Dracaena marginata is a hardy and low-maintenance indoor plant. If you live in a warm area with extremely mild winters, you can even keep this beautifully colored tree outdoors all year round! Make sure you provide the plant with a mix of sun and shade, as well as enough water (but not too much!). You can propagate these plants from pruning cuttings, or from seeds if you prefer a more challenging challenge. If you love cheerful colors, such as red and yellow, choose a particular dracena marginata cultivar that will brighten up your home or garden.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Choose a Dracena Marginata
Step 1. Choose a dracena marginata of the original variety
This is the plant from which all the others (called "cultivars") were created. Its green leaves have a narrow reddish band on the edges.
Step 2. Choose the tricolor cultivar if you want a golden plant with green undertones
Its leaves have a yellowish-white band that separates green from red. From a distance, it may even appear white or yellow.
Step 3. Choose the colorama cultivar, if you prefer red
This is probably the most unique looking cultivar. The outer red band of the leaves is very noticeable and this gives a red or pinkish appearance to the plant.
Step 4. Grow the Tarzan cultivar if you like spiked leaves
This tree has the same colors as the original variety, but its leaves are slightly different, wider and more resistant than other plants. The groups of leaves also arise in very dense spheres.
Method 2 of 5: Take Care of a Dracaena Marginata at Home
Step 1. Choose a spot where the light is intense but indirect
By exposing the plant to direct sunlight, the leaves could burn. To avoid this problem, place it in front of a north-facing window and next to another facing west or east. The tree shouldn't be too close to a south-facing window.
If the leaf colors begin to fade, the plant is not getting enough light. If this is the case, move it to the east or west facing window and keep an eye on the leaves. If they were to burn, they would turn brown and dry at the tip
Step 2. Use good draining potting soil in a pot with drainage holes
Although the dracena marginata appreciates moisture, its roots can rot if the soil gets too wet. Half-fill an indoor pot that is twice the size of the roots with good draining soil. Place the tree in the center of the pot, then fill it completely with more potting soil. Use distilled water to moisten the roots well.
If you bought the potted plant from the nursery, you can leave it there until it's time to pot it
Step 3. Water the plant only when the topsoil has dried
Put your finger in the earth. If the surface and a few inches of soil seem dry to you, water the plant with distilled water until the soil is completely moistened. Always keep an eye on the soil, so you can water the plant when it needs it.
- Thankfully, the leaves tell you if the plant is thirsty or too much water! If they fall out and turn yellow, you need to water more, if only the tips turn yellow, you are probably giving too much water.
- It is normal for the lower leaves of the branches to turn brown or fall off. It is the simple replacement between the old and new leaves!
Step 4. Keep the temperature around 24 ° C, except in winter
If you prefer a warmer environment, these trees are capable of growing well even in indoor temperatures of around 26.5 ° C. When it gets colder outside, lower the temperature in your house or plant room by a couple of degrees. This way he will have a rest period. However, never let it drop below 18 ° C.
Step 5. Wet the leaves regularly to reduce the presence of pests
Dracaena marginata has a tendency to develop some insect infestations, including red house mite, thrips, and scale insects. Keeping the air around the tree humid by spraying water on the leaves at least 1-2 times a week may prevent these problems. However, if you see spots on the leaves or yellow bumps beneath them, an infestation is probably underway.
- Talk to your local nursery or search the internet for a pesticide appropriate for the infestation.
- You may also have the option of using natural pesticides, but often these alternatives are not effective enough for late-stage infestations.
Step 6. Use house plant fertilizer once a month, except in winter
In spring and summer, you can encourage the growth of the dragon tree with standard indoor plant fertilizer. Choose a water-soluble fertilizer that you can dilute to 50%. Stop using the product in the fall and winter to give the tree a rest.
Follow the instructions on the fertilizer package to know the exact quantities to use. You will usually need to make a solution of 1 part fertilizer and 1 part water
Step 7. Prune the plant in spring or summer to make it thicker
Use sharp, clean pruning shears to prune the tree if you notice weak stems or offshoots. This way the plant will not develop too long and curved stems. Cut the stems at 45 ° directly at the base.
- Do not prune the plant in late summer, fall or winter. You need to give her time to develop new offshoots before starting the rest period.
- Keep the material you cut to plant new trees!
Step 8. Replant the tree if the roots get too large
Periodically check the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. If the roots come out of the holes, it's time to decant. Find a pot that is 5 cm wider and deeper than the old one. Trim the root tips to stimulate growth in the new soil.
- The new pot should also have drainage holes, and you should fill it halfway with very draining soil before putting the tree inside. At that point, fill the pot completely and moisten the soil with distilled water.
- If the tree doesn't come out of the pot, straighten the roots with your fingers. You can also gently poke the bottom and sides of the pot, then spread it out to the side.
- Wait at least a month before fertilizing the tree after planting.
Method 3 of 5: Plant the Dracaena Marginata outdoors
Step 1. Consider the climate of the area you live in
Dracaena marginata can only grow outdoors in very hot areas. As a reference, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has created a map with information on the temperatures and climatic conditions of the various regions of the United States and the dracena can only be grown in zones 10 and 11, which correspond to the coast of California. southern and southern Florida.
The map won't be of much use to you if the climate in your area differs from that in the United States, but many other countries have created similar maps using the same guidelines for weather conditions. Look for more information on the internet
Step 2. If the climate in your area is not mild enough, you can decide to move the plant from outdoors to indoors
In this case, you can keep the tree outside in the spring and summer, then bring it indoors when the temperature drops. For best development, these plants prefer temperatures above 18 ° C, so bring them indoors as soon as the weather gets colder, in early autumn.
