The Dracaena marginata is a reliable and low maintenance indoor plant.If you live in a warm area with very mild winters, you can keep this tree outdoors all year.Provide the plant with a mixture of sun and shade, as well as enough, but not too much.The water is wet.If you prefer a challenge, you can propagation these plants from seeds.If you like cheerful colors like red and yellow, choose a different Dracaena marginata.
Step 1: For the original variety, pick the Dracaena marginata.
All the other options were cultivated from this plant.There is a band of purple around the edges of the leaves.
Step 2: The marginata tricolor is a greenish gold plant.
There is a white band on the leaves of this plant.From a distance, it may appear white or yellow.
Step 3: If you want a reddish look, go for the marginata colorama.
The most unique looking of the cultivars is this one.It appears red or pink because of its outer red band.
Step 4: The marginata Tarzan can be grown for spikier leaves.
The original marginata has the same color pattern, but its leaves are a bit different.The stems will produce trees with bigger and tougher leaf patterns.The leaves are in dense shapes.
Step 5: There is a spot that provides bright but indirect light.
The leaves might burn if the tree is placed in full sun.If you want to avoid this problem, put the plant in front of a north-facing window.The tree should not be too close to the window.Your plant isn't getting enough light if the leaves start to fade.If this happens, keep an eye on the leaves and move it in front of the east- or west-facing window.The leaves will be dry on the tips.
Step 6: In a container with drainage holes, use well-draining potting soil.
If the soil becomes too wet, the tree can develop root rot.You can double the size of your root ball by filling a houseplant container with potting soil.Place the tree in the container and fill the rest of the pot with soil.The roots should be moistened with distilled water.You might have bought your plant from the nursery.It is possible to leave it in there until it is ready to be repotted.
Step 7: The top of the soil is the only place where water can be found.
You can put your finger in the soil.If the soil feels dry to the touch, water the plant with distilled water.Prepare the soil for the next watering by keeping an eye on it.The leaves will tell you if you are over or underwater.You probably need more water if the leaves are turning yellow.It is more likely that you are overwatering if they are only yellow at the tips.This is normal when the leaves go towards the bottom of the shoots.The old leaves are being replaced by new ones.
Step 8: During the winter, keep the temperature around 75 F.
If you want to keep your home warm, these trees will thrive in temperatures up to about 80 F.You can reduce the temperature in your home by a few degrees when the weather starts to cool.It will get a rest period.Don't dip the temperature below 65 F.
Step 9: The leaves should be misted to reduce pests.
The glasshouse red spider mite is one of the insects that can be found in the dragon tree.If you mist the tree at least 1-2 times per week, you can prevent the outbreak.If you see leaves with bumps on the undersides, your tree is likely to be attacked.If you want to buy a pesticide for the outbreak, talk to your local nursery.Natural pesticides can be used, but they may not be as effective with advanced infestations.
Step 10: During the winter, use houseplant fertilization only once per month.
During the spring and summer, you can use standard fertilization for plants.There is a water-solublefertilizer that can beDiluted to 50% strength.The tree should be given a rest period during the autumn and winter.Follow the instructions on the package for the correct amount to use.Expect to create a water andfertilizer solution.
Step 11: In the summer Prune to make the plant more dense.
If the tree develops weak off-shoots or stems, use garden shears.This will keep your plant from growing taller.At the base of the stem, clip the growth at an angle.Don't cut in the late summer, fall, or winter.You want to give the plant some time to grow.New trees can be planted with these cuttings.
Step 12: If the roots become crowded, replant your tree.
Don't forget to check the drainage holes at the bottom of your container.It is time to repot if the roots grow out of the holes.Choose a pot that is 2 inches wider and deeper than the old one.To ease the tree out, turn the pot on its side.The ends of the roots should be removed to make room for the new pot.Your new pot should have drainage holes, and you should fill it with well-draining potting soil before placing the tree inside.The pot should be filled with more soil and moistened with distilled water.Pull the coiled roots with your fingers if the tree doesn't want to come out.You can position the pot on its side by gently tapping the bottom and sides.Wait at least a month to fertilize your tree.
Step 13: You can find out which hardiness zone you live in.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has produced a map with information about temperatures and growing conditions in different "zones" of the U.S.Zone 10 and 11 are located on the coast of Southern California and the tip of southern Florida and are where the dragon tree can only be kept outdoors all year long.While this map is useful for growers living in the U.S., other countries have produced similar maps using the same temperature guidelines.Information about your growing zone can be found online.
