The stunning plant known as spike, or Dracaena indivisa “spikes,” has leaves in the shape of swords. Gloves must be worn when handling the leaves because of their sharp edges. The foliage of the evergreen spike plant, not its flowers, is what makes it useful. This plant requires very little upkeep.
Spike can withstand heat. If planted in a mixed border, it can add vertical interest. Spike is a perennial, but if winters are harsh, it won’t grow back. If you plant it in a zone below 7a, you should treat it as an annual or bring it indoors for the winter.
Growing dracaena indoors
Dracaena, sometimes known as the corn plant, is one of the houseplants about which the NYBG Plant Information Service receives the most inquiries. The ease of maintenance, tall, palm tree-like growth habit, and variety of eye-catching leaf forms of this houseplant may account for its appeal. These plants, which are of African origin, have a striking architectural influence in the home. The vibrantly striped, variegated, or even blotched leaves can be quite striking.
Dracaena marginata’s spikey leaves, which are occasionally mistaken for cordyline plants, are more tolerant to regular indoor circumstances than other dracaenas. If the growth is not controlled through pruning, it can grow to be 6 feet or more tall inside. As the plant becomes older, the lowest leaves naturally fall off, giving the adult D. marginata a palm tree-like look with a thin, elegantly scarred stem.
Dracaena fragrans, which gets its name from its fragrant blossoms that are rarely grown inside, can reach heights of 4 to 5 feet and spread out to a width of 2 feet. Compared to D. marginata, it appears larger and has wider leaves.
Dragon tree, also known as dracaena draco, can grow enormously in the wild, although it rarely grows taller than 4 feet and 2 feet broad indoors. If kept in proper light, the leathery leaves are 18 inches long, blue-gray, and have tiny crimson borders. While the leaves of the Dracaena draco are still young, they arch downward as they get older.
Dracaena goldieana is a lovely low-growing variety, but due to its sensitivity to temperature changes and requirement for high humidity, it may be challenging to grow this plant indoors. It tops out at around 1 foot high by 1 foot broad and has an upright stem. The vivid leaves have silvery gray crossing streaks and glossy green leaves with a yellowish midrib.
Other species that can be collected are:
- Dracaena hookerana is a sword-shaped plant with leathery, glossy leaves that can reach a length of 2 1/2 feet. The margins of the leaves are white or nearly translucent.
- Dracaena sanderana is a slender, upright shrub with dark green leaves and broad white borders. It is also known as the ribbon plant or Belgian evergreen. The brittle leaves can reach nine inches in length and one inch in width. Its compact columnar form makes it a wonderful choice for a small location despite its potential height of three feet.
- Gold-dust or spotted dracaena, Dracaena surculosa (syn. Dracaena godseffiana), are other names for this species. In contrast to its relatives, it has oval leaves and a shrubby appearance. There are cultivars of Dracaena surculosa such “Florida Beauty” and “Kelleri.” The spots on “Florida Beauty” are more numerous, occasionally to the point where they converge to form a solid, creamy white patch.
Light
Give dracaena plants bright light every day, but avoid placing them in direct sunlight. The ideal lighting setup receives two to three hours of sunlight per day that is filtered using a transparent blind or curtain. Dracaena fragrans and Dracaena marginata can withstand a little less light. Move your plant farther away from the light source if you notice any pale, dry patches on the leaves.
Water and humidity
When the plant is actively growing, water frequently and keep the soil evenly moist; discard any extra water that accumulates in the saucer. A lack of water may be indicated by brown stains on leaves.
Reduce water use throughout the winter, but keep the root ball moist. Plant death is frequently caused by receiving too much water in the winter.
The difficulty of maintaining enough humidity when growing dracaenas indoors is one of the most frequent issues. Healthy growth requires a lot of dampness. By setting the plants on pebble trays filled with water, moist air may be provided around the plants. To prevent damp feet and potential rot, place the plant in a saucer on top of rocks. regularly mist. Your environment can be too dry if you see brown leaf tips on your plant.
Temperature
For dracaenas to thrive, it must be warm. Give a range of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. (With one exception: Dracaena draco can withstand temperatures as low as 50 F.) Brown leaf tips and curling brown leaf margins might result from placing plants too close to windows or air conditioners, which causes cold drafts.
