Dragon Tree – Dracaena marginata colorama – Plant Care Tips

Dracaena Marginata Colorama Lighting & Position

Dracaenas will do best in bright indoor light, and will tolerate a small amount of direct sunlight but prolonged exposure may result in burnt leaves. 

Dracaena Marginata Colorama Watering

It’s important to keep up a regular watering routine. In summer you want to keep the soil moist but not soggy. To monitor this, you can use your finger to poke into the top 5 cm of potting mix and feel the soil moisture level before watering. If it feels particularly wet, let it dry out for longer. Over watering can lead to fungal issues or root rot. Try watering once or twice a week, but always testing the soil first to see if watering is necessary. During winter, when the plant isn’t in an active growing phase you should reduce watering frequency and use tepid/room temperature water. 

As with all plants, drainage is essential. Ensure that whatever vessel your plant is in, there are sufficient holes in the bottom to allow excess water to freely drain from the pot and away from the plant’s roots. 

Hailing from the tropical forests of Africa, these plants don’t do well with long periods of dryness, they express this through dry, brown leaf tips and margins, rolled up or limp leaves. They also experience moisture stress from a lack of regular watering, they express this through yellowing leaf tips. Keep monitoring them to ensure the happy balance of moisture within the soil.

Dracaena Marginata Colorama Humidity

Dracaenas do best with a moderate level of ambient humidity. Keep them clear of heaters, aircon or draughty windows and doors in the house – this dries out the air and can quickly damage their leaves. Some tips for increasing humidity include grouping plants together, placing pots on a pebble tray, occasional misting or – if you want to go all out – buy a small humidifier online and place it in amongst your rainforest friends! 

Dracaena Marginata Colorama Fertiliser

Feed with liquid fertiliser fortnightly over the warm, growing period and not at all over the cooler winter months.

We recommend using our Plant Food available here. 

Dracaena Marginata Colorama Extra Tips

Once a month you can wipe down the plants leaves using a damp cloth to clean away any dust that has collected and may be preventing the leaves from breathing. It’s completely normal for older leaves, lower down on the stem of the plant, to fade in colour and brown off as they age. Prune off any damaged or dying leaves using a sharp pair of scissors or secateurs so that the plant can put more energy into the newer, healthier growth. 

Dracaena Marginata Colorama Toxicity

The short answer is no. Dracaena is toxic to both cats and dogs. Or rather saponin, a chemical compound that is found in the plant, is toxic to them. A dog eating dracaena leaves can result in vomiting (sometimes with and sometimes without blood), diarrhea, weakness, drooling, loss of appetite, and depression.

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