Dracaena marginata: care

The Dracaena marginatacommonly called dracaena marginatahas the following characteristics:

• It is a species that comes from the tropical zone of Africa, specifically the madagascar island.
• In its natural environment it grows exposed to light, but in most parts of the world it is cultivated best as a houseplantgiven that, outside the tropical zone, it is very difficult for there to be a climate similar to the tropical outside, and even less so for a long time.
• It is a plant of slow growing, very decorative and easy to care for.
• It has a woody trunk with vertical growth, which gives rise to leaves at their upper end, long and lanceolate, bright green with reddish margins. Sometimes the trunk of the dracaena forks at the end, or gives rise to a second trunk halfway up the first, making each plant different from the others.
• Not to be confused with his relative dracaena drakeof which the thousand-year-old dragon tree of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, is part.

It is generally considered an indoor plant, since it needs tropical conditions that, in most cases, are not easy to replicate outdoors. Your temperature needs will be met perfectly around the 21ºC approx that most homes maintain, their ideal temperature being between 23 ºC and 25 ºC. It’s very important do not expose the dracaena to the cold not even occasionally, which is why it can only be grown outdoors in tropical climates.

Regarding your light needs, you need very bright environmentsbut always no direct sun exposure, which could burn its leaves and dry it out. The ideal is to look for very well lit rooms but not to put it next to the windows, since the plant also tolerates shady environments quite well. Outdoors, place it in a semi-shade areasheltered from the hours of incidence of the sun of greater intensity.

One of the main strengths of the Dracaena marginata is his drought resistance, and it is a plant that is not at all demanding when it comes to irrigation. In winter, the dracaena can endure without problems about 20 days without irrigation and in summerNormally, it will suffice water it once a week. That yes, that it is necessary to water less frequently does not mean that the water of multiple irrigations must be provided in a single one: it is vital not to puddle the substrate of the plant when watering or you will cause serious damage to its roots.

In general, the most reliable indicator when it comes to knowing when to water is to wait until the substrate has dried out. Insert a finger or a thin stick into it and, if it comes out without soil stuck, it’s time to water. Here we give you more tips on when to water the plants.

Although the plant does not need much watering, it does require a high ambient humidity. In coastal areas this will not be too complicated, but if the climate is very dry in your area, you will have to increase the humidity around your dracaena in some way.

The easiest method is to place the pot on top of a plate with stones and water, in which the stones and pebbles are kept above the water level. Thus, the plant is free from waterlogging, while the water evaporated naturally rises and prevents the dracaena from drying out. You can also sprinkle water around the room or around the plant, slightly wetting its leaves.

The most important thing about the substrate is that it offers a drainage as best as possible to avoid the aforementioned danger of waterlogging. The universal mix with peat, earthworm humus and coconut fiber in equal parts, together with a handful of vermiculite and perlite, it will work correctly, although you can make the substrate slightly acidic to further improve the environment.

The Dracaena marginata It grows quite slowly, so when you get it you don’t need to find a much bigger place or pot for it. In fact, the plant prefers rather tight pots, having more problems in those that are too big. You won’t need to repot it any sooner than every 3 years, and even then, it won’t need a much larger container.

Dracaena’s pretty leaves tend to collect dust easily, making it difficult for the plant to absorb light and detract from its decorative potential. With a soft, slightly damp cloth, clean their sheets when you notice they are dirty. Take note of more products and tips on How to clean the leaves of plants.

You can do the paid a couple of times a year, at the beginning of spring and in summer. Ideally, use organic fertilizer, such as earthworm humus or compost, adding a few centimeters to the potting soil.

If you want to read more articles similar to Dracaena marginata: carewe recommend that you enter our category .