Dracena fragrans: peculiarities of cultivation and care

Dracaena is loved by many connoisseurs of indoor plants. Isolate more than a hundred of its species forms, differing from each other in form, color of leaves and flowers. Among them, dracena frarags.

Basic information about the plant

Dracaena is truly awarded the title of one of the most spectacular decorative and deciduous plants. The homeland of the dracaena is the tropical and subtropical zone of Africa and the islands of South-East Asia, where almost all species forms of this plant are found.

Translated from Latin, the name of this houseplant sounds like "female dragon", hence the derived names: dragon or dragon tree.

Dracena fragrans belongs to the family of asparagus.

The main differences between the dracaena and the cordillins

It is often possible to hear such a formulation: dracaena - false pall. All because of the fact that this plant is often confused with mini-palm trees, yucca, mistakenly refer the plant to the genus cordillins, etc.

Scientists-taxonomists, having conducted a special investigation, managed to find out that dracena fragrans and cordillin occupy a completely different position in ornamental floriculture, and the easiest way to distinguish them is to look at the roots of plants.

How to distinguish dracaena from the cordillin: the basic rules

First of all, pay attention to the root system. Dracena is identified by orange-yellow smooth roots, and cordolin is determined by a more thickened white rhizome.

According to the shape of the leaves sitting on the stem: there are no cuttings from dracaena leaves. The shape of the leaf is linear, the structure is sinewy, with a thick skin.

Depending on the subspecies of the plant, the leaves are collected in small rosettes and form bundles closer to the top of the stem (dracaena marginate) in some, others are located along the entire length of the stem with whorls or spirals (dracena frarags Lemon lime).

We look after dracaena correctly

The plant is unpretentious. But, as in the care of any indoor plants, certain rules are required.

отличается выносливостью по сравнению с другими сородичами и отлично переносит недостаток света. Dracena fragrans differs endurance in comparison with other relatives and perfectly tolerates a lack of light. Podvidy with monochromatic leaves of dark green color show excellent growth in the shade, but the variegated forms quickly lose their vivid color. Optimal is bright, evenly scattered light from windows on the south or east side.

Important! From frequent contact with unseen sunlight, the dracaena leaves turn yellow, and the color becomes paler.

Do not forget to remove dust from the plant. Do this periodically throughout the year: wipe the leaves with a damp sponge, sometimes arrange dracene warm shower. Means for polishing leaves to use is not recommended, as plants of this species react poorly to chemistry. Instead of purchased funds you can use folk: alcohol, diluted citric acid, glycerin, but not to process the plant more than 1-2 times a month.

Important! Polishing of young, growing plants is strictly forbidden.

Choose a place for the plant

Most species of plants are endowed with colorful leaves. Such species must be kept in a warm light spot, providing open access to sunlight, otherwise the plant will become pale. Zelenolistnye monochrome dracenes are located in a place where light and heat come, but do not pass the open sun's rays.

Most gardeners believe that dracena fragrans Compacta is a shade plant, but in fact it is not. Deprive the sun flower, and it will begin to wither. A good growth and development of plants contributes to moderate scattered sunlight. Therefore, it is so important in the winter to move the dracene closer to the window, so that she receives as much light energy as possible.

We select the optimal temperature regime

The air temperature in the room where you hold the plant should be moderate. Dracaena fragrans Massanganana feels comfortable at +15 in summer and well tolerates wintering at + 10-13 degrees Celsius. The optimum temperature is 20-25 degrees (this is the average value). Hardy dracene species, such as the dragon tree, fragrant, dracaena Hooker, can be grown in cold greenhouses. They are not afraid of drafts or cold (they can overwinter at +7 degrees Celsius).

Water the plants

Maintain a constant moisture content of the substrate in the pot with the plant, but do not over-moisten it: it can lead to rotting roots and the development of pathogenic bacteria. Try not to allow the earthen coma to dry out. Containing Dracaena in moderate conditions, reduce watering to a minimum, alternating it with drainage of the soil. When the temperature rises, spray the plant with water once a day, try to maintain a moist warm microclimate in the room.

Frequent spraying helps not only to feed the plant with water and useful minerals, but also provides a kind of preventive action against a spider mite.

When making a warm shower for a plant, do not forget to cover the pot itself, this will help to avoid overmoistening of the substrate.

We fertilize indoor plants

When dracaena fragrans Janet is actively growing (the period from April to August), she is fed. Do this systematically, every 14 days, using for fertilizing special complex fertilizers. In the cold season fertilization is carried out 2 times a month.

Transplant dracenu

As the plant grows, it is transplanted once in 1-2 years, in spring. For potting use a large pot. At the bottom of the tank, an artificial drainage is formed from small pebbles or shards, on top of which an earthen or peat mixture is poured. It is recommended to use this mixture for dracaena transplantation:

• Turf ground - ¼;
• Leaf ground - ¼;
• Humus - ¼;
• Peat or sand - ¼.

Crop the plant

Trimming Dracaena helps to form a lush crown of a plant. Almost the entire tip is cut off, leaving 4-5 leaves on the trunk.

Important! To stimulate the growth of lateral shoots, the place of the cut can be wrapped with polyethylene.

Propagation of Dracaena

A plant that is simply diluted is dracena frarags. Reproduction occurs with the help of apical cuttings, layers, fragments of stems, which should be rooted in the soil covered with a film, maintaining the temperature 25 degrees Celsius.

Methods of reproduction of dracaena fraragrance

1. With the help of apical cuttings. The upper part of the old plant is cut off, and the apical stem is rooted. To stimulate plants, use phytohormones and warm the pot from the bottom.
2. By means of air layers appearing in the upper part of the plant. When dracaena starts small root shoots, the tip is cut off.
3. With the help of stem segments. As a material for reproduction, parts of the stem 5-7 cm long are used. The stem cuttings are rooted in the ground mixture, covered with a film, creating a mini-steam room. Under such conditions, the stem can easily take root.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Having provided the dracenas with a full-fledged care, you do not have to worry about getting sick.

Plant diseases can be associated with insufficient watering (leaves dry at the houseplant), with direct sunlight on the plant (bright white spots appear on the leaves).

Dracaens are most often affected by a spider mite or scutellum. Spider mite - small bugs, living at the base of the sheets, on the back side. When a spider mite becomes infected, the leaves turn yellow, and a net of spider webs forms between them. You can recognize the scabbard by the formation of brown plaques on the underside of the leaves.

An amazing plant, unpretentious in the care and endurance, - dracaena fragrans. Caring at home and caring for the plant will help you grow an impressive "tree" in size. Having created a composition from several types of Drazen, you can create a living tropical corner at home. You can arrange a winter garden if the area of your home allows you to do it, or create a mini-greenhouse on the balcony. Regardless of where you place the green houseplants, your house will look cozier, cheerful and cleaner, because they not only perform a decorative function, but also purify the air.