Caring for Dracaena Compacta at Home

Dracaena compacta is a type of plant in the Asparagus family. It is a succulent shrub, it is unpretentious in care, but sensitive to sudden changes in environmental conditions. It belongs to the species Dracaena fragrans, often grown in houses, which is due to its excellent decorative properties.

General characteristics of the plant

The average height is 1.5-2 m. Because of this, it is difficult to grow the flower on a windowsill. In most cases, the pot is placed on the floor or a small elevation. With proper care, the crown can develop up to 1 m in diameter (due to the length of the peduncle). This is one of the most viable species of plants in the Asparagus family.

The leaves of the flower are rich dark green, cone-shaped. Their surface is glossy. The green mass is dense, which is due to the dense arrangement of the leaves. As a result, it appears that they are formed into a bunch around the stem.

If pruning is done correctly and in a timely manner, the adult plant has many similarities with a palm tree. It has a long thick trunk with a woody structure, it does not much resemble the stem of a young flower in the first year of life. The similarity with a palm tree is also due to the fact that the leaves grow on the top of the trunk, are collected in a bunch, and are characterized by a dark green color.

The plant develops for a long time both in natural and home conditions. Its lifespan is 15 years. This is an average figure, since in unsuitable conditions, Dracaena compacta can wither prematurely and die.

Advantages and disadvantages of growing

What needs to be done immediately after purchase

The plant needs to be replanted into a pot of a suitable size. This will allow the root system to develop normally. In addition, replanting the flower helps to create conditions for further growth of the trunk and green mass, since the soil changes. The substrate used for replanting the plant when it arrives at the store is not suitable in composition and properties. It is not enriched with useful substances, so it is undesirable to keep the dracaena in such soil for a long time. The flower will soon begin to die without feeding.

However, immediate replanting of the plant after purchase is not always required. Its size and the condition of the leaves must be taken into account. If it continues to develop normally, it is advisable to place it in quarantine conditions for 1-2 weeks. This will help determine the presence of infectious diseases and prevent their spread to other plants. In addition, this measure promotes the adaptation of the dracaena. It will adapt to new conditions better and faster.

Home care

Considering the development characteristics of dracaena (low growth rate, lack of flowers), it is desirable to create the most suitable conditions to increase the attractiveness of the bush. To do this, the temperature and humidity of the air are regulated, fertilizers are introduced into the soil in a timely manner, and timely watering is ensured.

Selecting a location for placement

Intense lighting is an important condition for the development of the flower. But at the same time, you cannot place the pot on the windowsill if the windows face the south. As a result, the risk of leaf burns increases. At the same time, the decorative properties of the green mass are lost.

The pot should not be placed in dense shade either. This will slow down the growth of the bush. At the same time, the leaves will lose their color. The most suitable option is diffused light. If the window faces west, north or east, it is enough to place the pot at a distance of 1 m from it. In this case, the dracaena will be constantly exposed to diffused light. When the window faces south, the pot with dracaena should be placed even further from it - 2 m or more (if the size of the room allows).

Moreover, in summer the plant is moved to the balcony/loggia. The main condition is the absence of drafts and temperature changes. For this reason, in summer the dracaena is moved only to a glazed balcony. In this case, the probability of the flower overcooling is reduced.

Microclimate requirements

The main air parameters that affect dracaena:

• temperature;
• humidity.

Comfortable conditions for the flower: high humidity in the air, warmth. It is necessary to maintain the temperature at +20…+25°C. The upper limit of this parameter is +28°C. Dracaena does not tolerate cold. It is unacceptable for it to develop at a temperature below +14°C. If the bush is in such conditions for a long time, it dies.

The humidity level should be at least 80-90%. In hot climates in summer and in winter with a functioning heating system, this parameter decreases. To avoid the soil drying out and the leaves turning yellow, you need to regularly moisten the plant. This is done in different ways:

• the surface of the flower is wiped with a wet cloth;
• Spraying with water is carried out using a spray bottle.

It is important that water does not accumulate in the foliage funnels. This can cause rot to develop.

