Causes of Yellowing Leaves on the Dragon's Blood Tree and How to Fix Them
Dragon's blood tree, also known as Dracaena, Shanhaidai, or Longxu Tie, is one of the more common indoor potted flowers. It is very dazzling under sunlight or lamplight and is quite favored by flower enthusiasts. But to successfully grow a dragon's blood tree, you must avoid yellowing leaves. So what should you do when the dragon's blood tree's leaves turn yellow? How do you solve it?
Analysis of common causes of yellowing leaves on the dragon's blood tree and how to handle them:
1. Overwatering
The watering principle for the dragon's blood tree is to water when dry and let it dry out before watering again. In winter, especially, reduce the amount of watering, and when watering, do not pour water into the center of the plant.
2. Too much direct sunlight
The dragon's blood tree likes warmth and fears severe cold; it likes light but fears scorching sun exposure. If the leaves turn yellow and the stem becomes soft and cannot stand upright, check whether it is rotting. If it is rotting, cut it off and clean it up promptly. Then loosen the soil, water it appropriately, and place the plant in a ventilated, shady place for a period of time; it will naturally grow new shoots.
3. Pests
The main pest of the dragon's blood tree is the red spider mite. Dense small yellow spots and small yellow patches appear on the leaf surface. Red spider mites often hide on the branches, on the backs of leaves, or in dense areas of foliage, spinning webs to conceal themselves; manual capture is relatively easy. If using chemical agents for control, you can use a 20% dicofol emulsion, add 800-1000 times water to make a solution, and spray it.
Notes on cultivating the dragon's blood tree:
Spring, summer, and autumn are the vigorous growing seasons for the dragon's blood tree. During this period, growers must fully satisfy its needs for water, nutrients, and temperature so that it grows robustly.
1. Soil and fertilizer: Longxu Tie has relatively high requirements for soil, so use a loose, fertile, well-drained and air-permeable culture soil rich in organic matter. Usually mix 5 parts garden soil, 3 parts leaf mold, 1 part decomposed organic fertilizer, and 1 part river sand. The dragon's blood tree does not have a very large demand for fertilizer; applying compound fertilizer 1-2 times per month during the growing season is sufficient.
2. Watering: The dragon's blood tree is a sun-loving, shade-tolerant plant. Usually water by watering from the top, keeping the soil moist.
3. Light: Longxu Tie and the dragon's blood tree both like warm, humid, and sunny environments, and can also tolerate shade. Of course, it is still best to place the flowerpot on a southeast-facing windowsill so it can fully receive sunlight. In summer, provide appropriate shade; generally a light level of 40% to 50% is sufficient.
4. Temperature: The most suitable growing temperature for Longxu Tie is 20-28°C. If summer temperatures are high, with the temperature exceeding 32°C, or if the winter temperature is below 15°C, the dragon's blood tree will enter a dormant or semi-dormant state.
5. Pruning: The leaves of the dragon's blood tree grow in a spreading shape and basically do not need pruning. Simply cut off yellowing leaves promptly to prevent them from affecting its appearance.