Step 14: If your climate is cooler, you should plan for an outdoor plant.
You can keep your tree outdoors in the spring and summer if you live in zones 8 or 9.Pull it indoors as soon as the temperature starts to drop in early autumn because these plants prefer higher temperatures.In the warm summer months, you may be able to keep this plant outdoors.Keep an eye on the weather.If the evening temperatures fall below 60 to 65 F (16 to 18C), your plant will stop growing.
Step 15: There is a partially shaded area where you can plant your tree.
Over the course of the day, your tree should get about 3-6 hours of sunlight.It should have at least a few hours of shade to keep it from burning up.There are leaves with dry, brown tips.You are giving your plant too much sun.The leaves need a bit more sunlight.
Step 16: A spot with well-draining soil is what you should choose.
To test drainage, dig a hole in the soil and fill it with water.Allow it to drain and then fill it again.Your soil has good drainage if the hole doesn't drain for 15 minutes.Slow-draining soil can be found if the hole takes more than an hour to drain.Adding compost and well-rotted manure may be able to improve the drainage if it doesn't need to be adjusted too much.Underground piping may be needed to remove excess water from drainage issues.
Step 17: The hole should be twice the size of the root ball.
To get the right hole, measure the diameter of the root ball.Place the tree in the hole with soil.Pack the soil again before using distilled water.The plant can be kept in an outdoor pot.
Step 18: For 3 weeks, then once per week.
The soil around the tree needs to be moist 2 to 3 times a week.Reduce watering to once per week after about 20 days.You can water less frequently if the soil is wet.Wait until the spot has dried out.You may need to increase your watering if you are experiencing extremely dry conditions.Look for leaves that are yellow at the tips.Water the tree a bit more if the leaves fall off.Natural growth is when the leaves fall off at the bottom of the stems.New leaves should be above the older ones.
Step 19: It is easier to propagation from mature trees.
It is likely that you will have more success starting a dragon tree than seeds.The seeds can be a bit more unpredictable.This can be done at any time of the year if you want to keep the cutting indoors.You can grow the tree in the summer if you want to.
Step 20: There are healthy shoots that grew in the last year.
Pick a stem that has a full growth at the top.It should be an established stem that did not poke up from the soil.It needs to be long enough to shoot.Cut a piece that is about 20 to 30 centimetres long.
Step 21: Straight across, slice the bottom of the stem.
The foliage will help increase your plant's availability of vitamins and minerals.The leaves allow more light to come in.
Step 22: The container of water has the base of the stem in it.
Put the side of the stem with the straight-across cut face down.The water should be changed out every 7 days.If you need to change it, make sure it stays at the same level.
Step 23: Provide a heating source.
A heat lamp is a good place to get your heat source.The chances of your efforts being successful will increase if you use heat and a rooting hormone.Follow the directions to use your rooting hormone.
Step 24: After a few weeks, expect to see roots.
It might take a while for you to see the new growth at the top of the stem, but roots should start to develop after only a few days.They will look like little white curls.The roots can be transferred to individual containers.
Step 25: If you don't have access to a mature tree, propagate by seed.
You may need to try this method a few times in order to get it right.These plants are not easy to grow from seed.If you want a challenge, this is the option for you.You can buy dragon tree seeds online, but they may be more expensive than a mature plant.
Step 26: Before the last frost, sow indoors at 64 to 70 F (18 to 21C).
The natural growth cycle of the plant will be mimicked by this.
Step 27: Before sowing the seeds should be soaked for 4-5 days.
The seeds should be placed in a bowl of water.You don't have to change the water every day.This will encourage growth.
Step 28: Put the seeds in a small pot.
The pot should be filled with either seed-growing compost or an equal parts mixture.Put your fingers in the compost.To get the water out of the container, use distilled water.Place no more than 1 or 2 seeds in the container.The seeds can be covered with about 4 inch (0.64 cm) of covering.Multipurpose compost is better than seed-growing compost.The space between the 2 seeds should be at least a finger width.
Step 29: The pots should be covered with plastic to keep them moist.
The bag has a container in it.The bag should be labeled with the plant's name and date.Make sure the soil is moist by checking it every day.Re-moisten it if it has dried out.
Step 30: You have to wait 30-40 days for the seeds to grow.
It should happen in about a month.Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, you can gently move them into their own pots.Continue to keep them inside until the leaves have hardened a bit.