first should not be less than +22-24 degrees.

From seeds

This propagation method is mainly used for varieties with green leaves, as they germinate faster. It is best to plant dracaena seeds in March-April. It is permissible to use a mixture based on sand and peat as a substrate.

To plant a plant, it is recommended to do the following:

Pulp ripe seeds. This is worth doing if the grains have recently been harvested from the parent crop. Purchased seeds are recommended to be soaked for a day in a solution of "Epin" or "Zircon" .
Prepare the substrate. This requires mixing peat and sand in equal parts.
Spread the soil into glasses with drainage holes and lightly moisten it.
Deploy each grain into the ground by 0.5-1 centimeter and cover it with a bag.
Take the containers to a warm and bright place. The temperature there should be +25-30 degrees.
Keep the soil moist.
Ventilate seedlings every day, protecting them from direct sunlight.
When the plants reach 4-5 centimeters, transplant them into pots with a diameter of 7 centimeters and put them in a permanent place. At this stage, landing can be left uncovered.
Maintain the room temperature at +21-24 degrees.

When breeding dracaena by seed, do not expect rapid growth of young shoots. Often this process takes 30-180 days.

With the help of stem segments

Propagate plants with stem cuttings in the spring. This method is suitable for flower growers who want to get a lot of bushes in a short period of time. If it is planned to transport harvested cuttings for a long time, the areas of their cuts should be treated with paraffin. This helps them retain their ability to form roots longer.

To plant a plant, you need to do the following:

Cut cuttings from the main or side stem of the mother crop. Their length should be at least 5-20 centimeters. Therefore, it is better to place the cut along the leaf scars.
Root prepared cuttings in peat or sand. This can be done vertically or horizontally. In the first case, the lower part needs to be deepened by 2-3 centimeters into the substrate, in the second, the cuttings are simply placed on the ground.
Maintain the room temperature at +20-24 degrees.
Cover the containers with glass or oilcloth.
When strong roots appear on the cuttings, move them to a separate container. It is important to provide high-quality drainage and nutrient soil. Planting material usually takes 1 month to germinate.

Possible diseases

In order for the cultivation of dracaena to be successful, it is required to prevent the development of pathologies and pest attacks. Most often, dracaena suffers from such pathologies:

Alternariosis - accompanied by the formation of pale brown spots with a light center. They can be localized not only on the foliage, but also on the stem of the crop. After some time, the tissues in these places begin to die and fade.
Heterosporosis - characterized by the appearance of elongated light areas with a light border. Subsequently, a greenish-gray coating is covered on them.
Bacteriosis - in this case, the tips of the leaves of the plant become dark brown, and the trunk and petioles are covered with small ulcerative defects of a rounded shape. He althy fragments are usually separated from the affected tissues by a wide yellow stripe. It has an oily surface.
Fusariosis - accompanied by the appearance of yellow patches on the plant. At the same time, a watery border is located along the contour of the leaves. The top of the trunk fades quickly. He himself becomes thinner and dries up. Sometimes Fusarium provokes the spread of brown spots on the plant.
Bacterial rot - this can be identified by watery spots on all fragments of the culture. Over time, they provoke the complete soaking of damaged elements.

These are not all the diseases that dracaena can face.On the bushes you can often see traces of brown or gray rot. Also, the culture may suffer from brown spotting. Sometimes the plant is affected by powdery mildew, which manifests itself in the form of a brown coating on the foliage.

Pests

When grown indoors, dracaena is resistant to parasites. However, sometimes the plant still suffers from aphids, thrips, scale insects. Spider mites and mealybugs can also affect the culture.

If one of the parasites settles on a plant, it can drop damaged leaves. With a small number of insects, a soap solution can be used. This tool is recommended to constantly wipe the surface of the stems and leaves.

When dracaena is affected by spider mites, it is worth using a hot soapy solution with a temperature of about +50 degrees. After that, it is required to treat the bush with a suitable insecticidal substance.

Yellowing leaves

The leaves at the bottom of the bush may turn yellow as a result of natural processes. The average lifespan of each leaf is 2 years. At the same time, old leaves do not die off so quickly. If yellowed fragments reduce the decorative properties of the culture, they must be carefully removed.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionIf the young leaves of dracaena turn yellow, it is worth sounding the alarm. Such a symptom indicates a violation of the rules for watering the plant. It is important to consider that it is required to moisten the soil immediately after the soil has dried by 20-30 millimeters. Do not wait until the substrate is very dry.

The tree dries - what to do

If the edges of the leaves began to dry out, and the ends turned brown, this indicates an increased dryness of the air in the room. In this case, you need to systematically moisten the crop using a sprayer.

