Dracaena deremensis, or deremensis (lat. Dracaena Deremensis), is a plant of the Agave family. It does not require special conditions, but reacts to extremely low or high temperatures. This perennial plant is a semi-shrub with a dense crown; to maintain its decorative properties, it is important to regulate air humidity, provide sufficient lighting and protection from pests.
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Description of Dracaena deremense
The height of the plant is 1.5 m. During the entire period of development, its appearance changes significantly. For example, at the initial stage, dracaena looks like a small bush, the stem is hidden behind the leaves. When the culture grows, it looks more like a palm tree: a tall trunk of significant thickness, the leaves are concentrated at the top.
In natural conditions, when not pruned, the plant reaches 3 m in height. In an apartment/private house, a crown is formed, so lateral shoots appear. Due to this, the flower looks more lush. The main feature of the dracaena deremensis is the color of the leaves: they are dark green, with a light (white-yellow) border along the edge.
The plant rarely produces flowers if grown indoors (once every 8-10 years). But in most cases, buds do not form at all during the entire growth period.
Dracaena flowers are red on the outside and white on the inside. In natural conditions, after the budding period, small yellow fruits appear.
Brief history of appearance
The plant's homeland is Africa, Asia, and dracaena is found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is believed that it was first brought from the Congo or the Canary Islands. The flower got its name thanks to beliefs - a legend about a defeated dragon, whose blood sprinkled the earth. This is how the name of the genus of plants appeared - Dracaena. Translated from Latin, it means "dragon's blood". The flower got its name for its ability to secrete red resin. Despite belonging to the genus Dracaena, the deremskaya dracaena does not have such properties.
Common varieties
There are many types of this plant. But some of them are more common. This is due to the excellent decorative properties and the ability of the plant to preserve them even in conditions that are not comfortable for development. The most common varieties are:
- Lemon Lime;
- White Stripe;
- Varneski;
- Janet Craig.
Medicinal properties
Thanks to the flower, the psycho-emotional state improves. Dracaena helps to endure stress. At the same time, the protective functions of the body increase. Dracaena purifies the air, removes harmful compounds. Such a plant relieves headaches. Thanks to it, the general condition of the body improves.
Shade tolerance
The plant does not tolerate exposure to direct sunlight, but it is also uncomfortable in dense shade. In such conditions, the brightness of the leaf color decreases, development slows down, and the risk of disease development increases.
What to do immediately after buying a flower
It is necessary to assess the general condition of the dracaena. So, if it looks healthy, without signs of disease (no lethargy, pigmentation, etc.), it is recommended to wait 1-2 weeks. This period is allocated for the flower to adapt to new conditions. Dracaena immediately reacts to stressful situations for it (moving to a new place, transplanting) by changing its appearance, inhibiting its development. However, if the flower looks weakened, signs of wilting have appeared, it must be transplanted into a new, larger pot with fertile soil.
Growing and care at home
In this case, it is not necessary to create special conditions, it is enough to maintain the temperature and air humidity at the required level. The flower grows well in bright light in fertile soil, which is moistened as needed. It is also important to regularly prune, which will allow you to shape the crown and control the height of the flower.
Lighting and comfortable place
It is necessary to install the plant in areas where there are no drafts, where direct sunlight does not fall. It is best to place the flower several meters from the window: 1 m on the south side, 2-3 m on the north. This distance is enough to avoid burns (white spots) due to exposure to direct sunlight.
Fertilizers and watering regime
It is necessary to moisten the soil when such a need arises, as in the case of many other evergreen plants (for example, Ficus Benjamin): when the surface layer of soil dries up to 2-3 cm from the surface. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced, in summer, on the contrary, it increases. It is recommended to moisten the soil every 2-3 days during the warm period of the year. In winter, dracaena is watered once a week.
If the house is hot or the air becomes dry due to the heating system, the plant is watered more often during the cold season – 2 times a week.
The soil is fertilized regularly, but the frequency of feeding depends on the season. For example, in the spring, dracaena actively develops, this process does not end until the end of autumn. At this time, the soil is fertilized once a week. In winter, there is no need to feed the plant with useful substances.
Air temperature and humidity
The recommended temperature range is +18…+25°C. At the same time, dracaena develops well and does not lose its decorative properties. Cold weather leads to a slowdown in flower growth. Dracaena tolerates a change in temperature to +16°C quite well. However, a long stay in a cooler microclimate (+12°C) will lead to the death of the flower.
The recommended level of indoor air humidity is 40-80%. In summer, as well as in winter with a functioning heating system, the value of this parameter is significantly reduced. In addition to watering, it is necessary to organize spraying of the plant with a sprayer. This measure is applicable to larger plants. Small semi-shrubs can be watered with a shower in the bathroom.
Timing and technology of transplantation
The soil and pot are replaced in the spring, when the active growth phase of the flower begins. The frequency of replanting is once a year (for young plants). It is better not to disturb an adult dracaena unnecessarily. It needs to be replanted when necessary (the pot has become small, the soil is souring, because drainage is not provided), but not more often than once every 2-3 years. Technology:
- The soil in the pot should be moistened in advance. The flower with the root system is removed from the container, while it is necessary to act in such a way as not to damage the roots.
