Dragon Tree Care: The Exhaustive Guide For Every Level

The Dragon Tree of the Asparagaceae family is renowned for producing “dragon’s blood,” a viscous, red resin! The Tree was named after one of Hercules’ famous adventures of defeating a dragon with 100 heads.

The Dragon Tree requires minimal maintenance to add beauty and elegance to any place it graces and is one of the easiest Dracaena genus plants to care for, as well as an excellent indoor air filter. Find out how to grow and take care of your very own dragon tree.

Dragon Tree Care 

Dracaena draco, Dracaena marginata, and Dracaena Arborea are the three species most frequently referred to as “dragon trees” among the numerous popular houseplants in the Dracaena genus. so if you’re planning on adding this plant to your plant family, here’s all you need to know about its care. 

Water Requirements

Although these plants prefer moisture, they do not like it when their roots are submerged in water. The ideal time to water is when the top two inches of soil are completely dry.

Each time you water, check the soil, you will typically need to water your spiky tree once per week. In addition, you could find that this tree absorbs less water in the winter and requires less regular watering.

The drought tolerance of dragon trees is a blessing to home plant owners because of how little effort and maintenance are needed to look after your plant. Nonetheless, note that the plant is so drought resistant that you can forget to water it for a long time, and it will still hold on to life, of course not for a long period of time. 

Indeed, some owners claim that they have gone months without watering their plants and that the plant swiftly bounces back once they do.

That being said, it is important to water trees properly since over or underwatering can cause many problems. To take the mystery out of exactly how much water you should be giving your plant, you can always enlist the help of a device like a moisture meter.

Light Requirements

These beautiful evergreen trees can survive in some shade but thrive in proper reaching sun light. The best place for this is close to a light window or a window with sheer curtains that faces the sun, where it will absorb good lighting.

The tree’s leaves are extremely sensitive, and their leaves are readily burned by direct sunshine. A warm, bright window is ideal for a dragon tree indoors.

Windows facing the west and south should have a sheer curtain covering them to block direct sunlight.

Remember that plants grown in low-light environments will develop more slowly and produce leaves with less vibrant colors, that will show from the vivid green-color. Furthermore, be careful not to position your dragon tree in a location that receives direct sunlight as its foliage will be quickly effected and even burned. 

Soil Requirements

Due to their preference for moisture, dragon trees should be planted in soil that retains water well and drains properly to avoid waterlogged surroundings. For these plants, a loamy houseplant potting soil that has been improved with the addition of peat moss to it is ideal for dragon trees and works well in keeping the soil airy. They favor neutral or slightly acidic soil pH.

Make sure there is enough space in the container you select for the plant’s large root system. 

Also, note that if you source your cultivar from vocanic places, you may see your plant arrive with some lava rock. In a case where lava rock is present in your plant soil, remove roughly one-third of it and replace it with potting soil.

Temperature Requirements

These trees thrive at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, while some plants require a little more warmth. Most dragon trees can withstand cold conditions but don’t be shocked if some of their leaves fall. Avoid drafty areas of the house and places where the temperature can change drastically.

Humidity Requirements

The Madagascar dragon tree requires high to average humidity levels, meaning somewhere between 40 to 60 percent humidity would be great for it to thrive. By intermittently spraying the leaves, you can raise the relative humidity in the air.

Additionally, misting will help keep the leaves from becoming crunchy. However, excessive misting can result in fungal illnesses like leaf spots.

Nontheless, you may want to wipe the leaves with a moist towel, or even place a pebble tray near it, so that it would aborb the humidity. Overall, do these if the area that you live in doesn’t get must humidity.

Fertilizer Requirements

A growing plant does not necessarily require fertilizer, as dragon trees have a comparatively low demand for it. However, you can feed them sparingly with a suitable controlled-release liquid fertilizer at the start of spring to accelerate their growth. You can stop fertilizing until the following spring because the winter growth of plants is significantly slower.

Use diluted houseplant fertilizer on your dragon tree during the growing season (spring and summer). As needed, apply the fertilizer one to two times monthly so the dragon tree grow would be successful.

Pruning 

Dragon trees are particularly common as big potted plants for homes and businesses because of their endurance for a different variety of temperatures. 

