Gold Dust Dracaena (Dracaena godseffiana) Indoor Care, Common Growing Issues and Fixes

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Botanical name: Dracaena godseffiana
Synonym: Dracaena surculosa
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Common names: Gold Dust Dracaena, Spotted-Leaf Dracaena, Japanese Bamboo, Gold Dust Plant

Description

Gold Dust Dracaena (Dracaena godseffiana) also called Spotted-Leaf Dracaena, Japanese Bamboo or Gold Dust Plant is the odd one among the Dracaenas.

Spotted-Leaf Dracaena is distinctly shrubby rather than palm-like and the leaves are broadly oval not long and grassy.

The leaves are bright green and spotted with yellow speckles. Unlike other Dracaena it grows to a height of about 2 ft only.

Gold Dust Dracaena is easy to care for and highly tolerant to a wide range of growing conditions. However, it does not like to be exposed to intense sunlight.

Japanese Bamboo is a very hardy houseplant which tolerates heavy pruning and some level of neglect.

Origin

Dracaena godseffiana is native to west and west-central tropical Africa, from Guinea to the Republic of the Congo.

Varieties

Several varieties of Dracaena godseffiana are available. One variety is Dracaena godseffiana Florida Beauty which is more cream than green.

Other varieties are Dracaena godseffiana kelleri which bears more thicker leaves and Dracaena godseffiana Milky Way which has a creamish stripe in the middle of the leaf among many others.

Toxicity

Gold Dust Dracaena is toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA.

The leaves and fruits contain alkyds which are toxic. If ingested they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite and depression.

Where to Buy

Are you looking to add Japanese Bamboo to your collection? You may acquire these plants from Etsy.

Buy Dracaena Plants online from Etsy

Dracaena godseffiana Care Indoors

Gold Dust Dracaena (Dracaena godseffiana) does well in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Dracaena godseffiana only requires repotting when it has become extremely root-bound as it grows best when slightly pot-bound.

Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat, to reduce pest and disease infestations, to encourage a bushy growth and to rejuvenate growth. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Gold Dust Dracaena thoroughly during the growing season while allowing the top 1-2 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil consistently moist.

Cut down on watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time but do not let the soil dry out completely.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant.

Use water that is at room temperature that is free of chlorine, flourides and other chemicals to prevent brown leaf tips.

Light Requirements

Gold Dust Dracaena grows best in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves.

Make sure that Spotted-Leaf Dracaena receives adequate light as too low light will cause loss of variegation.

Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth.

Dracaena godseffiana can also grow under a grow light where the natural light is not sufficient. Check out these link to Amazon for full spectrum grow lights.

Temperature and Humidity

Dracaena godseffiana requires a cool to average warmth of 15-27⁰C with a minimum of 10⁰C. Keep it away from cold drafts to prevent brown leaf tips.

Gold Dust Dracaena requires high humidity to thrive. Set pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist to raise humidity. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Clean the leaves by damp-wiping to get rid of dust and also discourage pest infestations.

Potting Mix

The best potting medium for Gold Dust Dracaena should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients like this Tropical Organic Potting Mix available on Etsy.

Fertilizer

Feed Gold Dust Dracaena every 4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to encourage a lush growth.

Withhold fertilizer in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.

Occasionally flush out accumulated salts from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole. Allow it to run for a few minutes and repeat several times.

Repotting

Repot Japanese Bamboo at the beginning of the growing season when roots begin to grow through the drainage holes as it prefers to be slightly root-bound.

Repot into a pot one-size larger than the current one. Ensure that it has drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting soggy and never allow the roots to sit in soggy soil as it may result in root-rot disease. Check out these Ceramic Plant Pots with Drainage Holes and Saucer on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning Dracaena godseffiana involves removal of dead and yellow leaves to maintain plant neat and discouarge pests and diseases.

Regularly cutback the stems with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors to encourage a bushy and compact growth. The foliage emanating from the pruning, can be used to propagate new plants.

Propagation

Gold Dust Dracaena (Dracaena godseffiana) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings or by plant division.

Dracaena godseffiana Common Problems

Gold Dust Dracaena (Dracaena godseffiana) growing problems include brown leaf tips, yellowing, leaf spots, plant death, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.

Brown leaf tips and yellow edges

There are four possible causes of brown tips and yellow edges in Gold Dust Dracaena. One possible cause is too dry air (too low humidity).

To elevate humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.

The second possible cause of brown tips and yellow edges in Spotted-Leaf Dracaena is underwatering.

Keep the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

The third possible cause of brown tips and yellow edges in Japanese Bamboo is chemical accumulation in the soil.

Only use chemical-free water to water the plant like rain water and regularly flush out salts from the soil.

The fourth possible cause of brown tips and yellow edges in Gold Dust Dracaena is cold drafts.

Place it away from cold drafts like drafty windows and doors to maintain an average warmth with a minumum of 10⁰C.

Yellowing leaves

Gold Dust Dracaena yellowing leaves are caused by many and varied reasons. One reason is improper watering; either underwatering or overwatering.

Overwatering results in soggy soil which causes the roots to die. When the roots die, they cannot take up water and other nutrients required for the health of the plant.

Therefore, the plant starts dying and this starts from the leaves, thus, the yellowing leaves.

Underwatering results in too little moisture in the soil and therefore the plant cannot absorb the nutrients required for healthy growth of the plant.

Thus, the plant begins to die, beginning from the leaves which turn yellow and eventually drop.

Therefore, to prevent yellowing leaves in Japanese Bamboo, maintain the soil consistently moist at all times during the growing season.

Reduce watering in the cold season and keep the soil slightly moist but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.

Plant death

Gold Dust Dracaena dying is an indication of root-rot. The Dracaena is prone to root-rot disease if allowed to sit in soggy soil for too long.

Ascertain that there is free drainage of both the soil and the pot to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

In addition, lessen watering in the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is reduced, thus, the plant does not require much water. Read more on how to treat root-rot in houseplants.

Keeping Spotted-Leaf Dracaena too cold will also kill it; maintain a cool to average room temperature with a minumum of 10⁰C.

Place the plant away from cold draughts like breezy doors and windows to prevent sudden drops in temperature.

Another reason for the death of Gold Dust Dracaena is accumulation of salts in the soil.

Flush out accumulated salts from the soil by regularly running a stream of water through the soil.

Bleached, dry leaf patches

Bleached, dry leaf patches in Gold Dust Dracaena are sunscorch marks caused by exposure of the plant to direct sunlight.

Posistion the Spotted-Leaf Dracaena in a more shaded spot where it will receive bright, indirect light and protect it from direct sunlight to prevent sunscorching.

Pests

Common pests in Gold Dust Dracaena are mealy bugs, scale insects and spider mites which mainly attack the weak plants. Therefore, ensure that your plant is healthy at all times to minimize pest attack.

Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests with appropriate products like neem oil and insecticidal soap among others.

Soft and curled leaves with brown edges

Soft and curled leaves with brown edges in Gold Dust Dracaena are due to low temperatures. Maintain a cool to average room temperature and keep the plant away from cold draughts (drafts).

Brown leaf spots

Brown leaf spots in Gold Dust Dracaena are caused by underwatering. Maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season and slightly moist in the cold season but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.