Repotting
Due to their diminutive stature, Dracaena goldieana, D. sanderana, and D. surculosa do not require frequent repotting and can live their entire lives in a small pot. Every one to two years, in the spring, larger containers can be used to repot larger dracaenas until they reach a huge pot size. The ideal soil is made up of equal parts peat, soil, and vermiculite or sharp sand for drainage, though regular soil-based potting soil is also suitable.
Propagation
When the plant is in its early growth cycle in the spring, it is the ideal time to accomplish your propagating (though late summer will work too). You can remove the crown in a 3 to 6 inch length when it is still new and largely green. Remove all leaves except a couple, then cover the bottom 2 inches with rooting hormone. Place in a 3-inch container filled with a slightly wet rooting mixture made up of equal parts peat moss and sand or perlite. Keep the cutting warm and put it in a plastic bag. (It would be excellent if you could provide soft heat from underneath with a propagating mat or tray.) It should be kept in partial shade for 4 to 6 weeks or until roots emerge, at which point you should remove it from the bag, move it away from the warm area, and water it lightly. After the surface has dried, you should water it once more. every two weeks, feed.
If they have a growth bud, it is also feasible to root some of the long stem, but these roots are less dependable. Don’t forget to insert cuttings with the correct end up, or the direction the stem initially grew.
Cutting back a too tall plant
A plant will eventually grow too tall and lanky for the area it is in or lose so many leaves that it needs to be chopped back. Trim the leftover canes to just above the nodes for the neatest appearance because new growth will develop on the old stem from the nodes. Instead of developing the root stock again, you can prefer to start over with the piece you cut off; in that case, follow the propagation procedures above.
Are dracaena plants resilient?
Dracaenas are popular plants that require very little maintenance and are grown for their lovely foliage. There are more than 100 species of dracaena trees and succulent shrubs, however due to their ease of cultivation and tolerance of low light, many are grown as houseplants. These tropical plants, which belong to the Dracaena genus and the asparagus family and are hardy in USDA Zones 10 and 11, are excellent for providing structure to outdoor gardens. They are considered as annuals in colder climates.
Dracaenas can purify indoor air of benzene, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, according to NASA studies. They should be kept out of the reach of household pets like dogs and cats because they are harmful to them.
What is the lifespan of a dracaena?
Ideal temperatures range from 60F (15C) to 75F (24C). The plant will suffer from temperatures below 55F/12C, which may be apparent if the leaves start to curl. Avoid placing the plant close to cold drafts as they will hurt it as well.
Light:
For this dracaena, a nice balance of sun and shade is excellent, but not much direct sunshine. Although it develops more quickly and effectively in bright light, it can also live and thrive adequately in low light.
Watering:
I would suggest that a gardener keep the soil just barely moist to the touch and, throughout the winter, just barely dry.
Soil:
Fertilizer:
Use a diluted liquid fertilizer once every two to three weeks while it is growing from April to September.
Re-Potting:
I would advise repotting every two to three years and using a pot that is one size larger if it is getting severely pot constrained. A little pot bound is acceptable.
Humidity:
Propagation:
These can be easily multiplied from stem tip cuttings; spring or summer are the optimum times to accomplish this. Additionally, you can cut a fresh or aged rosette and replant it. Keep the soil moist after replanting and spray the foliage to promote plant growth. The air layering technique can be used to reproduce a tall plant.
Pruning:
The lower leaves on this plant eventually turn yellow, which is normal because they only have a two- to three-year lifespan in the first place. When the lowest leaves start to turn yellow, remove them. When a cane (stem) has grown to the desired height, you can also cut off the top and replant the cutting.
Can dracaena be grown outdoors?
Yes! It is possible to cultivate Dracaenas as part of your outdoor landscape if you reside in USDA zones 10 and 11. Dracaenas are susceptible to high temperatures in addition to not tolerating the cold. Only in an area with consistently mild temperatures will they be able to survive outdoors.
Some varieties, like Spike Dracaena (Dracaena indivisa), are frequently offered as outdoor annuals as part of an arrangement in a blooming basket. The reality is that dracaenas are an evergreen plant. They won’t grow back the next year if you let them wither, but you can easily bring them inside over the winter and replant them outside in the spring.
How is a dracaena plant overwintered?
Depending on the cultivar being grown in the garden, dracaena’s tolerance to cold varies substantially (most are zones 9 and above). While some types cannot resist frost or freezing temperatures, others may thrive in milder USDA growing zones like zone 7-8.