As thee trees mature and generate new leaves, they typically shed their lower leaves. These dead leaves can be taken off quickly. Dead leaves being shed by the tree, naturally, is entirely normal. Simply gather them up and throw them away. Remove leaves that appear to be about to fall or trim back stems on trees with sterile, sharp pruning scissors to maintain the plant tidy.

Before using a pruning device on your tree, clean a cloth and saturate it with any common household product, such as isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Rinse the cloth in water, then rub the tool until it dries.

You can easily cut off entire branches or trunks to alter the shape of your plant. In some situations, the tree will respond by growing a side branch beneath the trim. Remember, the new leaves will need space in order to grow freely and diversely and pruning the dead ones off will help them in a significant way.

Propagation

Water propagation is the simplest way to grow a dragon tree. Begin by cutting off a section of the stem with leaves using a pair of sterilized cutters or a serrated knife. The ideal cutting angle is 45 degrees.

Confirm that none of the leaves are submerged as you plunge the stem cutting’s open end into the water. Water should be at room temperature. Put the water-immersed cutting in a spot with strong, indirect light.

Avoiding direct sunlight is crucial since it might burn the cutting leaves and encourage microbial development in the water. A few weeks may pass before roots begin to form.

To keep the water fresh while the roots develop, you should replace it every few days. A root’s length should be between two and three inches.

You can put your dragon tree cutting into the soil when the roots are two to three inches long. Use a proper pot that the size is not too large. you must determinate to maintain the soil moist for the first few weeks.

Keep in mind that the plant grows slowly and can be planted at any time of year. In the spring, it bears tiny white flowers (though it rarely flowers indoors). In warm environments, this little tree can reach a height of around 20 feet, although it is typically grown as a houseplant in a pot and cut to no more than six feet. Because the dragon tree is hazardous to animals if consumed, keep pets away from it.

Problems

This plant can face challenges and different and common problems. However, they aren’t ones that you must worry about because they can be fixed easily.

– Leaves Falling

Don’t panic if you notice your Dragon Tree’s leaves are dropping off. The leaves of the dragon tree naturally fall off. Therefore, it’s not unusual to discover them on the ground or at the soil’s surface.

If your dragon tree is losing a lot of leaves, you may have a problem that may be fixed by simply pruning it once per week or two by removing any dead leaves. In the seasons of spring and summer, you must fertilize your plant. Under and overwatering could also be a reason. The latter could lead to severe illnesses, requiring you to change the soil.

– Drooping Leaves

You may be either overwatering or underwatering your dragon tree if you notice leaves drooping from it. Give your Dragon Tree a thorough rinse while submerged, and allow it to drain entirely. This should be done only if underwatering is the reason. Check the soil, especially at the base of the plant, if overwatering is the cause. Water the plant once more after letting it dry up.

– Brown Leaves

Your Tree’s fresh leaves fading to brown would be due to the temperature change may be to blame. The Tree dislikes sudden temperature changes that draughts or air vents could bring.

The Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and Morocco are home to the heat-loving Dragon Tree, none of which are known for having bitterly cold temperatures.

So, if the borders of your Tree are brown and crispy, look closely at where it is. Is there a vent or A/C nearby? Is it next to a door that often opens and shuts, letting cold air in? It might be necessary to move your Tree.

Fortunately, the Dragon Tree can tolerate various lighting conditions, so you have many placing alternatives.

Trim the brown with new shears or scissors, adhering to the leaf’s natural curve.

– Soft Root Rot

Rooted cuttings smell bad and have a soft, brown rot. Lower leafy branches break. Plant-specific pathogenic bacteria are the problem. Purchase disease-free plants. Throw away diseased plants.

– Flouride Toxicity

Long tan to dark brown patches develops on white stripes of “Warneckii” leaves. The leaf tips on “Janet Craig” are yellow or dead. The margins of “Massangeana” leaves develop tan dead patches with brilliant yellow borders. Fluoride in excess is the problem. maintain the pH or the acidity of the soil between 6 and 6.5. Superphosphate, perlite, and other soil additions that include fluoride should not be used. Never rinse with water that has one ppm of fluoride in it.

– Fusarium Leaf Spot

Finally, another disease that often plagues many dragon tree plants is the Fusarium leaf spot, which is caused by a pathogen called Fusarium moniliform. 

