Caring for Dracaena marginata at home

Dracaena marginata belongs to the asparagus family, the plant has another name - Marginata, or Dragon tree. Its homeland is Madagascar. The flower is often grown at home, but in this case it develops less intensively, looks more compact.

Description of the Dragon Tree

The tree trunk rarely branches. Its color in the first year of development is green. Then the shade changes, acquiring a woody structure. The height of the plant is 3-6 m, which depends on the environmental parameters. In natural conditions, the tree reaches 6 m, in a greenhouse - no more than 3 m.

The color of the leaves may vary, depending on the variety of dracaena. Their main color is dark green, but there are stripes: white-yellow, purple, golden, burgundy. The decorative properties of the tree are revealed due to the border along the edges of the leaves.

The plant may shed its lower leaves with age. These areas are left with trapezoid-shaped scars. As a result, the leaves remain only at the top of the trunk, which is divided into several branches at this point.

Is it suitable for bonsai formation?

It is not possible to grow a miniature copy of a flower growing in natural conditions from a Dracaena marginata. However, it is possible to create an imitation, for which it is necessary to trim the trunk at the initial stage of development (when it reaches 15 cm in height and 5 cm in diameter).

If you take proper care of the plant, shoots will appear on the cut. Soon after, leaves will begin to grow. When pruning branches, the crown should be formed at your discretion. The result is a bonsai - a small tree that looks like an adult plant.

Caring for Dracaena marginata at home

In order for the tree to develop correctly and perform a decorative function, it is important to follow all recommendations for crown formation, replanting, and fertilizing. Comfortable conditions are created for the plant: air humidity, temperature, and lighting are regulated.

Temperature

Dracaena Marginata tolerates sudden changes in air parameters well. The tree develops in hot weather (+28°C and above), cold weather (+11°C and below). Due to the increase in temperature, the tips of the leaves may dry out. In cool conditions and with high humidity, it is recommended to stop watering the plant, as rot may develop. The most preferable conditions are +15…+28°C. In winter, the temperature should be within the range of +12…+18°C.

Lighting

It is recommended to provide intense diffused light in the room. The tree is protected from exposure to direct sunlight, because in the shade the plant loses its decorative properties. When dracaena grows in the sun for a long time, the leaves change color - they burn out, burns appear on them - spots of a different color.

Air humidity

The most acceptable humidity level is 50-60%. When the air becomes less humid, the leaves gradually dry out. They darken at the ends, lose their properties, wither or curl.

To maintain air humidity at the required level, the following methods are used:

• spraying with water from a spray bottle;
• placing the pot in a tray with wet pebbles;
• wiping the leaves with a damp cloth.

A comfortable place for a flower

It is recommended to place dracaena near windows facing west or east (if the tree is already tall). Small plants can be placed on the windowsill. Long stay near heat sources (radiators, heaters), as well as in a draft can cause the loss of decorative qualities, decreased immunity of the plant and the development of diseases.

What kind of soil is needed?

Dracaena grows best in slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0). The soil should be loose and permeable. The tree needs nutrients to grow, so fertilized soil is prepared for replanting. Specialized stores sell soils for palms and succulents. If necessary, you can mix humus, turf, peat, sand, and leaf soil (in equal proportions). Such soil is also suitable for dracaena in terms of properties.

Tricks that are used to improve the properties of self-prepared soil:

• broken bricks are added, which helps to loosen the soil;
• Charcoal (pre-crushed) is introduced, which ensures protection of the root system from rotting.

Watering

You should not frequently moisten the soil: this can lead to an increase in its water content and the development of rot. It is recommended to water the dracaena as needed, when the soil has dried out to a depth of 3-4 cm. At the same time, it is necessary to loosen the soil: this way the root system will receive more oxygen.

Fertilizer and feeding

In winter, the introduction of fertilizers into the soil is carried out provided that the air temperature does not drop to +18°C and below. In this case, the frequency of the procedure is 1 time per month. If the dracaena develops in less suitable conditions, then you should refuse to feed it. In the warm season, the soil is fertilized 2 times per month. You can use such preparations as Bona Forte, Etisso, Pokon.

Flowering conditions

Flowers differ in shade: green leaves with burgundy, pink, white or yellow stripes. They form inflorescences. In a greenhouse, flowering occurs rarely, but in natural conditions this stage is not skipped. Flowers appear if bright diffused lighting, watering, and fertilizing (with phosphorus- and potassium-containing fertilizers) are provided.

