For start gardeners , one of the easiest plants to grow is dracaena . This big radical of tropic plants can grow indoors even in low light and other baffling condition . They can also be grown outside ( some are unfearing down to Zone 7 ) . Dracaena grows as a large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in its aboriginal home ground , pass in shrubby or tree diagram - similar forms . The long sword - shaped foliage comes in an array of green , amber , and variegated colors .
Categorization within this genus can be somewhat perplexing , with some metal money overlapping . Dracaena is unremarkably mistaken for Cordyline , while the pop snake plant life Sansevieria was recently reclassify as Dracaena .
The smooth , spear - shaped or supergrass - similar leaves can be solid , stripy , or stipple , and they come in gold , chartreuse , pink , red , or snowy .
Clusters of star - shaped flowers in colors of white , pinkish or yellow appear on sylphlike stems . Most variety rarely blossom indoors . Dracaena fragrans , which is the most probable species to bloom indoors , pay scented flowers .
Bushy shrub or upright Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - alike form , 6 to 50 feet tall and 3 to 25 foot all-encompassing
Dracaena produces saponin , which are toxic to dogs and African tea . Dracaena works are nonpoisonous to humans .
Indoors , place near a window that receives at least 2 to 4 hour of brilliant indirect visible light . It ’s okay to put plants outside in the summer as long as they do n’t get lineal sun or deep tad .
Ideal day temperature mountain chain is 65 - 78 stage F , with nighttime temperature ten degrees cool . Keep forth from heating vents or cold draught . temperature below 50 - 55 degree F may harm plants .
Dracaena opt mean atmosphere humidity between 40 - 50 % . When it ’s dry in spite of appearance in the wintertime , mist plants once or twice a week , or put pots on a shallow saucer with pebble and water .
employ a in high spirits - quality , well - drained potting soil that is well - draining . Dracaenas prefer a slenderly acidic stain pH between 6.0 - 6.5 .
Choose a pot that is 1 to 2 inches larger than the theme orb . Make certain there are equal drainage holes .
With their sculptural leaf and vivacious colors , it ’s no wonder dracaena plant life are a popular houseplant choice . But did you sleep together many dracaena varieties can also thrive planted directly in garden beds and borders ? By allow a few key condition , you may successfully transition dracaena from indoor life to growing outside .
An Overview of Dracaena Houseplants
Dracaena is a genus made up of around 120 different plant life , many with striking leaves that descend in shades of green , red , orangish , yellow , or variegated patterns Some of the most unremarkably grown dracaena houseplants let in
Dracaena marginata – feature long , strappy leaves on cane - like stems The form ‘ Tricolor ’ has pictorial pink stripe
Dracaena fragrans – Sold as corn plant , this variety has solid green or icteric - strip foliage . It can produce quite tall .
Dracaena sanderiana – fuck as favorable bamboo , it has solid green or motley stems that resemble bamboo .
Dracaena reflexa – The song of India dracaena has slender , twisting leave . It ’s more compact than other varieties .
These plants are aboriginal to tropical and subtropical Africa , Asia , and the Caribbean . They prosper indoors in average base stipulation . With right fear , some dracaena can reach 6 feet or taller when rise as houseplants .
Factors to Consider Before Moving Dracaena Outdoors
While dracaena houseplants are very adaptable , they can only grow successfully outdoors year - round in certain climates . Here are some crucial broker to consider if you require to transition your indoor dracaena to the garden :
Hardiness zone – Most dracaena are only cold-blooded hardy to USDA zone 10 and 11 . Some varieties , like lucky bamboo , are only hardy to partition 11 and can not tolerate any Robert Frost . Determine your geographical zone before engraft outdoors .
temperature – Dracaena require warm temperature between 65 - 80 ° F during the solar day and above 60 ° F at night . They wo n’t tolerate icing or immobilize winter temperatures found in most zone .
Sun photograph – Variegated dracaena need fond sun to maintain leaf colors . Too much sunlight can cauterize leave-taking . Green - leafed miscellanea do good in fond shade or dappled sunshine .
dirt – plenteous , well - draining grunge amended with organic matter provides ideal growing conditions for dracaena . Dense clay or very arenaceous dirt often need betterment .
Size – Consider the mature size of the dracaena miscellany you desire to plant . Some only give 2 - 3 fundament marvellous while others grow over 10 foot high .
Transitioning Indoor Dracaena to the Outdoors
Gradually introduce the plant to outdoor status over 7 - 10 days . Slowly increase time spent outside each solar day .
Start by placing the potted dracaena in a shady maculation protected from wind and unmediated sun . This temper the flora off .
supervise soil wet tight and water whenever the top few inch become dry . outside air pull out more moisture from the dirt .
After 10 - 14 years , transplant the dracaena into a garden seam remediate with compost . Handle the roots mildly .
water supply thoroughly after transplantation and as needed until constitute . Add mulch around the substructure to conserve moisture .
Stake taller smorgasbord if needed to supply reenforcement in windy conditions .
With a gradual transition time , your former houseplant should shift to growing in the landscape without much stress or foliage drop .
Caring for Outdoor Dracaena Plants
body of water whenever the top few in of soil become dry . Increase frequency during blistering , dry periods .
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the fighting growing season .
Prune off any dead , damaged , or yellow leaves to keep plant looking tidy .
Remove spent bloom spikes and prune leggy emergence to shape plants .
In zones 9 and cooler , bring potted kind indoors before temps drop below 50 ° fluorine .
Mulch around plant to inhibit weeds and retain soil wet . Replenish mulch each year .
