Dracaena care guide

Dracaenas are tough, upright plants with strappy leaves on woody canes. The dragon tree and the corn plant are the two most common. They handle medium light, forgive a missed watering, and grow into small trees over the years.

The snake plant and lucky bamboo are dracaenas too. They have their own guides: the snake plant care guide and the lucky bamboo care guide.

Light

Most dracaenas grow well in medium light, such as a spot a few feet from an east or west window. They survive lower light, but they grow slow and lose color.

Bright, indirect light keeps striped and colored types bright. Direct afternoon sun scorches the leaves.

Water

Water when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. In winter, that may be every three to four weeks.

Dracaenas react to fluoride and salts in tap water. Brown leaf tips are the sign. Rainwater, distilled water, or filtered water helps.

Yellow leaves with wet soil mean too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix with some perlite.

Dracaenas grow slow and like a snug pot. Repot every two to three years in spring, one size up. Use a heavy pot for tall plants. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. Keep it between 16 and 27°C (60 and 80°F), and above 13°C (55°F). Keep it away from cold windows and drafts in winter.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter. Too much fertilizer browns the tips.

Pruning

Dracaena canes get tall and bare at the bottom over time. You can cut a cane to any height. One to three new shoots grow just below the cut.

Cut in spring or summer with a clean saw or pruners. Root the top piece to make a new plant.

It is normal for the lowest leaves to yellow and drop as the plant grows. Pull them off once they come away with a gentle tug.

Propagation

1. Cut the top off a tall cane, 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) below the leaves.
2. Set it in water or damp potting mix.
3. Roots grow in three to six weeks.

Leafless cane pieces root too. Lay a piece 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long on its side in damp mix, half buried. Keep the side that was up facing up if you stand it upright.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Brown leaf tips	Fluoride or salts in tap water, or dry soil
Yellow lower leaves, one at a time	Normal aging
Many yellow leaves, wet soil	Too much water
Pale, bleached patches	Direct sun
Tall, bare canes	Normal. Cut it back.
Soft, mushy cane	Rot from too much water

Read why are my houseplant leaf tips turning brown for more on brown tips.

Pests

Spider mites, mealybugs, and scale can show up. Wipe dust off the leaves every few weeks and check underneath. Fungus gnats mean the soil stays wet too long. Read how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists dracaena as toxic to cats and dogs. Eating it can cause vomiting, drooling, and loss of appetite. Cats may also get dilated pupils. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew.

Varieties

• Dragon tree, Dracaena marginata, has thin leaves with red edges on slim, bendy trunks.
• ‘Tricolor’ dragon tree has pink, cream, and green stripes.
• Corn plant, Dracaena fragrans, has wide, arching leaves with a yellow stripe, like a corn stalk.
• ‘Janet Craig’ has glossy, dark green leaves and handles low light well.
• ‘Lemon Lime’ has lime, white, and green stripes.
• ‘Song of India’ has short leaves with yellow edges on bushy stems.