Dracaena marginata (Madagascar Dragon Tree) Care Indoors; Watering, Pruning, Problems
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Dracaena marginata (Madagascar Dragon Tree) thrives in bright indirect light, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Dracaena marginata is one of the most colorful of the Dracaena varieties and easily adapts to a wide range of growing conditions and is also a good air-cleaner.
Madagascar Dragon Tree is among the drought-tolerant plants due to its aggressive root system and is considered to be one of the hard to kill plants you can grow in the home.
The origin of the plant name comes from the word "drakaina" for "female dragon". Madagascar Dragon Tree produces a red gum-like resin in the stems that was likened to dragon blood.
The trunk is tall and snake-like. It will branch with age. When cutback, it will also branch out at a point just below the cut. The narrow, arching leaves are edged with red.
Madagascar Dragon Trees can grow as single-stemmed plants or grouped or even braided together in the same pot.
Botanical name: Dracaena marginata
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Common name: Madagascar Dragon Tree
Origin
Dracaena marginata has its origins in Madagascar and other Indian Ocean Islands.
Size
Madagascar Dragon Tree can grow up to 10 feet high. It is among tree-like plants for the home, office and other ideal spaces.
Air Cleaning
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Dracaena marginata was found to be among air-purifying plants and gets rid of xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloethylene from indoor air.
Varieties
The most popular varieties of Madagascar Dragon Tree are the basic variety, Dracaena marginata, whose leaves are predominately green and edged with red.
The Dracaena marginata tricolor, in whose leaves a band of yellow separates the green and the red stripes and the overall color is greenish-gold.
Dracaena marginata colorama, where the red banding is more prominent and the leaves appear distinctly reddish.
Is Dracaena marginata toxic?
Yes. Dracaena marginata is toxic to both humans and pets as stated by ASPCA. The leaves contain alkyds which are extremely toxic. If ingested they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite and depression. Keep Madagascar Dragon Tree away from children, cats, dogs, and other pets.
Where to Buy
Dracaena marginata is a magnificent plant to add to any plant collection. You may get these plants from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to care for Dracaena marginata indoors
To care for Dracaena marginata indoors, give it bright indirect light (filtered light), warmth of 15-280C, humidity of 45-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Madagascar Dragon Tree needs potting only when the roots begin to grow through the drainage holes. Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat, to minimize pests and diseases, to encourage a bushy growth and to rejuvenate growth. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
How often do you water a Dracaena marginata?
Do not water your Dracaena marginata on schedule to avoid either overwatering or underwatering as both are detrimental to the growth of the plant.
Water your Dracaena marginata thoroughly in spring and summer until water drips through the drainage hole. Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist but never soggy to avoid rotting, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.
Reduce watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil slightly moist since growth is minimal at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry completely to prevent wilting, drooping, yellowing, leaf loss and brown, crispy leaf edges.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to avoid sogginess which can lead to rotting and plant death. Take care not to wet the foliage to discourage fungal diseases.
Use room temperature water to avoid shocking this tropical plant as it can result in slow growth and leaf drop. Make sure the water is free of chlorine, flourides and other chemicals to prevent brown leaf tips and edges.
Light Requirements
How much light does a Madagascar Dragon Tree need?
Madagascar Dragon Tree grows best in bright indirect light (dappled light); position it infront of a well-lit, sunless window. Keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching; brown or yellow leaf spots.
Though it can tolerate lower light, it will grow much slower and produce smaller leaves with the less intense color. If the natural lighting is not adequate, instal grow lights to supplement it.
Monthly, give the pot a quarter turn, to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and prevent leggy growth.
Temperature & Humidity
Madagascar Dragon Tree prefers a warmth of 15-280C. Keep it away from drafts as the sudden temperature changes can cause stunted growth, wilting, drooping, yellowing, leaf drop and brown leaf tips.
Dracaena marginata has no need for extra humidity; a humidity of 45-55% is ideal for this plant. However, if the air is too dry it can result in brown leaf tips and edges.
To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, group the plants together, use a cool mist humidifier or grow the plant in the humid areas. Do not mist the leaves and ensure good airflow to reduce fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
What is the best fertilizer for Dracaena marginata?
Feed your Dracaena marginata with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer to encourage a lush growth. Stop feeding in fall and winter to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.