Pruning and shaping the bush

Removing parts of a tree helps improve the appearance of the plant: give it the desired shape, stimulate the growth of shoots and leaves.

Care instructions:

1. The trunk is cut at any height, since along its entire length there are dormant buds from which shoots emerge.
2. Parts of the plant are removed from May to June (when the tree is actively developing). The recommended level for the first pruning is 30 cm from the ground. In this case, a tool that has been previously disinfected is used.
3. All leaves below the cut are removed, which gives the trunk the correct shape.
4. The injured areas are treated with paraffin and covered with moss (sphagnum).
5. Stimulation of the development of new shoots is achieved through moistening – the plant is sprayed with water.

Plant transplantation

Immediately after purchasing the flower, you need to replace the soil, if necessary, buy a larger pot. This should be done taking into account the condition of the tree. So, if the plant looks good (no signs of drying out, wilting), the transplant is performed after 1-2 weeks (at the end of the quarantine period). When the dracaena looks bad at the initial stage of development, it needs to be transplanted immediately after purchase - for this, use fertilized soil.

The pot should have holes in the bottom. The ratio of components for transplanting: 0.5 parts peat, 1 part turf soil and compost, 2 parts leaf soil.

Cooking instructions:

1. A 4 cm layer of pebbles is placed at the bottom of the container.
2. Pour in some of the prepared soil mixture.
3. Before planting a plant, check the condition of its roots.
4. If it was necessary to remove damaged areas of the root, the cuts are treated with activated carbon.
5. The container is filled with the remaining soil.
6. The plant is fixed and the soil is lightly compacted.

Reproduction of Dracaena marginata

It is recommended to perform actions that promote tree growth in the spring, when the vegetation period begins. For this purpose, plant growth stimulants are used.

If you plan to cut off parts of plants, prepare charcoal or paraffin for processing.

By apical cuttings

The upper part of the plant is cut off. The top of the trunk is treated with one of the means - charcoal, paraffin, the base of the plant - with a growth activator. For planting cuttings, use soil with a high sand content. After this, the shoots are covered with polyethylene, a glass container. Cuttings should be watered no earlier than 10 days after transplantation.

Air layering

Make a cut in the trunk. You can remove a small section of bark. New shoots will appear here later, but until then you need to protect the plant from damage: put moss on the cut or treat it with peat. Air layers that appear in this area are cut off and replanted.

Stem cuttings

In this case, several cuts are made to obtain 7-10 cm cuttings. To avoid the development of diseases, the upper parts are protected with paraffin. The lower part of the plant is stimulated - preparations are used.

Seeds

To speed up the process of plant crown formation, it is recommended to soak the seeds in a solution that stimulates shoot growth. The recommended air temperature is +32°C. The procedure lasts 24 hours. The soil is moistened, fertilized, and placed in a warm place. It is important that it is not exposed to direct sunlight (there should only be diffused light in the room).

The duration of the process of emergence of seedlings is from 3 to 4 weeks. When they reach 7 cm, you can transplant the seedlings into larger pots.

Diseases and pests of dracaena

Diseases that most often develop in dracaena:

1. Root rot. It affects the underground parts of the plant. Soon the crown begins to wither, so the soil in the pot needs to be replaced, the container should be disinfected before adding a new portion of soil.
2. Heterosporosis. It is light brown spots with a dark border. In this case, treatment is carried out using insectoacaricides.
3. Alternaria. Dark spots appear on plant tissues. They need to be eliminated using fungicides (Fundazol, Fitosporin-M).

Pests that attack Dracaena marginata:

1. Nematodes attack the roots. Swellings are found on them. If the infection is severe, the plant cannot be saved; you can only cut off the still healthy shoots, then treat them with an insecticide.
2. Aphids cause leaves to fall off, become deformed and turn yellow. Another sign of damage by this type of pest is the appearance of a sticky layer on the plant.
3. Spider mites cause brown spots, light spots on leaves, and webbing. Acaricides are used to combat them.
4. Thrips leave small dots on the front side of leaves.
5. Mealybug causes white coating to appear on leaves, at their base. It can be destroyed with biological preparations and chemicals.

Signs and superstitions

Dracaena attracts luck, success, wealth, provides health and longevity, improves relationships with people. The florist gets rid of a bad mood, becomes responsible.