Monitor for pests like wanderer mite , mealybugs or ordered series . Wipe off with intoxicant or habituate insecticidal soap .
With the right growing conditions , dracaena make sensational accession to outdoor garden bed , patios , poolsides and more . Their eye - catching foliage and hardy growth habit add dramatic play and grain .
Best Uses for Dracaena in the Landscape
Thanks to their tropic looking at and varied size , dracaena have many uses alfresco . Consider using them in these garden roles :
Astall emphasis plants – Place near patios , entries and beds . Indian corn plant salmagundi can reach 10 feet .
Fortextural line – Add spiky , strappy or colorful leaves among rounded shrub and all-embracing foliation .
Incontainers – Use heavyset varieties in planters and pots on porch , poolsides and patios .
Asmass plantings – recur a single variety across a landscape bottom for bold impact .
Forprivacy – Use taller dracaena as living screen or property dividers in tropical climates .
Inwater gardens – Some can uprise correctly in shallow pond and water feature film .
Best Varieties for Growing Dracaena Outdoors
While not all dracaena tolerate garden weather condition , these varieties grow well outdoors year - round in tender mood :
Dracaena marginata – tolerate fond sunshine . maturate up to 6 ft tall . Easy to discover .
Dracaena reflexa – Handles sunshine and shade . More compendious at 3 feet tall . Interesting twisted leaves .
Dracaena draco – Hardier large tree - like multifariousness . Can make 25 foundation grandiloquent . obtuse ontogeny .
Dracaena goldieana – strike corn works with green leaves striped in yellow . turn 8 feet .
Dracaena concinna – thrive in partial sun , it reaches 4 foot marvellous . Reddish leaves and tenuous arching stems .
Dracaena sanderiana – golden bamboo grows well in water gardens . Get cold hardy varieties .
Check your specific dracaena variety ’s needs before planting outdoors . With the correct stipulation , these tropical beauties can transform your garden with their bold , architectural form .
Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Proven Accents ® spike ( Dracaena indivisa ) . Photo by : Proven Winners
On this varlet :
See more pop indoor plants
Dragon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , corn plant , cornstalk plant , sour medal , ribbon industrial plant , money tree
Native to Africa , southern Asia , northern Australia and South America
USDA zones 9 - 12 , with D. indivisa stout to USDA Zone 7
Dracaena favour bright collateral light , but is tolerant of low light term .
Song of India ( D. reflexa ) Photo by : VadimZosimov / Shutterstock
DRACAENA CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Keep soil equally moist and do n’t permit territory to dry out . Too much water can cause root bunkum . dracaena are raw to bug body of water that contains fluoride . weewee dracaena with make pure or rain .
Dracaenas can get by with little fertilizing . Use a water - soluble houseplant plant food . enforce once a month during outpouring and summer . Cease fecundate in fall and wintertime when plant life growth slow up down .
Dracaenas react well to pruning . Do this during participating growth in spring and summer . trim back off damage leaves and weak growth . trim back plants to desired shape and size .
Every saltation , append new ground to the top 2 to 3 in to total nutrients without stir up the beginning . Repot in spring every 2 to 3 yr . utilise a container 1 to 2 inch larger than the previous peck . murder works from corporation , sweep out old soil and gently tease out source . Add refreshful soil , placing the top of the radical globe at the same point and water soundly .
Weakened plant may be more susceptible to pests . These can include spider mites , scale , or mealybugs . Wipe off affected leaves with a cloth dip in 70 % rubbing inebriant . Treat with insecticidal soap as needed .
5 Quick tips Dracaena
FAQ
Can I put Dracaena outside in summer ?
What temperature can Dracaena tolerate ?
Is Dracaena a good outside plant ?
How do you care for a Dracaena plant outside ?
Can Dracaena grow outdoors ?
Dracaena expand out of doors in area that are frost liberal . Zone 9 can be a little wild in the wintertime calendar month . If you live somewhere that gets an occasional hoarfrost , be fain to protect your outdoor dracaena plants with some variety of get across . If you do have the veracious mood for it , dracaena in the landscape can impart drama and dish .
Can Dracaena be killed outside ?
One sure way to wipe out your dracaena is to constitute it outdoors in a climate that is too cold . Dracaena is a tropical plant life that wo n’t stick out frost . If you live in zona 9 , 10 , or 11 though , go for it . Dracaena thrives outdoors in area that are frost free . Zone 9 can be a little risky in the wintertime month .
Can dracaenas outlast frost ?
Dracaena is a tropical plant that wo n’t tolerate frost . If you live in zones 9 , 10 , or 11 though , go for it . Dracaena prosper outdoors in areas that are frost free . Zone 9 can be a little risky in the wintertime months . If you live somewhere that gets an occasional frost , be prepared to protect your out-of-door dracaena plants with some kind of app .
Should dracaenas be moved outside ?
Moving Dracaena houseplants outside can give them a boost by put up more light and humidity than they would receive indoors . Excessive sunlight and cold temperatures can damage Dracaenas , so it is important to cautiously choose the location and clock time of year .
Do dracaenas need to be water ?
When it arrive to watering a dracaena , dracaenas do good with dampish soil . The plant should only be watered when the top one or two in of soil is dry . If you be in an area that gets a wad of rain ( or if your plants are growing inside ) , this will not require much attending on your part ! However , desert areas are very hot and dry .
Do dracaenas ask light ?
Like most plant , dracaenas demand illumination to survive . The good news is that dracaena are hardy plants that can survive in dappled light and part spook . Too much Inner Light could burn off your dracaena . This is good news for people who desire to grow their dracaena outside , but can not supply full sun .
