How to Care for Dracaena: Types & Growing Tips

Attractive and easy to grow, dracaena varieties make great houseplants.

The Dracaena genus of tropical broadleaf evergreen shrubs and trees includes several species commonly used as houseplants. There are many types of dracaena houseplants to choose from; most of them have spear- or grass-shaped leaves that extend off one or more thickened, cane-like main stems. Dracaena are easy to grow. While they thrive in bright, indirect light, they even qualify as low-light houseplants.

The plant is primarily grown for its attractive foliage, which is often variegated and comes in a rainbow of colors. In their native tropical environments, some dracaena plants grow up to 20 feet tall or more, but as indoor houseplants, most remain under 8 feet tall.

The plants in the Dracaena genus contain saponins that are toxic to dogs and cats.

Dracaena Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a dracaena:

• Select a location in bright, indirect light indoors or dappled sun outdoors.
• Plant it in well-draining, slightly acidic potting mix or garden soil.
• Water it regularly in spring and summer and reduce watering in winter.
• Increase humidity levels for houseplants in the winter if needed.
• Fertilize monthly with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer.

Light

Place dracaena in a spot with bright indirect light. While the plant tolerates short periods of direct sunlight, long exposures will cause leaf scorch. Indoors, it also tolerates low-light conditions although it will grow better with more exposure to indirect light.

Outdoors, it needs a location in partial shade or dappled sun.

Soil

For potted dracaena plants, use any peat-based commercial potting mix, which has the slight acidity that these plants prefer.

If grown in the landscape in tropical regions, the soil should be rich and well-drained.

Water

Keep dracaena consistently moist during their growing season (spring through fall), but allow them to go drier in the dormant winter period. Water them thoroughly each week during the active growing season, letting excess water go out of the drainage hole. In winter, water moderately every two weeks.

Temperature and Humidity

Most dracaena species thrive at temperatures of 70°F to 80°F but will react badly if temperatures drop below 50°F. They are tropical plants and prefer higher humidity. Use a room humidifier if the air in your home is particularly dry.

Fertilizer

During spring and summer, give dracaena houseplants a monthly feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer formulated for houseplants. Do not fertilize in fall and winter when plant growth slows down.

Dusting Tip

Dracaena's many narrow leaves are dust magnets, but the sheer number of leaves makes it hard to dust them individually. Use a detachable shower head to spray the plant clean.

Dracaena Placement

Place dracaenas in a north- or east-facing window, or near a south- or west-facing window. Dracaenas do better with bright, indirect light, so if you want to put it in a south- or west-facing window, you should set it a few feet back from the window or pull a sheer curtain between the plant and the sun's direct rays.

Types of Dracaena

Out of the 100-plus species in the Dracaena genus, a relatively small number are commonly sold as houseplants. Popular varieties include:

• Corn plant( Dracaena fragrans) has strap-like leaves that emerge in a fountain-like cluster from a thick woody stem. This plant grows up to 6 feet in height as a potted plant.
• Drago ( Dracaena draco) is a slow-growing dracaena.
• Dracaena deremensis is a synonym for dracaena in the Deremensis Group, a subgroup of D. fragrans with many excellent cultivars.
• Dragon tree( Dracaena marginata) has thinner, grass-like leaves.
• Lucky bamboo ( Dracaena sanderiana) is often trained to have curled stems.
• Florida Beauty is a Dracaena surculosa cultivar with slender, upright, bamboo-like branches.
• Song of India( Dracaena reflexa) has alternating dark green and chartreuse stripes on narrow leaves.

How Do You Know What Type of Dracaena You Have?

There are almost two hundred types of dracaena. To try to figure out which dracaena you have, look at the leaves. First assess the color and then the leaf growth habit.

Pruning

Although pruning is not essential, dracaena plants tolerate cutting back when necessary to control their shape or height. Pruning is best done during the active growing periods of spring and summer. Yellowing or dead leaves should be removed as they appear.

Propagating Dracaena

Dracaenas are usually quite easy to propagate by rooting stem cuttings, which is best done in spring as the plant is beginning to actively grow.

Propagate Dracaena in Water

You can also grow a dracaena propagation cutting in water. Remove the lower leaves from the cutting and place the cut end in a container of clear, room temperature water.

How to Grow Dracaena From Seed

Because indoor dracaena plants rarely flower and produce fruit, it's not common to propagate them from seeds.

Potting and Repotting Dracaena

Replace the top 2 to 3 inches of potting mix yearly with fresh mix to replenish nutrients. Repot into a slightly larger container when the plant starts to visibly outgrow its pot.

How to Plant a Dracaena

Choose a terracotta or unglazed ceramic pot, ideally with at least one drainage hole. You want a pot that's slightly larger than the rootball in diameter, by about an inch or so on each side.

Where to Plant Dracaena Outside

In USDA zones 10 through 11, you can plant dracaena in the landscape.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Dracaena is susceptible to some pests that affect many houseplants, especially thrips and mealybugs.

Common Problems With Dracaena

Browning Leaves

Dracaena is sensitive to fluorides and built-up salts, which can cause leaves to turn brown. If you notice this, try watering with non-fluoridated water.

Scorched Leaves

Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves of your plant. Move the plant to a spot where it is less exposed to direct sunlight.

Yellowed Leaves

When the leaves of a dracaena turn yellow, the likely culprit is overwatering. Cut down on the amount of water you give your plant.

Wilted Leaves

Droopy, wilted leaves aren’t necessarily a sign that your plant needs water. While wilting is often a telltale sign that the plant is lacking moisture, there are other possible causes.

Why did my dracaena's leaves get lighter?

If your dracaena's leaves changed from a darker shade of green to a lighter shade, it's not cause for concern.

FAQ

• Is dracaena a good indoor plant? Dracaena is a good indoor plant because it is easy to care for, low maintenance, adaptable to low light, and has lots of beautiful varieties.
• Do dracaena like full sun or shade? Indoors, dracaena needs bright, indirect light, which means no direct full sun but also no total shade.
• Can I put my dracaena outside in the summer? It is possible to put a dracaena outside in the summer as long as you shelter it from strong, harsh sunlight and keep it in partial sun.