Top dressing

Nutrients are necessary for the plant to develop, so fertilizers are added to the soil every 2 weeks. However, there are limitations when using such means: dracaena needs an external source of nutrients from spring to late autumn. In winter, the plant enters a period of rest. At the same time, all processes inside the cells and tissues slow down. As a result, the intensity of dracaena growth decreases, and additional feeding is not performed.

Watering

Unlike other types of dracaena, the compacta variety requires frequent soil moistening. In summer, it needs to be watered daily. Drying out of the soil causes severe harm to the plant. However, excessive moistening (waterlogging of the soil) is also dangerous. This increases the risk of mold development. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to 3 times a week. Despite the fact that in the cold season the plant does not develop as intensively as in summer, it needs to be moistened due to low air humidity.

The soil condition should be constantly monitored. If its upper layer is very dry (2-3 cm from the surface), you need to urgently moisten the dracaena. When the pot drains well, water accumulates in the tray. A few hours after watering, excess liquid should be removed from it.

Leaf care

The plant partly acquires decorative properties on its own due to the color, shape and arrangement of the leaves, but external factors, such as timely pruning, also contribute to improving the appearance of the flower. This allows you to form the crown of the bush. The best time for such a procedure is late spring, early summer. This period is the peak of dracaena development activity, the appearance of new buds.

It is recommended to cut off the upper parts of the shoots. They are treated with paraffin. An alternative method is garden var. As a result, the risk of moisture evaporation and drying of the flower is reduced. Cut shoots do not need to be thrown away. They can give roots in a moist nutrient medium. As a result, new flowers will grow.

Transplanting Dracaena compacta

For normal growth of dracaena, it is necessary to constantly change the pot and soil. This will allow the root system to develop and receive a sufficient amount of nutrients. The plant is replanted for the first time soon after purchase (immediately or after 1-2 weeks). Then it is necessary to change the container once a year - this is done in the spring, after the end of the dormant period of the flower. For adult bushes (5 years and older), the recommendations are different - replanting is performed every 2 years.

Instructions:

• gravel and sand are poured into the bottom of the pot (it serves as drainage);
• the container is filled with substrate up to half;
• The root system of the dracaena is located in the center, it is important to prepare it: remove the remains of the old soil (it is necessary to ensure that there are no traces of parasites);
• fill with soil;
• Lightly compact the soil on top.

Peculiarities of the flowering period

Buds appear infrequently when growing at home. In the natural environment, the flowering period occurs, but irregularly (once every 7-10 years). In this case, the inflorescences are white. Such differences are due to differences in environmental parameters. In a greenhouse or at home, it is impossible to accurately recreate the conditions in which dracaena develops in a tropical climate.

During budding, a long peduncle appears. It has small white flowers that exude a pleasant aroma. Considering that the plant rarely produces buds at home, you can look at the photo to see what the peduncle looks like.

Reproduction of Dracaena compacta

Since lateral shoots rarely appear, the cutting method is most often used. It is necessary to cut off the upper sections of the green mass, place it in a solution (water and activated carbon tablets). When roots appear, the plant is transferred to the ground. Often, several sprouted shoots are planted in one pot. This allows you to form a more lush crown.

Cuttings can be grown not only in solution, but also in substrate. Available options:

• mixture of coal, sand, peat;
• special soil for dracaenas or plants of the Palm family (in this case, the soil must be treated with steam);
• perlite or vermiculite.

Another method of propagation is by seeds. They need to be purchased in a store. The material is pre-soaked in a stimulating solution (temperature - +30°C). Then planted in soil, watered. The container needs to be covered with film, it is removed briefly daily, which allows air access.

Diseases and pests and methods of control

Diseases:

• blackening of leaves is a sign of dry air;
• white spots – burn;
• drying of leaves is a sign of lack of water;
• root rot – the plant withers;
• leaf fall, pigmentation, webbing or change in leaf shape are symptoms of dracaena infestation by pests (spider mites, thrips, scale insects are common).

To destroy insects and ticks, insecticidal or acaricidal preparations, biological agents, and folk methods (soap or onion solution) are used.