How to water dracaena so that it does not dry out, rot or get sick

Dracaena is an exotic and decorative “palm” of the Asparagus family, which grows on average up to 15 centimeters upward per year. People call it the dragon tree.

Dracaena is native mainly to Africa, southern Asia and Central America.

The plant is evergreen with a smooth, straight trunk, its appearance is very similar to a palm tree. The leaves are narrow and long with sharp tips. The leaves are green only in the upper part of the stem; in the lower part they gradually dry out and fall off. An indoor palm grows up to a maximum height of 50 centimeters.

There are several varieties of home dracaena:

• marginata;
• bamboo of happiness;
• fragrant.

In order for a plant to decorate the interior, it needs proper care:

• most types of palm trees are unpretentious and grow well in a room with high humidity (in summer the room temperature should be from 20 to 25 degrees, in winter it should not fall below 15 degrees);
• The plant loves daylight, but direct sunlight should be avoided. A good location is a west or east window. In winter, dracaena needs additional lighting;
• Any soil is suitable for good growth; it is best to place drainage in the pot;
• avoid drafts and cold rooms;
• in the summer you can put it on the balcony;
• do not forget to replant the plant on time. Once every three years (young shoots once a year, an adult palm once every five years).

Recommendations for watering dracaena

How to water dracaena correctly?

1. During the growth period, it is watered once a week.
2. In winter, it is recommended to irrigate the soil twice a month.
3. Soften the water before watering with alkaline acid.
4. To prevent the plant from growing upward, cut off the top.
5. Remove yellowed leaves.

The secret to good growth and beautiful greenery of dracaena is ideal care; the soil should not be dry or too damp.

Signs of overwatering or dry soil

Dry leaf tips indicate a lack of moisture in the air, and not infrequent watering. If the owners, instead of frequently spraying the flower, grab the watering can, there is a great danger of root rotting.

Dracaena needs to be watered more often when it shows the following signs:

• leaves drooping;
• the tips turn yellow;
• the plates curl - so, if you water rarely, the area of ​​evaporation decreases;
• many lower leaves fall off (not to be confused with natural aging);
• the color of variegated varieties fades;
• the soil lags behind the walls of the pot;
• When watering is done, the water immediately flows into the pan.

Signs of overwatering:

• dark spots appear on the leaves;
• the plates hang as if they are dry, but become soft;
• the earthen lump is wet and smells bad;
• the color becomes faded, it seems that the leaves are covered with dust;
• the root rots;
• the base of the trunk softens - this is the last stage, you need to trim and plant the top.

Watering dracaena at home should be done carefully. In hot weather or in the sun, overdrying of the substrate is more dangerous; at low temperatures in the shade, overmoistening is more dangerous.

How to properly water dracaena at home

You need to water with pre-settled water, the water temperature should be room temperature or a little warmer.

Attention! It is forbidden to water with cold water in winter, as there is a high probability of death.

In addition to standard watering, palm trees need shower baths. Experts recommend carrying out the procedure twice a month. Such irrigation promotes freshness, cleans leaves from dust and improves the appearance of the plant.

In winter, when the air is dried out by radiators, you need to irrigate the indoor flower with a spray bottle.

Growing conditions

In order for Dracaena to grow and develop well, it must be provided with the necessary conditions for life.

Temperature

The best temperature indicator would be a range between 15-28 degrees Celsius . Dracaena can tolerate a drop in temperature to +11, but it is necessary to stop watering, since in cool conditions and high humidity it can become infected with root rot.

Air humidity

The plant does not depend much on air humidity, but in summer dry air the plant will need spraying or a warm shower twice a day. Otherwise, the tips of its beautiful leaves will begin to dry out from the dry air.

Also, when rinsing with a shower, dust is washed away from the leaf plates, which interferes with photosynthesis. In this case, the pot is wrapped in cellophane so that the soil does not get wet and there is no unnecessary watering.

