Description
Characteristic Features of Dracaena
Dracaena is a genus of plants formerly placed in the agave family Agavaceae and then separated into the Dracaenaceae. In the modern APG II classification system published in 2003 authored by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, it is placed in the family Ruscaceae.
For reference, the previous version APG appeared in 1998, and the subsequent version APG III, in 2009.
According to various sources, the genus comprises 40 to 150 species. One of them (Dracaena Americana, or Central America Dragon Tree) grows in tropical Central America, a few species are found in South Asia, and the rest are native to Africa. The genus name translated from Latin means "female dragon". In Central and South America, Dracaena americana is called a tree of happiness because there is an ancient Aztec legend about a young soldier who fell in love with a daughter of the High Priest. The father stuck a stick in the ground and gave the suitor five days to grow leaves on the stick otherwise the young man would be killed. The soldier kept on watering the stick that happened to be a fragment of the Dragon Tree, and the dramatic situation had a happy ending!
To be more serious, each species of the genus Dracaena can be attributed to one of the two types: 1) Tree-sized plants with stout trunks and stiff leaves, native to arid or even semi-desert areas, or 2) Shrubs with slender stems with flexible strap-like leaves that grow as understorey plants in rainforests. Both categories have become popular house plants. Below is an non-inclusive alphabetized list of the varieties and their main features:
- Dracaena godseffiana has leathery oval leaves 7-10 centimetres long and 3-5 centimetres wide that resemble bay leaves. The leaf colour is glossy green with scattered white, cream, or light green spots and/or rings. It should be also mentioned that Dracaena godseffiana is considered to be a dwarf shrub.
- Dracaena goldieana native to West Africa (more specifically, southern Nigeria) has leathery leaves, wide (10-14 centimetres) but not very long (18-22 centimetres), green with transverse white stripes. It blooms in June-July, with flowers opening at night.
- Dracaena hookeriana with long narrow green leaves up to 80 centimetres long can be kept outdoors in the summer and in places protected from frost in the winter at 12 ° C (or even a slightly lower temperature), while all other species have to stay indoors throughout the year at not less than 18 ° C.
- Dracaena deremensis. Its lanceolate leaves up to 50 centimetres long and up to 5 centimetres wide point upwards in young plants and droop in old ones. With time, the lower leaves drop. There are stripes running lengthwise. A common variety Warneckii has a wide milky green stripe in the centre and two narrow white stripes along the edges. Variety Bausei has a white stripe in the centre, while Shriveriana demonstrates a wide yellow border. There is a series of Stripe varieties, with the names specifying the stripe colour: White Stripe, Yellow Stripe, and Green Stripe. Variety Compacta is smaller.
- Dracaena fragrans. In its natural habitat in Africa from 15 ° North to the South Tropic, it a tree growing to over 6 metres tall. In indoor cultivation, it is much smaller, up to 1 metre tall, but it has a strong root system and requires a tub rather than a pot. The flowers are white and very fragrant and the leaves are beautiful too, up to 1 metre long, archy, solid green or with contrasting stripes going lengthwise. Variety Massangeana has a wide yellow stripe in the centre; varieties Victoria and Lindenii have light yellow stripes along the edges.
- Dracaena marginata, commonly referred to as the Madagascar Dragon , on its native island grows up to 5 metres tall, in greenhouses up to 10 metres tall (with a stake), and in house conditions up to three metres tall. The leaves are very narrow, 30-90 centimetres long and 2-7 centimetres wide. The border can be filamentous red (variety Marginata Magenta), reddish brown, or pale yellow. Varieties Bicolour, Tricolour, and Colourama have a broad creamy red lengthwise stripe on each belt-like leaf.
- Dracaena reflexa is the most capricious and does not live long in the indoor conditions. The lanceolate leaves 12-16 centimetres long and 1.5-3 centimetres wide taper to the base and slightly twist. Their genuine colour is green while the most common variety Song of India has relatively wide variegated leaves with a light yellow border (or rather, strip) along the edges.
- Dracaena sanderiana has lengthwise striped leaves, green in the centre and white or silver grey along the edges, 15-20 centimetres long and 1-3 centimetres wide. Its rooted shoots are often sold under the brand name Lucky Bamboo, although they have nothing to do with bamboo.
Any plant of the genus Dracaena looks exotic and very high maintenance, but in fact even beginners will be able to tackle all challenges.
The Secrets to Successfully Growing Dracaena
Dracaena prefers bright diffuse light without direct sunlight, but it also does well in partial shade.
In the summer, allow the top of the soil to dry out before next watering; in the winter, considerably reduce the amount of water (i.e. water moderately in all seasons). Overwatering is very dangerous because waterlogged soil causes root rot, which affects the above-ground parts of the plant.
Dracaena does well in the dry household air but should be misted and wiped with a damp sponge from time to time.
The best temperatures are 20-23 ° C in the summer and 18-20 ° C in the winter.
During the period of growth from April to August, feed Dracaena every two weeks with foliage plant fertilizer. Do it together with watering.
Repot Dracaena once in 2-3 years. You can use any potting medium.
Dracaena is propagated by either top cuttings (using IAA and heated soil), or stem cuttings at least 10 centimetres long, or layering.
Pruning is not needed.
Potential Problems
Faded spots on the leaves are traces of sunburn.
Leaves turn yellow if the air is too dry or if the plant does not have enough feeding.
The leaves become distorted, soft, with edges turning brown, if the temperature is too low. Tender Dracaena species may develop these signs if left in the window on a cold night.
Dark brown leaf tips or edges are a sign of the following:
- Too low humidity,
- Underwatering,
- Cold drafts.
Pests that most frequently affect Dracaena are scale insects and thrips. Both can be easily seen, so what you need is not a magnifying glass but a supply of effective insecticides. After identifying the pests, immediately segregate the plant by placing it in the bathroom, loggia, or balcony and apply insecticides. Carefully follow the instructions for use, including personal safety instructions.