PRO TIP: The Dracaena Compacta benefits greatly from routine watering. Until you discover a frequency that works for your plant in its specific habitat, check up with the soil periodically.
The Dracaena Compacta, also known as the Dracaena Janet Craig, is a tree that is indigenous to southeast Africa. Like the other members of its family, it is a graceful, compact tree that requires little maintenance. As its name suggests, its tufty foliage is more compact than those of its relatives, making it a great accent to corners. These plants develop slowly, making them perfect if you’re searching for a tree of a specific size and shape because it won’t likely outgrow the container you bought it in right away.
Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and place your Dracaena where it will receive medium to brilliant indirect light. It can endure lower levels of mild light, but watering must be scaled back.
Read our article on how to measure light in your environment if you are unclear of the lighting conditions in your house or business.
The Dracaena Compacta needs to be regularly shaped to maintain its distinctive shape because it is a closely trimmed plant.
How much light is required for Dracaena Compacta?
In medium light, dracaena compacta plants thrive. in dim lighting. While none of the other plants in our database can survive in these lighting settings, these plants can, and will grow more quickly in medium and high light. Low light frequently robs the leaves of their variegation (color).
Does Dracaena Compacta grow indoors?
Manage and keep up! Uneven temperatures, water levels, and lighting can permanently harm some leaves. Thankfully, these may be removed by cutting them in half lengthwise.
Rugged on the Outside! Brown leaf margins are frequently a sign of excessive fertilizer use. If you don’t fertilize, the fluoride in the water can be the problem. Use purified water to fix it.
Reduce Tipping! The plant has received too much water if the tips and edges of its leaves have become blackened. Between waterings, let the plants dry out.
Light
Like other Dracaena, Dracaena Compacta loves medium to strong indirect light but is tolerant of a wide range of lighting conditions, including some shade. The more shadow a plant can tolerate, the darker its leaf is.
Watering
When the top of the soil begins to dry out, water well and give it time to completely drain. Dracaena can withstand droughts to some extent. Avoid overwatering to prevent the blackening of the leaf tips.
How is a Dracaena plant cared for indoors?
These growth advice are here to help if you’re unsure how to take care of dracaena. Care for dracaenas is typically not too difficult.
Light: A spot with filtered inside light is good (for example, through a sheer curtain in front of a sunny window). A dracaena plant should never be placed in direct sunlight as the rays will scorch the leaf.
Dracaenas demand less water than the majority of houseplants. By lightly sprinkling the soil (never saturated) and the leaves with water, you can keep the plants hydrated and ensure proper drainage. Before watering, the top soil should always be allowed to dry off. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
Overwatering or poor drainage may be the cause of drooping or yellowing leaves, but if you observe that the bottom leaves are starting to fall and turn yellow, you shouldn’t be alarmed. It is typical for dracaena to lose leaves so that new ones can grow.
It is crucial to use filtered water when caring for these plants because they are sensitive to fluoride, which can be found in tap water. Fluoride toxicity may be indicated by leaves that are dark brown and by dead patches that have yellow borders.
Dracaena loves daytime temperatures between 65 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if nighttime lows can drop by approximately ten degrees, the plant will suffer from chilly drafts and temperatures below 55 degrees. Make sure to keep any heaters or air conditioners away from where you display your dracaena. Although the dracaena is a hardy indoor plant, it does prefer the higher humidity of its native rainforest home. Natural room humidity is fine. A commercial humidifier can increase humidity, as can setting the plant on a tray of pebbles with water just below the tops of the pebbles.
Toxicity: If consumed, toxic to cats and dogs. Dogs and cats can both exhibit symptoms including vomiting, excessive salivation, and lack of appetite. Cats may also have dilated pupils. Being aware of the plants that are poisonous to our furry friends can help you choose your indoor plants carefully as a pet owner.
Pests and issues: Serious insect or disease issues rarely affect dracaena plants. Scale, spider mites, and mealybugs are things to be cautious of. Scale and mealybugs are both treatable with pyrethrin-containing insecticides.
