The dracaena plant appeared in our country from the humid tropics of East Africa. Dracaena forms a separate species of plants: dracaena. It includes about 100 species. Word Dracaena, translated means "female dragon."
Dracaena is called a shrub, but can grow about 20 meters in one trunk. The leaves look like spears and slightly curved. Some species may have flowers with a strong, pleasant aroma.
Dracaena Care
Temperature
Although dracaena appeared from southern countries, she does not like intense heat. Acceptable temperature for it is not lower than 50C and not higher than 250C. Dracaena does not tolerate drafts. In summer, you can take it to the balcony, but protect it from the wind.
Watering
From the fact that the origin of dracaena in moist places, it needs intensive watering.
Do not allow the complete drying of the earth in a pot, it is deadly for dracaena.
In warm time, you need to water the flower at least 3 times a week. And in cold weather they reduce the amount of watering, but without drying out.
It is also recommended sometimes to spray dracaena. This is best done in the morning.
Lighting
Dracaena loves well-lit places, but without direct sunlight. The window sills of the east and west sides are best suited. If you put it wrong, the flower will let you know this by dropping the leaves.
With a lack of light, the dracaena stops its growth and may lose its color if the leaves are multi-colored.
Top dressing
It is best to feed dracaena in the spring and summer. This period is considered active growth and therefore feeding will be ideal. As fertilizers, use liquid solutions for evergreens. And species with colored leaves prefer fertilizers for ornamental plants. There is also a special drug for dracaena.
Breeding
Properly courting a dracaena, it will grow a lush and beautiful plant. Therefore, after such active growth, you can think about plant propagation. Reproduction occurs by cuttings with or without leaves.
When propagating by cuttings with leaves, it is necessary to cut the stalk, 10-15 cm high. Cut evenly or obliquely. After this, it is dried up, but you can immediately root it. This must be done in water or substrates (sand, hydrogel). It is also necessary to create greenhouse conditions by covering the stalk with plastic, glass or a transparent bag. Do not forget to spray the leaves of the cuttings three times a day. Once a week they are sprayed with a solution with the addition of fertilizers for palm trees.
It can also be rooted with stem roots. The stem is divided into 5-15 cm. The substrate is the same as in the first embodiment. The lower part of the cuttings of the plant is placed in a substrate to a depth of 2-3 cm. It is very important to sprinkle it with a layer of sand of 5-6 cm. The roots will first be in the sand and then sink into the ground.