You can spot fusarium leaf spot by looking at the younger leaves of the plant, which will begin to develop wide, yellow haloes all over the surface of the leaf, surrounded by distinct markings that may be red to tan in color. You can also look at the base of the leaf, where if there is any sign of spotting, you can deduce that your dragon tree plant has contracted fusarium leaf spot. 

Luckily for you, there are easy measures you cant take to avoid the risk of your plant contracting this disease. The first thing of note is to avoid overhead watering. This means the plant should not be watered from above; and instead, watering should be done at the base of the plant. 

Secondly, even if some parts of your tree are starting to show signs of this leaf spotting, there’s no reason to panic yet, because you can still save the healthier parts of your plant by simply applying a fungicide to the unaffected leaves. 

– Pests

These trees are largely resistant to disease but prone to scale, mealybugs, and thrips, as they are common pests.

White, cottony insects can be noticed on the plant, particularly close to the base of new leaves. This can appear in the first of yellow leaves or pallid leaves. The plant’s general health will probably be declining.

To solve a mealybug infestation, remember that the plant can be rinsed to get rid of adult mealybugs. To eliminate pest eggs and juveniles, use an insecticidal soap or neem oil treatment.

Don’t let the soil remain soggy for too long. To stop the spread of pests, isolate plants with mealybug problems.

Additionally, Small brown insects called scales can appear as raised patches on plants. They resemble mealybugs in appearance, but they spend their entire adult lives sedentary in one spot on the plant. Because they adhere to the plant, scales can be challenging to remove. The leaves could appear pale or start to yellow.

To eradicate scales, begin by treating the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil to eliminate adults and eggs. Keep inspecting the plant, and repeat the treatment as necessary. Avoid over-watering the soil and letting it sit moist for too long.

– Spider Mites

Another pest that the tree plants are susceptible to are the common spider mites. Unfortunately, by the time you will begin to notice any signs of mites on your plant, because they are very difficult to spot, they will already have done too much damage, and in most cases, it’ll be too late to save your dragon tree plant.

Spider mites tend to appear when the weather is warm and the air is particularly dry. So as long as you ensure your dragon tree plant is kept away from these specific conditions, you are likely in the safe zone. 

– Diseases

Reddish-brown dots, occasionally with a yellow ring, will appear on leaves, the dying off of the afflicted leaves will begin. This disease can be eliminated if you use a topical fungicide on the plant, such as this organic copper fungicide. Although you might need to perform several applications, most of the time, one treatment is sufficient.

Avoid misting the water or leaves from above. Put the water directly into the soil when watering the plant. Keep the plant’s airflow good, and young leaves have tiny white to yellow dots near their tips. To fix this, moderate the temperature, moisture, and light levels.

FAQ

– Are Madagascar Dragons Toxic?

If consumed, this trees are poisonous to both cats and dogs. The plant includes a substance called saponin that upsets the digestive system.

Although the trees are considered harmless to people, some may be allergic to the plant. As a result, it is advised against eating any tree part.

– Can You Cut The Top Of The Dragon Tree?

A dragon tree’s top can be cut off so you can grow a shorter version of it. For soil or water-based root propagation.

– Do Dragon Trees Bear Fruit?

Outdoor trees bear tiny orange-yellow fruit. Rarely do houseplant dragon trees bear berry fruit or blooms.

There is little evidence about the toxicity of dragon tree berries. However, inhabitants of the plant’s native regions have claimed that the berries have a tomato-like flavor and that birds and mammals may eat them without seeming to suffer any negative effects.

Conclusion

It is a fantastic houseplant that needs little maintenance and will tolerate brief neglect. This is a fantastic one to start with, even if you are unfamiliar with indoor plants.

Just be aware that your collection might expand quickly once you become hooked. We know that:

• Your dragon tree can withstand periods of neglect, but it will flourish if given the right quantity of water. Water the tree only when the top few inches of soil are dry.
• Despite their slow growth, dragon plant produce a lot of leaves. Make certain to fertilize frequently while the plants are growing.
• Again, don’t let the dragon tree’s laid-back personality cause you to ignore it. Make sure the home’s temperature doesn’t go too low. Your dragon tree will probably live, but it will lose many leaves and appear ugly.
• In dragon trees, diseases and pests are frequent. It’s recommended that you routinely investigate your plant. If a disease is discovered, various methods are employed to eradicate it.

We made every effort to cover every last aspect of this magnificent odd tree, and we hope we’ve convinced you to it a go.