Caring for Dracaena Massangeana at home

Dracaena massangeana is a plant of the Agave family. It grows in tropical regions of Africa and Asia.

In its natural habitat, this variety can grow up to 5-6 m, and when grown at home it reaches 1.5-2 m.

Dracaena Massangeana: description and characteristics

Dracaena Massangeana is an evergreen deciduous plant. It has a strong tree-like trunk in which liquid accumulates. The leaves grow up to 8-12 cm in length. In the middle of each there is a yellow stripe.

Types of Dracaena with Photos and Names

There are several varieties of dracaena:

1. Dracaena marginata or bordered. The species is characterized by narrow leaves with dark red edges and a green center.
2. Fragrance or fragrant. During flowering it forms large panicles with a sweet smell.
3. Compacta. A low plant with a thick trunk. As it ages, the lower part of the stem becomes bare, leaving only scars from fallen leaves.
4. Deremskaya. A shrub with many stems at the base, the stem diameter of which can reach up to 30 cm.
5. Sander (Dracaena lucida). A bamboo-like variety. Grows up to 60-80 cm in height.
6. Surculosa. A slowly growing species with erect or recumbent branched trunks. The scent of the white flowers intensifies at night.
7. Canary (dragon tree). A multi-stemmed tree with a lush crown. The leaves are covered with a bluish waxy coating.

Features of care after purchase

An unpretentious plant, with proper care, grows quickly and remains green all year round. Immediately after purchase, water the Dracaena Massengeana generously.

Priming

You can buy a ready-made substrate for dracaenas or mix garden soil, peat, and soil yourself, taken in a ratio of 3:1:1. The soil for palms should be slightly acidic and loose. A thick drainage layer will be required, which will prevent the soil from becoming swampy.

Transfer

In the first six months, it is not recommended to move the flower to a larger pot. Young plants are replanted once a year. After 3-4 years, 1 replanting every 2 years is enough. It is better to choose spring for changing the pot. Be careful in the process so as not to damage the root system. Choose a container 1-2 sizes larger than the previous one.

Caring for Dracaena at Home – the Necessary Microclimate

Choose the right temperature, humidity, and lighting to ensure rapid growth of your pet.

Lighting

It is better to place the pot with the light-loving plant on the sunny side. Avoid direct rays on the leaves. Bright sun can cause burns and damage. Windows on the south-west and south-east sides are best.

Temperature

The room temperature should be moderate. Avoid sudden changes, cold spells below +12°C in winter. In summer, the range of +20°C…+25°C is suitable. It is recommended, if possible, to place the pot with the plant on the balcony or in the garden during the warm season. In winter, protect the flower from drafts. Do not place it near the radiator.

Air humidity

Suitable for rooms with high humidity. Spray the leaves with a spray bottle every 2-3 days. In summer, wipe the surface with a damp cloth. If the tips of the leaves dry out, spray more often. If dry spots appear, immediately move the plant to another place, avoid direct sunlight.

Watering rules

Water generously the first time. Then regularly add a moderate amount of liquid to the pot. Use warm water. Watering is required 2-3 times a week. Do not overwater the flower, so as not to cause stem rot, which leads to death.

Spraying

Spray carefully so as not to damage the delicate leaves. Choose soft water 2-3ºC warmer than the room air.

Fertilizer for dracaena

Buy a universal liquid fertilizer for palms, dracaena. Pour it in once every 14 days. In winter, feeding is required no more than once a month. If the leaves start to fall, do not throw them away. Lightly sprinkle with soil, continue watering the soil as before. The dead parts of the plant will turn into organic fertilizer.

How to prune for branching

Carry out the procedure from May to June. In autumn or winter, trim if the stem breaks. Choose the height taking into account the interior. Do not break off the top, cut it with a sharp knife. Clean the cut from the sap, lubricate with garden pitch. It is necessary to close each pore.

Trim each leaf, then spray the trunk with water to prevent moisture loss. Wrap with damp moss, secure.

Reproduction at home

At home, you can propagate dracaenas in different ways. Plants are rarely grown from seeds. For this method of propagation, you will need to soak them for a day immediately after ripening using "Epin" or "Zircon". Then the seeds are stuck into a moist substrate, pushed 7-10 mm into the ground. The crops are covered with film or glass, moved to a well-lit place. The first shoots will appear in a month. Sometimes the process is delayed for six months.

By cuttings

Apical or stem cuttings are used. Young shoots up to 7-10 cm long that have not yet had time to lignify are rooted in water. The liquid can be replaced with a mixture of sand and peat taken in equal proportions. Beforehand, the bark must be cut off at the sides in the lower part.

To speed up rooting, stimulants or phytohormones are added. The process lasts from 2 weeks to 1 month.

Layers

The top of a false palm is used. A tablet of activated carbon is dissolved in a container with water, after which the top is placed. The roots grow back within 3 months.

Flowering and fruits

At home it blooms, rarely bears fruit. In nature it forms flower stalks up to 1 m long. The flowers emit a sweet herbal scent that attracts pollinators.

Pests and diseases of dracaena

The plant rarely gets sick.

Pests may appear:

• scale insects;
• thrips;
• aphids;
• mealworms;
• spider mites.

When insects appear, leaves begin to fall more often. To get rid of pests, insecticides are used. You can use folk remedies as an additional measure. Soak a cotton pad in an alcohol solution or garlic infusion, treat the affected areas.