The Dracaena family makes up an important group of plants used to decorate, scrub the air and make “green” homes, offices, malls, apartments and the landscape around the world. This group of diverse shaped plants consist of approximately 40 or so assorted species coming in a varieties of forms and sizes. You can find Dracaena in sizes anywhere from 4 inch pots to towering specimen.
LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS: Dracaena houseplants will grow slowly in low light but grow faster in medium light. If the light is extremely low, new leaves on the plant will be smaller and narrower in size. Placing Dracaena houseplants in the direct sun, even for a few minutes, burns the leaves.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS WATER: When in doubt, do not water Dracaena houseplants. Allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering. The lower the light, the less often Dracaena plants need water. Fluoride, chlorine, and salt in the water cause brown tips and yellow spots on the leaves of Dracaenas.
FLOWERING: If the growing conditions are right, a Dracaena plant may produce a 10″-12″ stalk with a large fragrant white flower. Although this is fun to see, the flower often slows down leaf production, alters the shape of the plant, and may secrete a messy sticky sap that get all over the plant. I recommend cutting off the flower as soon as it starts to grow.
SOIL: Dracaena plants need a loose soil that drains quickly. In Hawaii, Dracaenas are often grown in lava rock.
Dracaenas
Massangeana: The very popular (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’) is more commonly known as the Corn Plant. It does well in low light conditions and its wide leaves are long and arc gracefully from the stalk.
Warneckii: Dracaena “Warneckii” (Dracaena deremensis “Warneckii”) is commonly called striped dracaena. This tropical perennial shrub is commonly used as an indoor plant and produces green and white variegated leaves. A low-light-tolerant houseplant, striped dracaena reaches 4 feet tall.
Dracena Lisa: Dracaena Lisa is a very widely used indoor floor plant. Its dark green leaves and stems are its defining characteristics. Lisa‘s foliage is narrow, compact, shorter in length, and stands very upright.
Dracena Compata: The Dracaena compacta plant, a compact, slow growing member of the Dracaena family, is native to South East Africa. It is often referred to as Dracaena fragrans or Dracaena deremensis.
