DRACAENA MARGINATA

The red edge on the leaves has earned it the common name of red-edged dracaena. It is also known as the dragon tree. Most of the production of dracaena marginata originates in Central America, South Florida, and Hawaii. This may be in the form of cuttings or stock plants.

Marginatas can tolerate and survive with a minimum light exposure of 75-100 foot candles. Although the more light you can provide the better your results. Remember these plants are produced outside and then brought into shade houses where the light levels reach 3000-4000 foot candles.

Marginatas develop two very different leaves depending on the light levels it has been grown in. Prior to being moved indoors most plants receive bright light, such as in the nursery shade house or greenhouse. You will notice under these light levels the plant will develop leaves that will be very rigid, straight, upright and have thick leaf blades. The trunks will also develop heavier caliper stems.

This is in contrast to a thin, soft, weeping or gracefully arching leaf that will be produced in an interior or at very low light-levels. These leaves are usually a very dark olive green. Most Marginatas don’t receive bright light indoors and develop this soft weeping leaf. The plants as they ‘grow out” indoors show off both of these two forms of growth hangs over it.

Generally, keeping your marginata too wet is going to cause more problems than keeping it too dry. Thoroughly water your plant and allow it to partially thy out before watering again. Depending on your indoor setting this can be anywhere from I to 2 weeks, even more if you’re using sub-irrigation.

Fertilizing - Many people want to bring the plant home and immediately fertilize it. WAIT Most of the plants you purchase should have adequate nutrition to last them 3-6 months. Remember that the plant is going into a slowing down phase and food is probably not necessary during this transition.

PESTS - Marginata is susceptible to many of the usual indoor plant pests, primarily mites, scale and mealy bugs. Your best bet is probably the low tech method of cleaning by hand, one leaf at a time.

 

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