Pull potting soil up around the trunk to the same level as it was in the previous pot. There are about 40 species of dracaenas and many more cultivars, which range widely in size and shape. Cornell University Extension: Using Organic Matter in the Garden 8. 10. If you wish to raise them outdoors, the most commonly used varieties of dracaenas thrive throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11, including Dracaena fragrans, Dracaena marginata, Dracaena deremensis and Dracaena reflexa. The "worms" under the Dracaena marginata pot may have been millipedes. University of Florida Extension: Dracaena Fragrans 3. Select a container that is the appropriate size for your dracaena plant with good drain holes. We cannot see them clearly in the photo, but they are more common in potting soil than earthworms would be. Use a potting soil that is peat-based & formulated for indoor plants. Although the plant does best in humid conditions and likes moist soil, its soil must drain well. Instead, use any commercially prepared potting mix labeled for use with houseplants, warns the Clemson Cooperative Extension. Potting and Soil Choose a pot with drainage that’s just a few inches larger than the root ball so the root system has room to grow. Whether you go the indoor or outdoor route, providing the right soil conditions is one of the few critical requirements needed by this hardy, low-maintenance plant. Containers should have drainage holes in the base to allow water to drain quickly from the soil. Outdoors, they can be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, with some species and cultivars able to tolerate temperatures in USDA zone 9. Peat moss can help lower soil pH, although its sustainability as a natural resource is hotly debated. You’ll need to check it daily to strike a balance. Soil / Transplanting My Dracaena Lisa is planted in a combo of lava rock & potting soil. University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Mulch Basics, Check Your Soil: a Sermon Based on Mark 4:1-25, How to Build Effective, Productive and Profitable Relationships in 21st Century Soil, In U.S.-Mexico Sports Battles, U.S. General potting mixes tend to work fine when potting Dracaena plants, although they do prefer a more acidic mixture. Replenish the mulch layer as needed to maintain its thickness. The closest relative of the Compacta is the Dracaena janet craig, but the Compacta is quite different in appearance. Standard houseplant potting mix works just fine for this. This ingredient may leach fluoride into the soil, and dracaenas are sensitive to fluoride, which can kill the plant. University of Florida Extension: Dracaena Marginata 4. Create your own, ideal dracaena planting mix by combining equal parts of potting soil and vermiculite. Dracaena marginata plants like loose, well-draining potting soil with a pH of 6-7, which is on the acidic side. Compost improves soil moisture levels, which this plant enjoys. Do not use a soil mixture that contains perlite since this contains fluoride. Dracaenas are tropical plants and are not frost tolerant, so for that reason, they are usually grown indoors. Corn plants grow fairly slowly from one or more thick canes (stems) that produce long, narrow leaves (like those of corn) toward the top. In fact, in the test published in the Junior Master Gardener curriculum by the Texas Cooperative Extension, mulch added to Dracaena marginata plants reduced the dracaenas’ watering needs by 25 percent. Once you’ve set up the best soil for your dracaenas, regular maintenance is necessary. Adjust the position of the plant if need be, to keep it centered. One of the best things about dracaenas is that they are easy to grow, but don't let your little ones be too eager to water the plant. You will probably only need to re-pot your dracaena … Mulch also conserves soil moisture, which dracaenas love. It is often referred to as Dracaena fragrans or Dracaena deremensis. Your dracaena prefers to be a little root-bound and is slow growing, so the pot you grow your dracaena in needs to be only slightly larger than the root ball. For the best results, the Cornell University Extension recommends that you spread a couple inches of compost over the planting site and mix it into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. Mist the leaves occasionally, and keep the plant away from dry rooms with excessive central heating. Dracaena marginata is an attractive, stiff-leaved plant with colorful foliage that sometimes goes by the name \"dragon tree.