Lighting

Direct sunlight in summer can burn the leaves, but at other times of the year Dracaena feels good standing on southern windows.
Therefore, in summer it is better to put it on a window sill facing any direction other than the south, or if there is no other window sill, then place it deep into the apartment, where there will be bright, diffused lighting.

In winter, the flower does not require lighting; natural light is enough for it.

In what cases is support needed?

In its normal state, this flower does not need support. But if Dracaena periodically lacks sunlight, it can grow thin and weak shoots.

In this case, it will need support, since the trunk may break off. The support is selected based on the height of the plant.

Choosing a place to put it

The ideal place for the plant is an east or west window. If the windows are oriented to the south, then starting in May, Dracaena is moved away from the window so that the summer sun's rays do not burn the leaves of the flower.

In an apartment facing north, the dracaena will not have enough sun in winter, and it will begin to grow weak stems, so they begin to illuminate it with special lamps for plants.

What does it look like in the interior?

These persistent plants are often used for indoor landscaping.
Because they have beautiful foliage and can withstand mismanagement.

They are displayed in groups when they are still small in stature or placed as a tapeworm if the palm tree has reached a meter mark.

Dracaena Marginata has variations in leaf mass and therefore you can purchase Dracaenas of different colors and display them in a bright corner of the room, which will give it a beautiful and memorable look.

How much water is needed to water dracaena at home?

You need enough water to saturate the entire soil from top to bottom of the pot.

Watering methods:

• above. With this method of watering, the spout of the watering can must be carefully placed on the edge of the pot so that water flows out of it in a slow stream. Once you see water in the pan, the process is over. After ten minutes, remove the water from the pan. This method is easy and convenient, but it quickly washes out minerals from the soil, so it requires constant feeding of the soil with mineral fertilizers. It is necessary to feed only in the evening (to avoid burning) and during the growth period - from March to August;
• below. It is necessary to pour water into the pan so that the water covers the bottom of the pot no more than 1 centimeter. This method is suitable only when the soil in the pot is dry and gradual moistening is required;
• bathing. The pot is immersed in water and removed after complete absorption, after which it is taken out and left until the excess water is gone. This method is suitable for the summer; experts do not advise taking risks in winter. Also, do not water young palm trees using this method.

How to water a plant indoors?

Reference. Dracaenas are excellent air purifiers in the home. They saturate it with oxygen, give residents positive emotions, and relieve tension.

But in order for this plant to delight you with its bright green foliage, you need to carefully follow the watering regime at home. Any changes in soil or air moisture can lead to disease or death of the plant.

How often should this be done?

Watering too frequently can lead to waterlogging of the soil and rotting of the root system of the plant. The average interval between liquid applications is 4-8 days.

The watering regime in winter and summer will be different. So, in winter the frequency of soil moisture is reduced, but in summer (especially in drought and heat), on the contrary, they can increase.

If the air in the house is already too humid, then you can water the plant less often. You should not place containers with flowers near radiators, radiators and other heating devices. They dry out the air, and dracaena cannot tolerate this.

The interval between watering may vary depending on the type of plant. For example, species with wide leaf blades require more frequent application of water. Narrow-leaved varieties like a small amount of liquid, often added to the soil.

How many times a week?

Typically, watering dracaena is carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on the time of year, the microclimate in the room and the moisture content of the substrate. As soon as the soil in the pot begins to dry out at a depth of 4-5 cm, it means that it is time to add a portion of water.

You can also focus on the condition of the sheet plates. If the plant needs moisture, the tips of the leaves begin to dry out.

Important! If there is an excess of water, the leaves will become sluggish, soft, and lose their brightness of color.

What water is best to use?

Water for dracaena must be left to stand for at least 48 hours. At the same time, its temperature should not be lower than room temperature (ideally it should be 21 degrees). If you water the plant with cold water, the soil will become supercooled and the roots will rot.

