How to Care for Dracenia House Plants
The Dracaena family of plants includes two popular house plants. The Dracaena sanderiana, also known as a lucky bamboo plant, and the Dracaena marginata, or dragon tree are easy to care for. They are very different plants, requiring different care and potting materials. Both make a good plant for any home or office environment with their low light requirements. Proper care can help Dracaena plants add beauty to their environment for many years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Caring for a Dracaena Sanderiana Plant
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Fill the plant's container with bottled water. The experts at Winnipeg Flowers say that the Dracaena sanderiana is a hydroponic plant, and water with a high chlorine or salt content can cause the plant to wither.
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Place the Dracaena plant in bright but filtered sunlight. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves, while insufficient light will cause the plants to weaken, according to the experts at the Flower Shop Network.
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Change the plant's water at least once a week. The experts at Plant-Care.com recommend changing the water once or twice a week to avoid bacterial growth and stagnation of the water.
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Feed the plant once every six months with a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer. The experts at The Flower Shop Network recommend diluting the fertilizer 10:1 with water.
Caring for a Dracaena Marginata Plant
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Check that the Dracaena marginata plant is in the correct potting material. The experts at the University of Florida IFAS Extension recommend a combination of sand and loam for appropriate draining.
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Water the plant weekly, allowing it to dry out between waterings. The soil should be dry at least 1/3 inch below the surface before watering again, say the experts at Denver Plants.
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Watch for yellowing or dropped leaves. This can indicate too much water, under-watering, or fluoride and other additives in the water. Monitor watering closely and use bottled water until the problem passes.
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Place the plant in partial sunlight. The experts at Indoor Plant Care say that the Dracaena marginata can flourish in low light conditions, but may not grow in height as quickly without partial sunlight.
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Fertilize the plant with liquid or capsulated houseplant fertilizer yearly. Overfeeding the plant can cause salts to build up in the roots, say the experts at Denver Plants.
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Tips & Warnings
Yellow stalks or leaf tips on a Dracaena sanderiana indicates poor water quality or too much sunlight. Remove yellow stalks to prevent them from rotting and contaminating the whole arrangement.
Trim the stems of the Dracaena marginata to encourage new branches to grow.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit lucky bamboo spiral image by Trevor Goodwin from Fotolia.com
