There are a few members of the Dracaena plant family that have long been popular for use as indoor houseplants. Dracaena is sometimes called Corn Plant as a few resemble the corn plant. However, it definitely will not give you any corn! See pictures of four common Dracaena houseplants below.
Common types of Dracaena houseplants are the Dracaena Marginata, Dracaena Warneckii, Dracaena Massangeana and the Dracaena Janet Craig. These are some of the best indoor houseplants and make great additions to any home while requiring minimal care. Bright indirect light is best and they will take some morning sun. Most Dracaena houseplants will tolerate lower light levels for some time with reduced watering frequency.
Dracaena is grown in a variety of forms including the tip, bush, staggered, character and standard. This versatile plant can be anywhere from one foot tall to twenty feet tall. You will not often find Dracaenas much larger than 6-7 feet tall except in interior landscapes or in nature.
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Dracaena houseplant questions or problems? You can send a houseplant question but before you do, please finish reading this page and other house plant care information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your houseplant's root system healthy, lighting for your houseplants, and basic houseplant care. These are most important for your house plant's health and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an email.
Working in the interior landscape industry, I get a lot of questions from people about their personal house plants and how to keep their own indoor house plants growing and healthy. That is why I started this website, to help others learn how to care for their indoor plants and flowers. So please read on for more about Dracaena houseplant care!
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In lower to medium light, you should water your Dracaena houseplant when the potting media has dried down at least 3/4 the depth of the pot. In very bright light, allow the soil to dry down about 1/2 to 3/4 of the soil depth before watering thoroughly. Reduce water in the winter months. Please read the sections on watering your houseplants and lighting for indoor houseplants for more information on keeping your houseplants healthy.
If you have a Dracaena plant in a fairly large pot size (10 inches or more in diameter), it would be a good idea to check the soil with a soil probe or moisture meter to help you make the decision when it is time to water your Dracaena plant. Improper watering is the most common cause of houseplant death.
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You will need to be careful watering your Dracaena houseplant. New plants with minimal roots should be watered around the cane only. Established plants with a good root system can be watered thoroughly then allowed to dry almost completely.
Some signs of over-watering may be yellowing leaf tips, root rot and pale new growth with dark tips. More to the dry side is better but don't be extreme either. The first sign that your Dracaena houseplant needs watering will be a slight drooping of the leaves and leaf margins may start to curl.
Your indoor Dracaena plant will do best in a bright, indirect light situation. With good care, it can be maintained in somewhat lower lighting. Do not place in hot, direct sun. It is prone to root rot if over watered, especially in lower light. In very hot, sunny locations spider mites can be a problem as can leaf scorch.
In high light areas be sure you do not let the soil dry out completely as your Dracaena will wilt and once this happens it will take a long time to recover. Allowing your Dracaena to become too dry, especially in high light, can cause unusual spotting of the foliage. For the most part, Dracaena is a beautiful easy care houseplant.
Minimum temperatures for your Dracaena houseplants should be 50 to 55 degrees F. Dracaena is not a cold tolerant houseplant. Keep from direct sun.
Remove lower leaves as they yellow and trim brown tips to the natural leaf shape, as needed. It is normal for a new plant to shed some of its old foliage when it is moved to a new environment. Expect new additions to your home to do this. Given the proper care, it should acclimate and become a beautiful, trouble free indoor plant.
Keep your Dracaena plant's foliage clean and initially keep an eye out for insect problems. Mites, mealybug, thrips and scale can sometimes be a problem but a good wash down with soapy water should be sufficient to control these pests. Just make sure you treat as soon as you notice a problem as they can and will damage your plant.
Of all the Dracaena houseplants, the Dracaena Marginata houseplant seems to be the most prone to mites. Mites, mealybug and scale can all be problems on Dracaena plants so be watchful for these pests. Wiping the leaves and stems, front and back, with a damp sponge or cloth each week will help to keep it clean and minimize any pests.
It is best to quarantine any new additions to your house plant family for a few weeks just to be sure there are not any insects that were not noticed at first. Wash down your new house plant with a mixture of water and mild dish detergent. I like to add a few drops of Eucalyptus essential oil or Orange essential oil to my house plant cleaning solution.
Apply to top and lower leaf and stem surfaces of your house plants, being careful not to saturate the soil. You can clean by hand or use a spray bottle to apply your house plant cleaning solution. I use a sponge moistened with my cleaning solution to gently wipe the top and lower leaf surfaces. Cleaning of your house plants should be a regular part of your house plant care.
Never apply anything to the foliage of your plant while it is in the sun or when the soil is dry. Water first and move to a shady location. Hope this has been helpful to you in your care of your Dracaena plant.
Leave your plants in a nursery grow pot with drainage holes at the bottom and set that into the pretty container you purchased for your home. If you have no way to remove excess water from the roots and soil it is more likely that you will have a problem with over watering.
Make sure you measure your pots properly as there should be an inch or two of room between the decorative container and the nursery pot. This will provide adequate air circulation. If you must direct pot, use a clay pot as this is porous and will allow the root system of your plant to breathe.
I hope this information has been helpful as you care for your Dracaena houseplants and that all of your flowers and plants are healthy, green, and growing. More plant and flower pictures, care information, and contact information below...
Questions about your indoor house plants or plant care problems? You can send a house plant question, free of charge, no sign ups, registration or log in required!
Before you send a houseplant care question, please be sure to read this information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your your indoor house plants root system healthy and lighting for your indoor house plants and flowers. These are most important for the health of your house plants and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an indoor house plant or flower care question.
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Thanks for visiting and come back soon as houseplant care information, pictures and more are being added all of the time. I hope that your indoor tropical house plants and all of your plants and flowers are happy, green and growing because that is why I started this indoor house plant and flower care website, PlantAndFlowerInfo.com.
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