Dracaena Marginata

Plant Bio

Dracaena marginata is an attractive, stiff-leaved plant with colorful foliage that sometimes goes by the name dragon tree. Most of the time, though, it’s sold simply as “Dracaena marginata” or just “Dracaena.” These are tough, drought-tolerant plants with aggressive root systems that make excellent houseplants—they are a little more forgiving than some of the other dracaena. It helps that they’re attractive and varied. They are sometimes grown as single-stemmed plants; other times grouped or even braided together in the same pot. NASA lists a dracaena marginata as a clean- air houseplant.

Dracaena marginata plants prefer medium light, but survive in lower light situations. Lower light slows down the growth rate and reduces the size of new leaves. Direct sun burns the leaves. Over-watering causes root-rot and is the main reason a dracaena marginata dies. Water well and don’t water again until the top 50% of the soil is dry. In low light, it could take up to three weeks for the soil to dry out. Brown tips on the leaves indicate over-watering or too much fluoride or salt in the water. Never use water that has passed through a softener, too salty. These are slow-growing plants that do not require much fertilizer. Feed monthly in the spring and summer with a water-soluble, well-balanced plant food diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. These plants prefer temperatures between 70°-80°F (21.1°- 26.7°C). Dracaena marginata plants grow well in a loose fast-draining soil. These plants are from Hawaii and often arrive in soil full of lava rock. Remove 1/3 of the soil and replace it with a good potting mix.