One of the more popular choices of foliage for homes and offices is the Dracaena. The display of colors and its aesthetics is obviously one of the main reasons. Dracaenas are suitable in any location that wants to add a green, tropical feel to their space. Secondly, Dracaena is one of the plants that is actually beneficial to the environment.
While you may want to purchase some Dracaena plants or cuttings right now. There are some important things that you must first look into this plant. This way you will be able to grow, maintain, care and enjoy them longer, Read on and enjoy!
Dracaena
Favorites such as dracaena plants come in a variety of sizes, have different shapes, colors, and heights and in approximately 200 types. These plants still act quite the same and almost always grow in the same way, too! Its leaves sprout in an outward position above the sturdy central cane or stalk which gives them a whimsical look of a small tree from afar.
According to the Clean Air Study of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Dracaena plant is included in the list of common environment-friendly plants. These plants can naturally remove toxic agents like trichloroethylene, benzene, formaldehyde and even xylene, toluene and carbon dioxide from your homes and buildings.
Growing a Dracaena
Many start with Dracaena plant-cuttings with the careful use of razor blades for small plant-types. Then mix 90% of humus soil with 10% sand soil and place them in a small plastic pot.
Dig your finger about 2 inches into the soil and place one plant-cutting per pot. Cover the base with soil and pat in place. In a period of one month you may now get wonderful results of root sprouts. Replant this to a bigger pot and feed them with some plant food.
Caring for Them
Fortunately, Dracaena plants are not hard to care for. As long as you are able to make a good kick-start of the guidelines, you are good to go. Choose a good potting mix that drains well will be best as retained water can make them look soggy. Place them in bright but indirect sunlight. It is also safe to prone them when they get too tall like about 8 to 10 inches. Water them from time to time.
Issues and Solutions of Dracaenas
If your Dracaena plant is starting to have that yellow-brown edge to crusty-brown. It may be due to several things. A Dracaena plant can be quite sensitive, placement is vital. If they are placed in an area where people constantly brush or touch as they pass for a number of times, it can create mechanical damage to the plant. Try placing them in where they can be left alone.
Plants are also affected by the atmosphere’s humidity. If it is low, the tendency is that the water easily evaporates even before it reaches the tip of the leaves. Although this will not kill the plant it would be best to help it by putting a humidifier or drizzling it more often than usual if you are in that warm season.
If your Dracaena plants are starting to have yellow and brown tips then you better think of the water that you are sprinkling on your plants. They may have too many minerals, usually chlorine, fluorine and sodium that city water normally has to purify it. If this is the case, you can filtrate your water or use rain or distilled water instead.
To make a quick-fix of dried out leaves of Dracaena plants, simply cut the tips with plant scissors just following the contour of the leaf so that it would not be obvious where the cut started and ended.
Indoor Dracaena Varieties
Some well-known Dracaena varieties that plant-enthusiasts recommend indoors are the following:
- Dracaena Marginata is also known as Dragon Tree or Madagascar Dragon Tree that looks like a palm. It is believed as one of the most resilient plants to grow indoors.
- Janet Craig is a variety that is very attractive and has leaves shaped like a sword in shiny, green color. Do not place this under direct sunlight as it will immediately burn its lovely leaves even in a matter of a few minutes.
- Lemon Lime is a variety that has leaves that are arranged in rosette-like manner in yellow in green color close to corn stalks. That is why it is also called corn plant. However, it definitely brings a pleasant feeling to anyone who sees the lemon lime plant. Although they may look differently they actually follow the same basic guidelines in care and growth.
Conclusion
For people looking into getting indoor home or office plants, it is without a doubt that Dracaena plants are a quality choice. It is easy to plant and re-plant, a visually pleasant structured ornament display and definitely environment-friendly as well. It is what every plant-lover would love in their space.