Choose water with a minimum amount of foreign impurities. The alkaline balance should be neutral. Both rain and melt water are suitable for irrigation. You can slightly acidify it if necessary with table vinegar or peat tablets. Hard water can be softened with oxalic acid

You can spray the plant only with warm water and in no case chlorinated. It is better to filter it first to avoid troubles.

Process technology

Watering dracaena can be done using three methods:

• through the top;
• into the pallet;
• in the shower.

Through the top

In order for watering using this method to be effective and the liquid to saturate all the soil in the container, you need to pour in the water slowly, leaning the spout of the watering can against the edge of the pot. To prevent useful elements from being washed out of the substrate, you need to choose watering cans with a narrow spout and, accordingly, a narrow watering stream.

Attention! You can tell that the soil is saturated by whether water is flowing into the pan or not yet. After the water begins to flow down, stop watering and leave the plant for 30 minutes. Then drain off the excess water.

To pallet

If the substrate in the container is too dry and begins to peel off from its walls, then you need to use the method of watering into a pan:

1. Pour water into the tray under the container. Through it, the plant roots will absorb the required amount of liquid.
2. Leave the water in this container for a while until the earthen ball with the flower is completely saturated with moisture.

This method should not be used too often, since frequent use can lead to the accumulation of harmful salts in the soil.

In the shower

This watering method is usually used in the summer. The air temperature in the room should not be lower than 25 degrees:

1. Place the container with the plant in a bath filled with water. In this case, the liquid should remain at the level of the pot, but go above its edges.
2. Leave the dracaena in this position until it is completely saturated with moisture (30-40 minutes).
3. Water the plant from above with warm water from the shower so that dust and dirt are washed off from the leaf plates.
4. Let excess water drain and make sure that liquid does not linger in the leaf axils.
5. Return the flower to its original place.

When should you limit hydration?

• The frequency of watering is usually reduced after the last feeding before autumn. At this time, the interval between adding water should be at least 8-10 days.
• In winter, dracaena is completely dormant, so it is necessary to add a minimum of water. But keep an eye on the condition of the soil. Water the plant only as needed.
• Watering should be limited or completely eliminated at the first signs of overwatering (the leaves have become soft, spots have appeared on them, a putrid damp smell is coming from the pot).

The danger of improper care of dracaena

If not properly cared for, dracaena leaves begin to wilt and darken at the tips.

Mistakes when growing palm trees:

• excessive and frequent watering. Signs are rotting of the roots and trunk, magnesium spots appear on the trunk. Treatment: remove the palm tree along with the soil, wash the roots and clean off the rotten roots. Treat the roots with charcoal solution and place them in new soil. It should be watered generously and not touched for two weeks;
• dry soil. Signs: palm leaves dry out and fall off. Water immediately and follow the watering recommendations in the future. Remove dry ends.
• keeping in the cold. Signs: plant rotting. In this case, the palm tree cannot be saved;
• bright lighting. Signs - the leaves change color, the tips of the leaves begin to dry out and fall off. Treatment: the plant should be moved to a place where there is diffused light and begin to water slowly, gradually bringing it to normal and spray the greens.

Proper care of the palm tree, and most importantly, proper watering of the dracaena, turns the bush into a majestic and spectacular plant that will serve as a wonderful decoration for any interior. It is appropriate to install it both in an apartment, house, and in office premises.

What are the dangers of improper watering?

Attention! If, with a lack of moisture, the plant can still be saved by gradually increasing the frequency and volume of watering, then with excessive watering, rotting of the roots and trunk of the plant begins, which inevitably leads to the death of the dracaena.

If the rotting process has already begun, then the best option would be to cut off the healthy part of the top of the flower (for propagation), and dispose of the rest of the plant.

The exotic appearance of dracaena attracts many gardeners. This palm tree looks impressive in almost any room. But in order to grow this plant healthy, you need to carefully follow the watering regime. Any mistakes when adding water to the soil will immediately affect the capricious dracaena. At best, it will lose the brightness of its leaves, and at worst, it will die.