If you reside in a subtropical location, dracaena is a flexible, low-maintenance house plant that thrives both indoors and outside in partial shade. If you’re ready to grow a dracaena plant in your own house now that you know how simple it is to take care of one, check out our variety here.
Are Dracaena plants sun-required?
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.
How frequently should Dracaena Compacta be watered?
PRO TIP: Salts, minerals, and chlorine in tap water can cause dracaena trees to become sensitive. Before applying the water to the plant, let it sit in a bucket or watering can for 24 hours. Some of the undesired materials will be able to vaporize as a result.
Always evaluate your plant’s watering requirements as soon as you get one. It is important to check the soil’s moisture content first to make sure it isn’t wet directly under the surface before giving your plant a drink. Additionally, think about aerating your plant’s soil before to the first watering. Aerating can help the soil breathe and enable rainwater to escape since we compact the soil to prevent it from shifting while being transported.
Dracaena trees prefer the soil to be moist but not fully dry between waterings. Usually, watering once every 10 to 14 days will keep the soil’s moisture content good and even. The soil should never be wet as this plant is susceptible to root rot; yet, if the earth becomes completely dry, the plant’s leaves will have brown tips. The Dracaena Compacta will respond well to routine waterings if you establish a routine despite the delicate balance. The Dracaena also enjoys moisture, so a humidifier, pebble tray, or routine misting will be appreciated.
To maintain balanced growth on all sides, rotate your plant occasionally, and dust the leaves frequently to help the plant photosynthesize well. Take the chance to check the undersides of the leaves when dusting them and keep an eye out for bugs.
Keep in mind that every plant is a distinct living creature with different demands depending on where it is. You can have a long and fulfilling relationship with your Dracaena Compacta if you pay attention to its health and its watering requirements.
How Big Does Dwarf Dracaena Grow?
Dracaenas are often slow-growing plants, which causes them to alter slowly. The average annual growth rate for Dracaena compacta is 10 cm (4 inches).
When grown indoors, it can grow to a height of 3 to 6 feet, with leaves that can extend up to 2 to 5 inches long.
Flowering and Fragrance
As a foliar plant, Dracaena compacta is cultivated for its large, rigid, glossy, dark-green leaves that spread out to form rosettes around the canes.
Though it is uncommon, occasionally, ear-shaped white or pink blooms that resemble honeycombs will emerge from the center of the rosette.
Light and Temperature
Low light levels are ideal for this plant’s growth. It can, however, withstand high indoor light levels if planted indoors.
The only distinction is that it will need watering frequently, up to once per week. Plants will consume more water when it is lighter outside.
The dwarf dracaena prefers a temperature range of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while it may withstand lower temperatures of up to 40 degrees.
Watering Needs and Feeding
Generally speaking, dwarf dracaenas thrive when cultivated at the “soil dry end of the watering spectrum. It is challenging to identify signs of excessive or inadequate watering because of the plant’s slow development.
A few weeks after the initial damage has occurred, signs such as brown tips or brown blotches on the leaves may occasionally appear.
This is why it’s advisable to monitor water application on a weekly basis or think about utilizing a self-watering planter.
Changes in environmental variables like light and temperature can have an impact on the frequency and volume of watering that you should give your plant.
A good indication that your plant needs watering is when the soil has a low moisture content and is nearly dry.
Due to their sensitivity to boron and fluoride, dracaena plants are well-known for having brown leaf tips. Watering Dracaenas with distilled water instead of tap water is advised by indoor plant maintenance specialists.
How is a Compacta grown?
- You can keep this plant’s appearance compact by regularly pruning it.
- Give it a humid environment so that it can grow healthily.
- Provide breaks between waterings and water at a moderate intensity.
- Give it some filtered sunlight for best growth.
- In the spring and summer, fertilize Dracaena Compacta once a month.