Regularly flush out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole. Repeat several times to clear as much salt as possible.
Potting Mix
What kind of soil does a Dracaena marginata like?
The best soil for Dracaena marginata is a light, well-draining soil that does not get soggy. A mix of 50% potting soil, 25% perlite (for drainage), and 25% peat moss or coco coir (for moisture retention) is perfect for this plant.
Repotting
Repot your Madagascar Dragon Tree every 1-2 years at the beginning of the growing season, when roots begin to grow through the drainage holes; it grows best when slightly root-bound.
Use a pot at least 2 inches wider than the tree-trunk. Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil. Never allow the roots to sit in soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot and death of the plant. Check out these pots with drainage hole on Amazon.
Pruning & Grooming
The plant is a slow grower and does not require regular pruning. Pruning Madagascar Dragon Tree involves:
- Removal of dead and yellow leaves to maintain the plant neat and discourage pests and diseases.
- Cutting the stem at the desired height; a new sprout of stems will emerge below the cut, to encourage a bushy growth.
This will result in the plant producing several stems instead of having just one stem. The crown of leaves emanating from the pruning, can be used to propagate a new plant.
Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pest and disease infestations.
Dracaena marginata Propagation
Madagascar Dragon Tree is propagated at beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) by air layering, from stem cuttings or from the top crown of leaves. Learn how to propagate Dracaena marginata by 4 easy methods.
Dracaena marginata Problems & Remedies
Madagascar Dragon Tree problems are yellow leaves, brown leaves, brown leaf tips, dropping leaves, plant dying, diseases and pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Yellow leaves
Why are the leaves on my Madagascar Dragon Tree turning yellow?
The main causes of yellow leaves on Dracaena marginata are low light, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress or aging.
How to fix it
Low light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate.
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out and do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use well-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts emanating from AC units, radiators, heat sources, windy doors, drafty windows and others.
Aging: As the plant matures, it sheds the lower leaves. Each lower leaf turns yellow and dries leaving a crown of leaves on top of the cane-like stem.
Brown leaves
Why are the leaves on my Dracaena marginata turning brown?
Some of the causes of brown leaves on your Dracaena marginata are inconsistent watering, soggy soil or extreme temperatures.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top 2-3 inches dry out. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
Extreme temperatures: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, drafty windows, heat sources, windy doors and others.
Brown leaf tips
Why are the tips of my Madagascar Dragon Tree turning brown?
Brown leaf tips on your Madagascar Dragon Tree are caused by dry air, underwatering, salts buildup or drafts.
How to fix it
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to elevate humidity.
Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch but do not allow the soil to dry out completely for a long period.
Salts buildup: Use chlorine-free water like rain water or filtered water. Regularly flush out salts from the soil.
Drafts: Keep the plant away from drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents, radiators and others.
Dropping leaves
Why are the leaves falling off my Dracaena marginata?
Falling leaves off your Dracaena marginata are caused by inconsistent watering, soggy soil, dry air, temperature stress or aging.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry and do not let the soil dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use free-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a humidifier or group the plants together to raise humidity.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts coming from AC units, heat sources, windy doors, drafty windows and others.
Aging: As the plant matures, it sheds the lower leaves.
Plant dying
Why is my Madagascar Dragon Tree dying?
Your Madagascar Dragon Tree is dying due to temperature stress, salts buidup or root-rot disease.
How to fix it
Temperature stress: Maintain a warmth of 15-280C by keeping the plant away from drafts arising from drafty windows, windy doors, AC units, heat sources, radiators among others.
Salts buildup: Once in a while, flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole.
Root-rot disease: The disease is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.
- Carefully slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots.
- Trim brown-black mushy roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as indicated on the label.
- Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil.
- Do not water the plant immediately; keep it dry for 5-7 days before you resume watering.
- Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
- Decrease watering in fall and winter as growth is slowed at this time; keep the soil slightly moist.
Pests
Common pests of Madagascar Dragon Tree are spider mites, mealybugs and scales which prevalent in dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Regularly inspect the plant for these pests and take timely control measures.
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' directions.
- Clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to keep the pests away.
- Keep the plant well pruned to reduce the hiding and breeding places for these pests.
- To upscale humidity, group the plants together or set the pot on a wet pebble tray.
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