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Dracaenas , better know as dragon trees , have been pop houseplant for some prison term now .
As indoor plants , they show a wonderful display of foliage that ’s indisputable to please without requiring constant caution . That is where a expert potting soil mix for Dracaena comes in .
Photo Credit: Instagram @seemlygreen
Popular species , such as the dragon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Dracaena marginata ) , prosperous bamboo ( Dracaena sanderiana ) , and striped Dracaena ( Dracaena fragrans , AKADracaena massangeanaorDracaena deremensis‘Janet Craig ’ ) , are treasured for their long , often variegated leafage . But these slender foliage will only be at their well when the works is given the right soil .
WARNING: Sansevieria Care IS NOT Dracaena Care
As unusual as this disclaimer sounds , it simply can not be accent enough . A few years back , botanists found genic similarities between the generaDracaenaandSansevieria .
The two were right away merged in at least one popular categorization system without considering how different these genus actually were .
Unfortunately , using dracaena concern linguistic rule to care for a bowstring hemp can harm or even pour down your snake tongue !
This fact has ensue in an on-going battle between those wishing to adopt the name change and Sansevieria enthusiasts who believe the two genera should remain separate due to their biological difference .
Always apply caveat and secure your plant is NOT a sansevieria before using any upkeep guide designed for dracaenas .
The Best Soil For Dracaena
Simply put , dracaenas prefer rich , well - drained territory .
However , it can tolerate a fair range of land types and even soil - free premix , which we ’ll describe in more detail below .
When you purchase fertiliser , you lean to see an NPK rating , which observe the percentage of nitrogen , P , and potassium nowadays .
However , a respectable dracaena plant really require a range of nutrients to fly high , and safe filth will have many or all of these already include .
Soil pH
A set of guides get this wrong when describe , and the terminology is in reality quite of import .
Soil contains a mixture of mineral and compost or decomposing plant and fauna matter .
territory pH is calculated on a scale with 10 family , from extremely acidic ( less than 4.5 ) to extremely alkaline ( over 9.1 ) .
Dracaena plant opt a range of slight acids ( 6.1- 6.5 ) or neutral ( 6.6 to 7.3 ) .
Be wary of sites that describe 5.0 or 5.5 as “ somewhat acid . ” These levels can harm or down plant require slightly acidic ground .
Macronutrients
All dracaena houseplants require the Big Three macronutrients , which are :
These three nutrients will be in the main fill again through fertilizers for indoor plants , but all soil will moderate some degree of these food – especially homemade mix .
Micronutrients
Micronutrients are often ignored because they ’re not play up on fertilizer packages .
However , just like a human multivitamin , any good dirt and plant food will contain trace amounts of these essential nutrient .
Your dracaena will primarily want small amounts of :
Please note that water tap water is n’t a good generator for these nutrients , as the atomic number 20 , Cl gas pedal , and other chemical or mineral salts in tap water are n’t in a cast the plant life can easily digest , often leading to soil perniciousness .
If your dragon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s leaves look yellow , your soil may be too dry . ameliorate water retention by rectify the dirt with coir or peat moss .
Your fair houseplant pests are problematical . That means mealybugs , spider mite , etc .
Choosing A Potting Soil For Dragon Trees
As mentioned , dracaena ask soil with fantabulous drain and a fair amount of organic fabric .
Almost any potting soil mix will play if amended , although an African reddish blue potting admixture is often the ripe option for tropical plants .
It ’s normally a good thought to amend your potting mix with an aggregate , such as perlite , with one part mass to two parts soil mix .
totality prevent the territory from pack , improving oxygenation and body of water drain . Specifically , your grease may not be draining efficiently , lead to torpid and rotting radical . Improve drainage by add perlite , pine fines , or vermiculite .
Repotting in mild temperatures is the best way to keep off this . This reach the plant plentitude of time to convalesce during the clock time of twelvemonth when it has the most nutrients and sun useable .
If working with poorer soil , you may also like to add together some organic stuff , such as peat moss .
Related : Can You trim down The Top Off A Dracaena Plant ?
Homemade Potting Mixes
If you ’re feeling a little more adventurous , you may make your own soil - free mix .
For dracaena , the most common mix is a uncomplicated ratio of one part constitutional material , one part aggregate , and one part peat moss . You might also see roots coming out of the drainage holes or out of the top of the grunge .
( check that the water level is below the bottom bound of the great deal so the plant does n’t suck up too much water . )
trim your dracaena during the growing season ( natural spring and summer ) — utilize the stem cuttings for propagation .
After pruning , you could root the cut tops to have even more plant life to legislate along to supporter . Simply sink the cut end in a wry - powder root hormone and stick it 1″ to 2″ inch down in a pocket-sized container filled with moist potting premix .
As the water evaporates , the ring humidity will increase . When take a potting commixture , keep in nous that dracaena get it on land that drain well and is rich in organic matter .
However , there are a lot of great ingredients to pick out from , so let ’s take a moment to extend some of the most popular :
Activated Charcoal
This aggregate help percolate toxins from the soil and provides extra carbon .
Use no more than 5 % to 10 % percentactivated oxford gray contentin your admixture .
Coarse Sand
This is n’t the sand you ’ll see in a sandbox .
Instead , this aggregate is the type of turgid - food grain gumption used for concrete and Freemasonry .
As with other aggregates , it prevent soil compacting but is a little less efficient at admit onto urine , so try out not to make it more than 20 % percent of the total admixture and use it with moss .
However , it ’s a thoroughgoing reply to Henry Clay soils , which incline to hold back too much wet .
Coconut Coir
Coco coir is the fiberyou uncovering on a coconut plate and is often sell in garden centers as a by - product of processing coconut palm commercially .
It improves aeration , retain moisture , and provides plenty of organic material , making it a popular choice for 20 % to 30 % of homemade potting mixes .
Orchid Bark Or Pine Bark Fines
orchidaceous plant bark is perhaps the most popular organic component , and some recipes call for as much as 40 % pct of orchid bark capacity .
Meanwhile , pine barque fines are a byproduct of making pine mulch and are a lilliputian less coarse .
Use sphagnum moss instead of peat when using the bark fines , as the fines increase sourness , and employ no more than 30 % percent .
Peat Moss
Peat moss is the go - to choicefor many growers , as it more or less increases grunge sour while helping to hold moisture without create a swampy jam .
habituate 10 to 20 % percent in your mix , calculate on what other amendments you ’re using .
Perlite
This popular aggregate made of crushed volcanic rock can help oneself forbid soil compacting and helps retain diminished sum of money of moisture .
Perlite has a electroneutral pHand tends to be a cheap and easy - to - find option .
Pumice
pumice stone is a great aggregate choice , improving wet retention in sandy soils while increasing aeration in remains soils .
It also bear some sulfur , a micronutrient that can aid in pest control condition . Try not to use more than 10 % to 15 % percentage as too much sulfur can give some plants indigestion .
Sphagnum Moss
wayward to the claims of many site , sphagnum and peat are not the same affair .
Use sphagnum in place of peat to make the grime slightly more inert .
Vermiculite
Another conglomeration , this popular option to perlite , not only keeps the soil loose and retain a bit of moisture but can also help retain some nutrients .
utilize it in the same proportion as you would perlite .
Worm Castings
This is literally writhe poop and is a byproduct of vermiculture compost .
Nutrient - full-bodied , lend 5 % to 10 % per centum worm - drift depicted object to your mix will boost your plants .
