The Madagascar dragon tree is indoor plant. Dracaena marginata is commonly known as a dragon tree. Green leaves that are sharp like a sword and become a center of attraction for people attached to the plant. The Madagascar dragon tree is a native of Madagascar. It makes an excellent entry plant for the house and can be planted in front of the entry point of the house to beautify the home.
This plant is easy to care for, drought tolerant, and almost indestructible. This slow-growing dragon plant can be planted year-round and produces small white flowers in spring. In moderately warm climates, the plant can grow to about 20 feet tall, but is usually grown as a houseplant. It is cut at 6 feet or less. Keep dragon tree away from animals as it acts as poison to animals.
Content summary:
- What is Madagascar Dragon Tree?
- Other names of Madagascar Dragon Tree
- History of Madagascar Dragon Tree
- How to Planting?
- Growing at Home?
- How to Care
- Types of Madagascar Dragon Tree
- Benefits of Madagascar Dragon Tree
- Protect Against Pests and Disease
- Most Interesting Facts
- Related Questions
History
Tenerife, the largest of the volcanic islands in the Canary Islands chain, is a Spanish colony off the coast of North Africa and is home to several species that are similar to each other. There are a couple other related Dracaenas in southern Asia and one in tropical Central America.
Many things make me adore this tree. It is breathtaking to view. This Dracaena is rich in secrets and has been the subject of myth and folklore for ages before the Romans, with its lovely silver trunk and statuesque green foliage.
As a man bleeds when he is wounded similarly, this plant is also known to tend to bleed when damaged. According to an old legend, when a hundred-headed dragon was slain once, its red blood spewed from many trees. Hence the local people know it as the Dragon Tree.
Madagascar Dragon Tree Overview
- Botanical Name: Dracaena marginata
- Common Name: Dragon tree, Madagascar dragon tree, dragon plant
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Bloom Time: Spring (rarely flowers indoors)
- Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained
- Soil pH: Neutral to acidic
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Height: 15 to 20 ft
- Width: 3 to 10 ft
- Plant Flowers Color: White
- Native Area: Madagascar
- Toxicity: Toxic to dogs and cats
Types of Madagascar Dragon Tree
Dracaena marginata ‘Bicolor’
This bicolor is a well-loved indoor plant with long and thin green leaves with red edges. Bicolor plant can survive without water for a long time as it is drought-tolerant. This plant needs more light, so it is placed in a bright environment. Bicolor plant adds beauty and charm to your home and garden, making it an excellent houseplant.
Dracaena marginata ‘Colorama’
This plant is an easy-care indoor plant with long green, pink, and scarlet striped leaves. This plant has a height of more than 60 cm. Colorama is used as a potted plant, helping to beautify the home garden.
Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’
This plant has leaves with a pale pink color and a green center. This plant needs more light. Its leaves are shaped like long straight strips.
How to Grow Madagascar Dragon Tree
Although the Madagascar dragon tree is tropical in nature, it also grows well at room temperature. The plant can survive temperatures as low as 15°C. At low temperatures, the growth of its leaves slows down, resulting in leaf drop.
The plant should be watered regularly. This dragon plant is drought tolerant and resilient in dry soil. Too much water can cause root rot. Since this plant needs more light, it is placed in a bright environment. Being an indoor plant, it thrives well in containers with drainage.
How to Care Madagascar Dragon Tree
This plant can grow well even in different temperatures of home and office. Planting of this plant in the soil has to be done carefully. Since spring and summer are their growing season, regular watering during this period helps them grow well. As this plant needs more light, it prefers to live in a bright environment.
Light
Bright light is best for dragon tree growth, but can survive in partial shade. The north and west-facing windows of the house are the center of its best development. If this plant is kept in low light, it will slow its growth and produce small pale green leaves, do not place your dragon tree in direct sunlight as the foliage can burn quickly if exposed to direct sunlight. Partial light is the best light for it.
Soil
The soil that Dracaena marginata prefers is slightly damp but does not retain a lot of water. Water-saturated soil can easily harm the plant’s thin root system, which is smaller than the trunk and foliage. However, if the soil is dry for an extended period of time, the roots could dry up. A dracaena marginata will thrive when planted in loamy soil that drains well but retains moisture. To keep the soil moist for longer periods of time without overwatering, use ingredients like clay, sphagnum moss, or LECA in your potting soil mixture.
Watering
Dragon trees should be watered regularly. Be sure to wait until the top half of the soil is dry before watering it. This can take more than about three weeks. If the plant has brown spots on its leaves, it means it is overwatered or the water you use has too much salt or fluoride. Keep the soil of this plant slightly moist during the summer season. Overwatering this plant can cause its roots to rot, so a pot with drainage holes is used to prevent this from happening.
Fertilizer
Dragon trees require very little fertilizer and can obtain the necessary nutrients independently. They proliferate in the spring and summer, so give your plants a balanced (10-10-10) liquid fertilizer during this time.
In the savanna, where grass, shrubs, and trees coexist with dragon plants, nitrogen extraction from the soil is quite effective. This means that Dracaena marginata only requires a small amount of fertilizer each year, in the spring during the growing season.
Temperature and Humidity
Dragon trees prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and can survive even average room temperatures. As this is a tropical plant, heat is suitable for it. While it does not like cold, its leaves may fall due to too much cold. The humidity level for this plant should be between 60% to 80%.
Pruning
Infrequent pruning is required for Madagascar dragon trees. Old leaves beneath the stem will naturally wither and only need to be removed in due course. Meanwhile, fresh leaves will continue to grow. When the plants are tall, pruning can be used to manage their height. Sharp gardening shears (branch shears) or knives are typically used for pruning in the spring to trim the Madagascar dragon tree to the desired height. Under the incision, the bud tips should be kept, and new leaves will emerge several weeks later.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Usually spiders and whiteflies cause more damage to these plants. The spider expels its chlorophyll so that the plant’s leaves do not fully develop. Remove the diseased part of the plant or pluck off the diseased leaves. Then spray the pesticide.
References