Those who grow dracaena indoors won’t need to make any particular preparations for the winter, but those who have outside plantings will need to take the required precautions to ensure that the plant survives the impending cooler weather. The best course of action is to dig up the plants and bring them indoors. Growers who live on the periphery of the plants’ cold hardiness zone may be able to successfully overwinter the plants by providing a thorough mulching in the fall.
When the weather starts to chill down in the fall, carefully dig around the dracaena plants. Transplant the dracaena into a sizable container while keeping the root ball whole. Bring the container indoors, and put it in a warm spot that gets some diffused light. The plant will only sometimes need watering during the winter as the soil gets dry. When all chances of frost have passed, replant in the garden the next season.
The gardener has one more choice if the plants have gotten too big to transplant into pots or are too heavy to move. Gardeners can take stem cuttings from dracaena plants because they can be multiplied quickly. Fresh dracaena plants can be readily brought indoors and overwintered until warm weather has arrived by rooting stem cuttings in a new container.
Aside from being convenient, collecting stem cuttings will enable the gardener to easily and affordably increase the quantity of plants that need to be sown into the garden the next growing season.
Can Dracena endure the cold?
The reason dracaena types are among the most well-liked indoor plants is that they have magnificent leaves, available in a wide range of sizes and colors, and are hard to kill. Planting your dracaena outside in an unsuitable climate is one surefire method to kill it. A tropical plant that cannot withstand frost is the dracaena.
However, if you reside in zone 9, 10, or 11, go for it. When there is no frost, dracaena grows well outside. In the winter, Zone 9 can be a little dangerous. If you live somewhere that occasionally experiences frost, be ready to cover your outdoor dracaena plants.
Does dracaena grow better indoors or outdoors?
In subtropical climes, the dracaena plant is a common attractive houseplant that may be cultivated both indoors and outdoors. It has a bushy tree-like appearance and grows to a height of around three feet indoors. Its lustrous leaves have a maximum length of one foot and a maximum width of a few inches.
The genus dracaena belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), and it has roughly 40 species. The yellow edged variegata variety known as Song of India is the most often used cultivar. It’s fascinating to note that dracaena has a secondary thickening meristem (the tissue which helps plants grow). It may develop broad, substantial, and succulent roots thanks to its secondary meristem.
In addition to creating a stunning focal point in any space with its spectacular leaves and lovely color patterns, dracaena also helps to purify the air. Regularly wiping the leaves’ upper and lower surfaces with a damp cloth allows the plant to freely exchange air.
Where should a Dracaena plant be placed?
How to care for a dracaena also includes fertilizing it properly. In the spring and summer, feed your indoor plants every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer. During the fall, cut back on fertilizing to once a month. During the winter, stop feeding dracaena plants since they benefit from a time of dormancy.
When growing dracaenas, place them in brightly filtered light, as through a sheer curtain in front of a window that gets enough of light.
The ideal daytime room temperature is 60 to 70 degrees F (15-21 C), with nighttime temps being around 10 degrees colder. However, as long as they are not too chilly, the dracaena is tolerant of temperatures.
Why not start one of the various dracaena houseplant kinds in your home right now now that you are familiar with the fundamentals of dracaena plant care?
Do dracaenas enjoy the sun?
The smooth, gray stems of the Dracaena marginata eventually reach a height of 20 feet. Crowns of slender, leathery leaves up to 2 feet long and 1/2 inch wide form the ends of stems. Deep glossy green leaves with a reddish crimson border. Dracaena is a fantastic houseplant for rooms with low lighting, and it looks particularly good when planted in pairs to flank doorways.
Dracaena prefers bright, indirect light for growing; it may survive lower light levels, but development will be slowed. With typical indoor potting soil, typical house temperatures, and ordinary humidity levels, the plant thrives nicely. Maintain a wet but not soggy soil by fertilizing frequently with a complete fertilizer in the spring and summer (like a squeezed-out sponge). Reduce your watering frequency and discontinue fertilizing during the fall and winter. Regularly clean leaves with a wet cloth or relocate your plant so it can receive a moderate shower to keep Dracaena healthy and looking its best. Avoid using commercial leaf shine. Simply use a pair of scissors to remove any brown tips that appear on your plant, being careful to preserve the natural form of the trimmed leaves. Dracaena is rarely troubled by pests or diseases and can endure a pot-bound environment for extended periods of time.