If a bush has not been transplanted for 3 or 4 years in a row, s alts may accumulate in the substrate. They prevent the uptake of nutrients by the root system. Sometimes the tips of young leaves turn dark or dry out due to the use of excessive amounts of fertilizer. In this case, the substrate becomes unsuitable for the subsequent development of the bush. In this case, the suction roots die. If the dracaena begins to dry, but does not experience a moisture deficit, it is imperative to replace the substrate.

Causes of rot

Initially, the rot affects the upper parts of the leaves, after which it gradually spreads further. Bacteriosis, which is an infectious pathology, can lead to such a problem.

Also, a lack of light, low air temperature and constant stagnation of moisture in the soil lead to the processes of plant decay.In addition, a too dense heavy or structureless substrate acts as a provoking factor. After fixing the existing problems and pruning the affected leaves, most likely it will be possible to save the crop.

If a bacteriosis develops, the leaves become covered with wet rotting spots. In this case, a yellow stripe appears between he althy and affected tissues. Most likely, it will not be possible to cure an infected dracaena. The development of bacteriosis can be associated with the influence of various factors. These include high humidity, deficiency of potassium and phosphorus, alkaline substrate. Also, an elevated air temperature can be a provoking factor.

Why is the dracaena falling off

Sometimes the leaves turn pale and lose their turgor. After which they die. The reason may be the influence of too low temperatures. In this case, the bush needs to be moved to a warm place and sprinkled with a spray bottle. In this case, it is recommended to use warm water. Then it is worth transplanting the dracaena into a fresh substrate, cutting off the rotten roots.Also, to save the flower, it is recommended to cut off the upper part of the bush. After that, it can be rooted.

Leaves often fly around with systematic stagnation of moisture and hypothermia of the earthy coma. This process is due to the appearance of rot on the roots. After that, pathological processes provoke rotting of the stem. To save the bush, you need to cut off he althy fragments from it. They need to be rooted.

Also, various infectious pathologies can lead to plant damage. These include phyllosticosis and alternariosis. Another common problem is light brown spotting. Usually old bushes that do not receive the necessary care face similar problems.

To treat the affected dracaena, it should be sprayed with a fungicide solution. To do this, you can mix 2 grams of "Fundazol" with 1 liter of water. The resulting liquid must be used for spraying. The procedure is carried out three times with an interval of 1.5 weeks.

Popular species

There are quite a few varieties of dracaena, each of which has certain features.

Dracaena marginata (Dracaena marginata)

This graceful bush does not exceed 3 meters in height. After some time, the stem becomes woody. Leaf plates are curved and can reach a length of 50-70 centimeters. Their color is influenced by the variety. The leaves may be green or have a dark purple stripe on the surface. They are also often complemented by a wide band of yellow or red.

Dracaena sanderiana

This semi-shrub has a thin short trunk. Unlike other varieties, the leaves have a greenish-gray color. They are short and twisted. This plant is quite compact and does not exceed 80 centimeters in height. Cuttings cut from a bush root easily in water.This variety does not require leaf spraying.

Dracaena fragrans

This species is characterized by inflorescences with a pleasant smell. The peduncle reaches a length of 90 centimeters. On its tops, inflorescences are formed that resemble fluffy balls of small sizes. When grown indoors, this variety blooms extremely rarely. Foliage collected in a rosette can reach 100 centimeters in length and 10 centimeters in width. Glossy leaves are complemented by a wide yellow stripe.

Dracaena compacta

This graceful plant is a kind of fragrant dracaena. Its narrow foliage has a dark green color and forms dense shiny bunches. Some representatives of this species are quite large.

Dracaena Deremensis

This beautiful plant grows up to 1.5 meters. It is complemented by large dark green leaves. They have a leathery texture. There are 2 white longitudinal stripes on the surface.

Dracaena draco

Visually, the bush resembles a large cactus. On its thick branches, pointed leaves appear that form bunches. This species is characterized by slow growth and sometimes branches. If the culture is damaged, the release of a colorless resinous juice begins. When exposed to air, it turns blood red.

Dracaena reflexa, or reflex dracaena

This vigorous shrub is complete with lots of leaves. Each branch has several outlets. The long leaves curve down and are pointed at the top. They are characterized by an olive green color and a cream border.

Dracaena surculosa

Visually culture is different from other varieties. The height of the bush does not exceed 60 centimeters. It has oval leaves that are pointed at the top.Their surface is covered with white or cream spots. This variety is also called golden dracaena.

Dracaena is a fairly common crop that is often grown at home. In order for the plant to develop normally, it is important to provide it with proper care. Protection against diseases and pests is also of great importance.