You may have the option of keeping the plant outdoors in the hot summer months, even if you live in a cold area. Keep an eye on the thermometer, though! If the temperature drops below 16-18 ° C at night, the plant may stop growing or even die
Step 3. Plant the tree in a partially shaded area
The plant should receive around 4-6 hours of light over the course of the day. To prevent it from burning, it must stay at least a couple of hours in the shade.
Notice if the leaves develop dry, brown tips. This is the symptom that the plant receives too much light. If, on the other hand, the leaves turn yellow, the lighting is not sufficient
Step 4. Choose a spot in the garden where the soil drains well
To test drainage, dig a hole and fill it completely with water. Let the water absorb, then fill the hole again. If the water disappears in less than 15 minutes, the soil drains well. If, on the other hand, it takes more than an hour (or especially more than 6 hours), the soil drains slowly.
If you don't need to speed up drainage too much, a little compost or well-decomposed manure may be enough to improve the soil. On the other hand, if the drainage is very slow, you may need to invest in underground pipes that can remove excess water
Step 5. Dig a hole twice the size of the roots
Measure the diameter of the roots to calculate the right size for the hole. Place the tree in the center of the hole, then fill it with soil. Compact the soil before watering with distilled water to moisten the area.
You can also keep the plant in an outdoor pot
Step 6. Water the plant often for three weeks, then do it once a week
Until the tree has taken root well in new soil, water it 2-3 times a week. After about 20 days, switch to watering it only once a week. If the soil is already wet, you can give it even less water. Wait until the area around the plant is dry before watering it again.
- If the weather is very dry, you may need to water the plant more. Notice if the tips of the leaves turn yellow, so you can tell if you are using too much water. If the leaves do fall, water more.
- If the leaves turn brown, yellow or fall only on the lowest part of the branches, this is the natural growth of the plant. Healthy new leaves should appear in place of the old ones.
Method 4 of 5: Propagate with Pruned Stems
Step 1. Use pruning cuttings from a mature tree to propagate the plant more easily
You will likely be more successful if you attempt to grow a fringed dracaena from pruning instead of seeds. The latter can be unpredictable and do not germinate well.
If you keep the stems indoors, you can propagate the plant at any time of the year. However, if you wish to replicate the tree's natural growing conditions, propagate it in the summer
Step 2. Choose healthy offshoots that have grown over the past year
Find a stem with fully ripe shoots on top. It should be a strong stalk that hasn't just sprouted from the ground. It also needs to be long enough to produce other branches. Cut a piece about 20-30 cm long.
Step 3. Cut the bottom of the stem perpendicular to the axis
Leave the top attached, as the leaves help the plant absorb nutrients and promote photosynthesis.
Step 4. Put the base of the keg in a container filled with water
You should put the cut part in about 7-12 cm of distilled water. To prevent the proliferation of bacteria, change the water every 5-7 days. Make sure the water level does not drop by pouring more in between changes if necessary.
Step 5. Provide the plant with a source of heat and administer a root development hormone
The heat source should be under the plant, for example a heat lamp. Thanks to these measures, the plant is more likely to take root successfully.
Follow all directions on the root development hormone package
Step 6. You should see roots appear after a few weeks
While it will take longer to see new shoots at the top of the stem, the roots should show up after just 10-20 days. They have the appearance of small white curls. You can transfer the stems with the roots into pots filled with potting soil for indoor plants.
Method 5 of 5: Plant the Seeds
Step 1. Propagate the plant with seeds if you don't have a mature tree yet
While it is certainly possible to grow dracena marginata from seeds, you will probably need to try this method more than once to get the desired result. It is difficult to grow many types of trees from seeds, and this plant is no exception. If you are looking for an agricultural challenge, this is the option for you!
You can buy dracena marginata seeds on the internet, although they can be more expensive than a mature plant
Step 2. Sow indoors at 17.5-21 ° C, before the last frost
In this way you will replicate the natural growth cycle of the plant, favoring sprouting.
Step 3. Soak the seeds in water for 4-5 days before planting
Put them in a bowl of warm water. There is no need to change the water every day. This practice also favors germination.
Step 4. Bury the seeds in the soil in a small pot
Fill the container with seed growth compost or an equal parts mixture of multipurpose compost and perlite. Compact the soil with your fingers and wet it with distilled water until it drains from the holes under the pot. At that point, place no more than 1-2 seeds in the container, burying them lightly.
- Do not cover the seeds with more than 1 cm of soil.
- Seed Growing Compound is more suitable than multipurpose compound, but both should work.
- Make sure there is at least a finger of space between the two seeds.
Step 5. Cover the jar with plastic to keep the moisture inside
Put it in a zip lock plastic bag. Label the bag with the plant name and planting date. Check the soil every day to make sure it is still wet. If it feels dry, wet it again.
Step 6. Wait for 30-40 days to sprout
If the process was successful, you should see results in about a month. Once the sprouts are large enough to handle, you can gently move them to individual pots, filled with moistened potting soil. Keep keeping the seedlings indoors until you see the first leaves appear and they have become more resistant.
Warnings
- The dracena marginata is very sensitive to fluorine; for this it is better to water it with distilled water.
- Dracaena marginata is poisonous to cats and dogs, so consider buying a different plant if you have a pet.