- Make sure not to repot too soon since if you do, the soil will always be loose and the root system will get weaker.
- Keep this plant away from temperatures lower than 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 Degrees Celsius).
Why do the tips of my Draconis look brown?
Underwatering or letting your Dracaena lie dry for an extended period of time is the most frequent cause of browning leaf tips in Dracaena plants. When the top 75 percent of the soil in the pot is dry, water your Dracaena. Never let the soil become drenched or moist. In the winter, you can let your plant dry out between waterings more, but be sure to increase humidity by spraying your plant frequently, using a humidifier, or using a pebble tray.
Make sure to water your Dracaena thoroughly enough for the water to drain into the saucer through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. It’s crucial to empty the saucer of any extra water and to avoid letting your plant stay in any standing water. Wet feet are not good for your dracaena since they will cause the roots to rot and eventually kill the plant.
The dracaena’s leaves may be turning brown due to the quality of your water. The majority of tap water contains compounds that are toxic to dracaena plants. Before watering, use filtered water or let your tap water hang out overnight without cover so that contaminants like chlorine can vaporize.
Dry soil and low humidity make leaves droop and brown on the edges, which is followed by overall yellowing and browning and leaf drop. The humidity will rise if you often mist the leaves of your Dracaena. For a sustained increase in humidity, you might also use a humidifier or a pebble tray.
Dracaenas are more vulnerable to pest infestations when they are stressed or feeble. Spider mites and other sap-sucking insects can dehydrate your plant. Leaflets and fronds quickly start to yellow as a result of this issue. In an interior environment, scale, mealybugs, and spider mites are usually present. These tiny pests multiply and travel into nooks and crannies along frond portions if they are not eliminated at an early stage. The insects’ piercing jaws fatigue your plant and hasten yellowing, particularly if your Dracaena is already unwell due to inadequate lighting, nutrient inadequacy, or insufficient soil moisture.
Is your Dracaena showing signs of fresh growth? This discoloration is normal if there is new growth on your plant and older, especially towards the bottom of the plant, browning and yellowing leaves. Old leaves on your plant are shed, and new growth is energized.
What uses does the dracaena plant have?
Certainly, you have heard a lot about indoor plants and air filtration. They take in the airborne toxins. Every 24 hours, plants may remove up to 87 percent of volatile organic pollutants. This is in accordance with a NASA study. But certain plants are more effective at purifying the air than others.
One of the best houseplants for purifying the air is the dracaena. It aids in the removal of carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. These substances have been associated to a number of health issues, including anemia, renal illness, marrow disease, migraines, and respiratory issues.
The interior air quality will rise thanks to the houseplant. The American Society of Horticultural Science claims that in some places, indoor air can be 12 times more contaminated than outdoor air. The compounds in furnishings, paintings, textiles, and building materials are mostly to blame for this. By removing airborne impurities, dracaena will ease breathing difficulties, prevent colds, and promote general health.
How can I tell whether or not my dracaena needs water?
While it can survive low light, your dracaena will thrive in medium to bright indirect sunlight.
The primary cause of Dracaena plant death is overwatering, which results in root rot. Before you water your Dracaena again, let the top 50 to 75 percent of the soil dry off. Overwatering can result in brown leaf tips, while a lot of yellow leaves suggest the plant needs more water.
Your dracaena will thrive in surroundings with average humidity levels, but it will benefit from routine misting.
Dracaena plants grow slowly and don’t require a lot of fertilizer. In the spring and summer, feed once a month with an all-purpose plant food diluted to half the recommended strength. During the fall and winter, when plant development naturally slows, fertilizer is not required.
Both humans and pets should avoid dracaena. Usually, eating will make you feel sick to your stomach and mouth, and you might even vomit.
When the leaf tips dry out and turn brown, this is a typical issue known as “tipping.” The most frequent culprit is tap water, which has salts, chlorine, fluoride, and other potentially dangerous substances in excess. You can use distilled water or rainwater to stop this.