- The soil is removed.
- The roots are placed in the new pot in the center; there should be drainage (sand, expanded clay) and a small layer of soil at the bottom.
- They begin to fill the container with soil. Then they lightly tamp it down.
Pot and soil
It is recommended to use a special substrate for dracaena. It can be purchased in flower shops. It is necessary to use leaf soil or slightly acidic soil (pH no more than 6.5). In the first case, add sand, in the second - rotted manure.
When choosing a pot, consider its shape and size. The container should exceed the diameter of the root system by 3-4 cm (1.5-2 cm on each side). There should be holes in the bottom. For an adult dracaena, it is recommended to purchase a pot in the shape of a glass, for young plants this parameter does not matter, any small container will do.
Trimming
If you do not plan to grow a tall semi-shrub, it is pruned. To do this, remove part of the stem at the level of shoot growth.
Methods of reproduction
Various methods are considered: using seeds, cuttings. The first method is more difficult to implement, since the plant does not bear fruit at home, but you can find seeds in specialized stores. The cutting method is used more often. It is easy to implement, since young shoots always remain when pruning.
By apical cuttings
The development period of new plants is 2 months. Pre-dried cuttings should be used. A few hours after pruning, they should be placed in water (filtered or settled liquid is used). To accelerate growth, additives are used (Kornevin, Epin). After the roots appear, the plant is planted in the ground.
Stem cuttings
When pruning dracaena, a significant part of the trunk is removed. It can be used to propagate the plant: cut into several parts, planted in the ground (vertically or horizontally). The recommended temperature for active flower growth is at least +24°C.
Seeds
The disadvantage of this method is the loss of leaf color. Before use, the seeds should be soaked for 24 hours. Prepare pots no more than 10 cm in diameter, put sand and expanded clay on the bottom, and soil intended for seedlings on top. The total drainage layer is 1.5 cm. Place 1 grain in each container. The maximum depth is 1 cm. Cover the pot with polyethylene, place it in the light, the recommended temperature is at least +25°C.
Dracaena flowering period
The buds are collected in inflorescences. They are located not on the peduncle, as in some species of plants of this family, but in the leaf axils. Even if all the rules of care are observed, it is difficult to provide conditions that exactly correspond to natural ones, so the flowering period often does not occur.
Problems with growing
Insufficient care contributes to the deterioration of the appearance of the ornamental plant. Spots of different colors appear, leaves become deformed. Over time, the bush stops developing.
Sheds buds and leaves
This is how a lack of nutrients manifests itself. The fall of leaves and buds occurs due to a violation of the feeding regime. Fertilizers are added to the soil irregularly, in insufficient quantities, or they are not suitable in composition. There is a special fertilizer for dracaenas and palms. It should be used 2-4 times a month, in winter - 1-2 times a week (if the crown is thinning).
The leaves are turning pale
When the color of the leaves becomes lighter, it is enough to move the pot with dracaena to a lighted area. In summer, it can be taken out to the balcony, but not under direct sunlight. The light should be diffused, even if the plant is in dire need of intense lighting. In winter, lighting devices are used for this.
The tips of the leaves are drying out
Possible reasons:
- prolonged exposure to low temperatures;
- lack of nutrients.
If you eliminate negative factors, the plant's appearance will gradually improve.
The lower leaves are falling off
This is a normal process, this is how the stem becomes woody. As a result, the bark grows, and the shoot development points in this area fall asleep, becoming inactive even from March to November. However, if this process develops too intensively (lower leaves fall off quickly and in large quantities), the reasons may be different:
- excess moisture;
- infection, including attacks by microscopic insects and ticks.
Diseases and pests
Infections and insects that occur when growing dracaena:
- powdery mildew - develops as a result of fungal infection; fungicides are used to destroy the white coating, and it is also necessary to regularly clean the leaves from dust, spray them with a spray bottle or wipe them with a damp cloth;
- spider mite - in this case, light spots appear on the leaves, pigmentation (brown spots), cobwebs, acaricides are used to destroy pests, insecticides will only help reduce the activity of parasites and reduce the rate of their reproduction, but do not destroy pests;
- scale insects - first dark spots appear, then the leaves dry out completely; insectoacaricides are used to combat such pests;
- thrips - live on the underside of leaves, and the insects leave behind light spots; to destroy such individuals, biological preparations or insectoacaricides are used.
Before you start treating the plant with the selected product, you need to remove the infected leaves. Regular inspection of the dracaena will allow you to detect pests in time in the future.
Most often, ticks and insects hide on the underside of the leaf, where they also lay eggs. The treatment is carried out several times with a break of 5-21 days, which depends on environmental conditions. Almost all insectoacaricides do not affect eggs, and it is necessary to wait for the larvae to appear. The duration of their development period depends on air parameters, so there is a break between treatment procedures.
