The name dragon tree is actually misleading, after all, this popular houseplant is actually not a tree at all. Nevertheless, the plant from the asparagus family develops a trunk over time that almost looks like a kind of palm tree in bonsai format.

The dragon tree likes it moist

How often should a dragon tree be watered?

According to their natural distribution, the various species of the dragon tree come mainly from the subtropics and tropics. They therefore not only like it relatively warm, but also evenly moist. Therefore, always make sure that your dragon tree never completely dries out in its pot. The easiest way to do this is with hydroponic care. But you can also use ordinary potting soil and check the moisture content accordingly. During the sunny summer months, the plant substrate should always be slightly moist and never dry and crumbly, even on the surface. Since the plant goes into a kind of hibernation in winter, watering it weekly is sufficient. Despite its constant need for water, the dragon tree does not like waterlogging at the roots, so water should never remain in the saucer.

When and how is the dragon tree repotted?

If you use commercially available potting soil for the cultivation of the dragon tree, it is advisable to repot it every year to counteract the compaction of this substrate. In principle, this can be done all year round. The dragon tree usually grows so compactly and slowly that it is rarely repotted in the course of a larger space requirement. If you want to do something good for your dragon tree when you repot it, you can check the pH of the soil in the pot. Since the dragon tree likes it slightly acidic, the pH value should be around 6 if possible. To prevent the risk of root rot caused by waterlogging, you can add a good third of the following materials to standard potting soil:

  • Pumice gravel or lava granules
  • clay soil
  • coarse sand

When repotting, you should be careful not to damage the root ball and only carefully tap off the adhering soil.

Can the dragon tree be cut?

Many people doubt that the dragon tree, with its thin trunk and leaves attached to the crown, can really be pruned. This plant is even amazingly tolerant of pruning. This is a good thing, after all, the dragon tree can tend to become bare in a too shady location in the room due to the lack of light. In such a case, simply take a sharp and clean planting shears and cut through the trunk at the desired height with a clean cut. You can seal the interface with some wax at the top. After a short time, new leaves form below the interface. In this way, not only can a stronger branching of the dragon tree be forced, the cut off pieces of the "trunk" can also be used as material for propagation through cuttings.

Which pests attack the dragon tree?

Spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs can occasionally appear on dragon trees. If the infestation gets too out of hand, the plants can be immersed in water or freed from the annoying pests with a spray bottle. So that the leaves can shine permanently, even under good site conditions, they should be regularly cleaned of adhering dust with a slightly damp and soft cloth.

Are there diseases that can threaten the dragon tree?

As indoor plants and very easy to care for, dragon trees are usually not really affected by diseases. Deficiency symptoms are more common as a result of care errors. This can be the case, for example, if your dragon tree is in direct sunlight or too close to a radiator. Even very dark locations are poorly tolerated by a dragon tree. If your dragon tree lets the leaves hang unsightly despite sufficient water supply, this can be a sign of a location that is too cold. Temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius are ideal, which should prevail relatively evenly. In winter it should not get colder than about 16 degrees Celsius for the dragon tree.

How is the dragon tree optimally fertilized?

During the sunny summer months, you can fertilize the dragon tree about every 14 days with a suitable liquid fertilizer over the irrigation water. Alternatively, fertilizer sticks (€4.48) in the plant pot are also possible. During the winter months, however, you should stop fertilizing.

What should you consider when caring for the dragon tree in winter?

The dragon tree grows in the wild in regions like the Canary Islands, where it is almost equally warm and light all year round. Accordingly, the dragon tree as a houseplant in this country should also receive enough daylight in winter. In principle, this plant can be in the same place all year round, but the windowsill is rather unsuitable in winter due to the radiators underneath. Note that the dragon tree should not be fertilized during the hibernation and should be watered less if possible.

tips

It looks particularly beautiful when different species of dragon tree are combined into a small group of houseplants. Species with rather "colorful" leaves with light or reddish edges tolerate more direct sunlight than dragon trees with purely green leaves.

Category:

Indoor plants