Detailed Guide to Growing and Caring for the Dragon Tree (Dracaena fragrans)
1. Soil
The dragon tree is not demanding about soil. To help it grow better, it is best to use a loose, humus-containing, well-draining acidic soil.
2. Watering
During the growing period, water the dragon tree thoroughly to keep the soil moist. Insufficient watering will lead to poor growth, so be sure to water until it drains through. After autumn arrives, reduce the amount of watering; in winter, be sure to reduce watering or stop it altogether. Too much water will cause the roots to rot.
3. Light
The dragon tree is very shade-tolerant, but it likes sunlight. If there is not enough sunlight, the leaves will turn yellow and the leaf markings will easily fade. In spring, autumn and winter, keep it in full sunlight; in summer, avoid direct strong light so the leaves do not get scorched. When grown indoors, place it in a bright spot with sunlight.
4. Temperature
The dragon tree needs a growing environment of 20-30°C. At a suitable temperature it grows all year round. In winter, the temperature should be kept above 5°C; if it is too low, yellow-brown spots will appear on the leaf tips. When summer temperatures are high, shade it appropriately and spray water around it to lower the temperature.
How to Grow the Dragon Tree
The dragon tree, also called the Brazil iron tree, is a particularly good indoor ornamental plant. Now let us learn about the five methods for growing the dragon tree.
How to Grow the Dragon Tree. The dragon tree is a plant native to tropical Africa and loves sunlight. We generally use the dragon tree as a foliage plant. You can tie three dragon trees of different heights together and plant them in a pot; once the dragon tree grows leaves, it looks especially beautiful.1. Soil requirements
The dragon tree likes to grow in loose, fertile sandy river soil with good drainage. This kind of soil makes the dragon tree's roots grow especially well developed. Generally, some river sand is used for planting.2. Caring for the dragon tree
1) The dragon tree does not have high humidity requirements; watering once every three or four days is enough, keeping the roots moist but not dripping. Apply fertilizer once every six months, and repot once a year, using one third old soil plus 2/3 new soil.2) When repotting, prune the roots and also trim some branches and leaves. The dragon tree is generally propagated by cuttings; once the cuttings have grown roots and leaves, they can be transplanted into pots.
How to Grow the Dragon Tree
The dragon tree likes warm, hot and humid conditions and needs plenty of sunlight. It should not be placed in a dark place, otherwise the leaves will lose their gloss and ornamental value. However, the dragon tree cannot take direct sunlight for long periods either. In summer, 50% shading is appropriate; in spring and autumn it can receive direct morning and evening light; in winter no shading is needed.
If the environment is too shady, the leaves will be on the greener side with low gloss; if the light is too strong, the leaves are easily scorched by the harsh sun. During cultivation, the yellow markings on the leaves fading and receding is caused by indoor light being too dim, and they will recover with appropriate sun exposure.
The soil in the pot where the dragon tree is planted should stay moist, but must not be waterlogged, otherwise the roots will rot. Because it grows vigorously and uses a lot of water, it easily becomes short of water, so take care to water it in time. In normal weather, water thoroughly once a day and sprinkle water on the space or floor 2 to 3 times. The air humidity requirement is 80%; high temperature and high humidity help it grow quickly. Too much or too little watering will both cause root rot, drooping and wilting leaves, and a dull leaf surface.
At this point, remove the rotted roots. If the bottom trunk is rotten, it can be sawed off, soaked in 0.2% potassium permanganate water for 10 to 30 minutes, and buried in a well-draining potting medium. Scorched or dried leaf edges are caused by dry air and can be improved by frequently spraying water on the leaves.
The potting soil should be a soil that retains some water and nutrients and is airy and loose. Generally, a mix of 6:4 coconut coir and river sand is best, or a 1:1 mix of peat soil and river sand is ideal. Repot every two years to renew the root system and boost vitality.
Because it is a foliage plant, the proportion of nitrogen fertilizer should be slightly higher. Usually, apply a complete nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer once a month, and at the same time apply a foliar feed of monopotassium phosphate + urea 0.2% to 0.3% aqueous solution 2 to 3 times. For varieties with golden or silver markings, appropriately apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and less nitrogen fertilizer; too much nitrogen will cause the plant to grow leggy and the leaf colors to revert to green, reducing its ornamental value.