\" Most of the time its sold simply as Dracaena marginata or just Dracaena. Use a houseplant potting mix, but add vermiculite or peat moss to improve drainage, and be sure the pot has holes at the bottom. For the best results, spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch onto the soil surface of both your indoor and outdoor dracaenas. Sometimes you’ll have a Dragon Tree shipped directly to you planted 100% in lava rock as well – but it’s not a bad idea to mix in some potting soil and a little bit of fertilizer just to really fuel that plant as it balances itself out in relation to its new home. Fertilizing Your Dracaena Marginata The Clemson Cooperative Extension reports that they’re prized as houseplants because they require little care and have few, if any, problems with plant diseases or insects. Clemson Cooperative Extension: Dracaena 2. When roots form in the water, plant the cane in a container of potting soil. Too much water is a common problem in dracaenas. Your Dracaena may not be growing in a mix with rock so I’ll leave alternative mixes (with 2 ingredients) down below. And although the plants are known for their ability to thrive in low light, they grow best in bright but indirect light. In addition, the plants are sensitive to fluoride, so if your tap water has added fluoride, don't use it to water your dracaena. Soil If you opt to grow your houseplant in aerated potting soil rather than in water and rocks in a container, it is imperative that you keep it moderately moist all the time. In other words, your soil should neither be totally dry nor soaking wet. Humidity:Mist the plant with non-fluoridated water regularly if it is in a very dry environment. University of Florida Extension: Dracaena Deremensis 5. Of course, you can also pot it into soil for more robust growth. If you don’t have a green thumb, try your hand at growing dracaenas. Lucky Bamboo care is extremely easy! Purdue Department of Horticulture: Indoor Plant Care 9. In containers, however, the plant only reaches maximum heights of between 4 and 6 feet. To improve drainage, choose a potting soil that contains peat moss. The plants are the complete package: interesting to look at, easy to care for, and generally hardy. If you choose to grow your dracaenas outdoors, add compost to the planting site, suggests the National Gardening Association. The mix I created was roughly 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 rock. To improve drainage, choose a potting soil that contains peat moss. The top of the plant’s roots should be about three inches below the container’s rim. are an excellent choice for home gardeners with children. When potting or transplanting use a well-drained soil to avoid soil becoming heavily soaked when watering. The soil mix should have good drainage. Example mulch material includes shredded leaves, shredded bark and wood chips. … It can be grown in decorative planters or bowls filled with just rocks and water, making it one of the most tolerant houseplants you can grow. I alternate between Happy Frog & Ocean Forest. Transplant when the plant grows too large for the pot. Indoor, potted dracaenas will grow nicely in a potting mix made for houseplants, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension. And while dracaenas can tolerate all types of soil, most of the commonly used varieties thrive best when given soil that’s rich in organic matter. Always use room temperature or warm water; cold water may shock this heat-loving plant. Dracaena marginata is a striking plant that grows on a slender, twisting trunk topped with a mass of long, slender leaves. My one word of advice is to avoid the use of vinegar. Dracaena tolerates a range of soil types, but drainage is important. Use fresh potting soil rather than re-using the old soil, to help prevent diseases and boost nutrition. Growing Dracaena from Cuttings. While peat moss is a popular choice, the sustainability of this resource is debatable. Most dracaenas are grown as houseplants. Avoid extreme light conditions; your plant should receive filtered, bright sunlight for the most part of … Else overwatering can kill your plant. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always appreciated! Here’s a fun fact: lucky bamboo isn’t actually bamboo! Dracaena fragrans is the most commonly grown species. Tips for Growing Dracaena Trifasciata. Soil and Transplanting. Give your cuttings the best possible start to ensure you get big, healthy plants. … While some homemade potting mix recipes may call for perlite instead of sand, avoid such recipes and any commercially prepared mix that contains perlite. Pot your dracaena plant using a well draining, all-purpose potting soil. Prune when the … Add more soil if necessary. If so, they are largely harmless to the plant itself, but can indicate … For dracaena growing in the potting mix, it is also better to use special fertilizer mixtures. Dracaena marginata soil and planting Soil. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Fill a container with well-draining potting soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5. These plants are perfect for a beginner gardener because they're very easy to grow indoors. Use a potting soil with a loamy soil (a mixture of silt, sand, and clay), along with some peat. Children are fascinated by the plant's common name -- the Madagascar dragon tree -- and by its sword-like leaves. When I transplant it next spring, I’ll use a locally formulated potting soil which is nice & chunky, some of the lava rock & … Team Deserves Support when Playing on Home Soil, « Things People Use for Fertilizing Plants. Dracaena marginata is a slow-growing plant, so you’ll only need to repot every few years to keep this plant happy. A good mix would include 1/3 pine bark, 1/… This dracaena grows best in USDA zones 10 through 12 and reaches maximum heights of 20 feet outdoors but only 6 feet when grown in a container. Mulch serves several purposes in terms of creating the best soil conditions for your dracaenas. This will help ensure roots won’t wallow in water, which could be fatal to it. Light:It prefers full sun but needs some shade in very hot afternoon sun. Outdoors, choose a location that does not collect standing water and has rich, loamy soil. Apply the liquid fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s product-specific guidelines, as nutrient potency varies widely by product. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! The Hawaii growers use lava rock to increase drainage & aeration. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Missouri Botanical Garden: Dracaena fragrans, Missouri Botanical Garden: Dracaena marginata. Meanwhile, bolster the soil’s fertility levels by using any liquid plant fertilizer — labeled for use on foliage houseplants — once a month during the spring and summer. Dracaena massangeana in a pot The Dracaena massangeana plant requires good soil mix that can be amended with ⅓ compost, if you’ve got some. About 1 to 2 inches should remain between the top of the soil and the container’s rim. You can create the perfect potting medium by mixing potting soil, peat moss, and perlite. Pour enough potting mix soil into the container to hold the dracaena plant in place and moisten the soil. Even though all species in the genus Dracaena are easy houseplants to care for, they can’t stand in soggy soil. A month after planting, start feeding with plant food. Water your draceanas whenever the top couple inches of soil has dried out. If you’re buying commercially prepared compost in bulk from a garden store or nursery, this amounts to approximately 16 cubic feet of compost for every 100 square feet of garden space. Add a layer of potting soil and place the dracaena on top. Cinnamon is a much safer and effective option. Soil:Loam based potting soil. Indoor, potted dracaenas will grow nicely in a potting mix made for houseplants, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension. Dracaenas (Dracaena spp.) In poorly drained soil, the tree is at risk of root rot and other fungal diseases. You can add perlite to increase the soil drainage. Like all Dracaenas, the marginata flourishes in a humid atmosphere. National Gardening Association: Dracaena 7. Dracaena reflexa is a popular houseplant that’s known for its beautiful leaves. Instead, use any commercially prepared potting mix labeled for use with houseplants, warns the Clemson Cooperative Extension. Outdoors, choose a location that does not collect standing water and has rich, loamy soil. The potting mixture should be allowed to reach dryness in between watering. Transfer the plant to a larger pot and surround it with fresh potting soil around the base. Too much direct sunlight may burn the foliage. Next, fill in around the root ball until completely covered with soil. Wait until spring to repot your dracaena. The corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is an oldie but goodie in the houseplant industry.Europeans have been using these tropical African evergreens as indoor plants since the mid-1800s, and they’ve been popular in the United States since the early 20th century. Containers should have drainage holes in the base to allow water to drain quickly from the soil. As for soil, buy or make a loamy, well-draining mix with a pH of 6-7. The perfect potting medium for the dragon plant should be a mixture of loamy soil and peat moss. All, however, have the same basic soil and cultural requirements. The Dracaena compacta plant, a compact, slow growing member of the Dracaena family, is native to South East Africa. If you don’t have houseplant potting mix on hand, the Purdue Department of Horticulture suggests that you combine one part peat moss with one part garden soil and one part coarse sand. The Ideal Soil Dracaena marginata prefers a soil that has a high nutrient content and is slightly acidic. Caring for Your Plants Water the plant roughly once a week. All Rights Reserved. Direct afternoon sun may burn the leaves even indoors. University of Florida Extension: Dracaena Reflexa 6. Avoid using straight garden loam in your dracaena’s pot, as such soil is often too heavy and dense for a container garden and can lead to root rot. It helps block out weed growth while also adding nutrients to the underlying soil. Don't forget to wear gloves when working in soil to protect yourself from soil-borne pathogens. are an excellent choice for home gardeners with children. Avoid using straight garden loam in your dracaena’s pot, as such soil is often too heavy and dense for a container garden and can lead to root rot. Mix the two together well, fill the pot halfway with it and water it well. Dracaena marginata plants need to grow in a light potting mix with excellent drainage. 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