Dracaena dragon tree: varieties, application, rules of care, diseases and pests

Dracaena (dragon tree) is a perennial plant that has been actively cultivated at home for over 100 years. As it grows, it forms a tree trunk, crowned with a dense bundle of long green leaves. This makes the dracaena look like a miniature palm tree and allows you to use it in the design of residential premises, offices, shopping centers, etc.

Plant history

Dracaena belongs to relict plants. They originated during the appearance of the first dinosaurs. Their homeland is the tropics and subtropics of Africa and Southeast Asia. In addition, the plant is found in the Canary Islands.

In nature, there are about 200 varieties of tree and shrub varieties of this plant.

Only 15 of them are home grown. Some large trees are protected by law. Especially valuable specimens are about 3000 years old. It is impossible to establish it exactly, since annual rings do not form in dracaena.

Flower legends

The unusual appearance of the plant has led to the emergence of several legends about it. According to one of them, many years ago the planet was inhabited by intelligent dragons that could live forever. However, people wanted to know their secret and become immortal, so they began to exterminate the ancient lizards, believing that their blood would help defeat old age and give strength.

The last dragon escaped a sad fate for a long time, but when the warriors overtook him and severely wounded him, he forgave his killers and all people. At the place where the dragon was buried, dracaena grew, the juice of which could heal diseases and wounds.

Signs and superstitions

Many superstitions are associated with dracaena. Plants with 3.5 or 7 trunks are the happiest. It is recommended to place them as a talisman near the entrance to the house.

The dragon tree is a good houseplant for the living room and bedroom, as helps to create favorable energy.

There is a sign that if a dracaena is suddenly presented to a person, he will have good luck in love and rapid career growth.

Moreover, this flower can bring harmony to family relationships. However, if the dracaena began to dry out, this may indicate that negative energy prevails in the house, and even portend the death of one of the spouses.

Dracaena magic

It is believed that dracaena has powerful energy and some magical properties.

This plant:

• improves well-being;
• gives strength to solve problems;
• clears thoughts;
• relieves skin diseases;
• attracts luck in financial affairs;
• strengthens love and friendship, etc.

Dracaena growing in a home can increase the lifespan of its owners and protect the family from severe trials.

Feng Shui meaning

Feng Shui gives dracaena the ability to bring happiness to a person's life. This plant is a good gift for any occasion. According to this teaching, a pot with this flower should be placed in the zone of wealth, i.e. on the east and south sides of the house.

The reason for the name "tree of happiness"

In the mythology of the Aztecs, this plant is called the "tree of happiness." According to legend, a warrior who fell in love with the daughter of the high priest had to fulfill her father's condition, who gave a stick and said to water it for 5 days in a row and achieve the appearance of not her leaves.

If green shoots do not appear, the groom will not only lose the bride, but also his life. However, the gods took pity on the warrior, and at the end of the allotted time, leaves appeared on the stick.

The priest was forced to give his daughter in marriage, and the stick was planted in the soil. This was dracaena. It is believed that if a branch of this plant is cut off on the full moon at exactly midnight, it will bring happiness in your personal life.

Description of dracaena

Dracaena is a long-lived plant that, under natural conditions, can grow to gigantic proportions. However, for this he needs a long period. At home, it does not reach such dimensions. In addition, many dwarf species of this plant have now been bred, intended for growing on the windowsill.

Plant size and type

All types of dracaena can be conditionally divided into treelike and shrub. Plants belonging to the first category are found only in arid regions. Some specimens reach a height of 20 m.

Shrub forms grow on poor rocky soils. Often they form 1-4 thick stems from one root, at the top of which there is a brush of their long, hard leaves.

Such dracaena grow slowly and reach no more than 2.5 m in height. In some species, as they age, a thickening forms at the base of the stem, in which water and nutrients accumulate.

Domestic dracaena rarely exceed 2 m.The thickness of their trunk reaches 10 cm in diameter. In addition, 2-10 stems can grow from one root at once. Such plants are often stunted.

Trunk

In the tree-like forms of the plant, a thick trunk is formed, the diameter of which can reach 13 m. It is crowned with a large umbrella-shaped crown. The powerful trunk contains a large amount of resinous sap, which contains a large amount of moisture and nutrients that help the tree survive the driest periods.

A feature of this substance is the ability to acquire a red color upon contact with oxygen. Thanks to this, the plant received the name "dragon tree". Long leaves grow in bunches only at the top.

Standing under such a tree, it is almost impossible to see them. Shrub and artificially bred plant varieties often do not have pronounced branches at the end, but there is a smooth transition to a rosette of leaves.

Leaves

Depending on the variety of dracaena, the length of its leaves can vary from 10 to 55 cm. Their width ranges from 1.5 to 7 cm. Most plants have dark green leaves, but there are also species that are striped in color.

Flowering period

The flowering period of most species of these plants growing in nature begins with the onset of the rainy season or immediately after its end. This often takes 3 weeks to 2 months.

Ornamental species rarely bloom.

Even the creation of better conditions for the plant does not lead to the activation of this process.

Flowers

During the breeding season, adult trees and shrubs emit large inflorescences of white, pink or purple. Their length reaches 20 cm. They exude a pleasant aroma. During the day they attract insects, and at night they are pollinated by some species of primates, bats and hawk moths.

Seeds and fruits

After flowering, greenish fruits are formed in place of flowers, the diameter of which reaches 2 cm. Small black seeds form in their pulp. As it ripens, the fruits turn red. They are attractive to animals and birds, which can further spread the seeds over a long distance.

Chemical composition

In folk medicine and pharmacology, fruits, seeds and juice of dracaena are especially appreciated.

They contain the maximum amount of active substances, such as:

• borneol;
• alpha copain;
• alpha tukhin;
• penin;
• alpha calacorin;
• beta element;
• beta-caryophyllene;
• betaine;
• cedrusin;
• katechin;
• gallocatechin;
• decoosterol;
• camphine;
• bincatriol;
• D-limonin;
• eugenol;
• dihydrobenzofuran dimethylsedrusin;
• magnoflorin;
• lignin;
• gamma terpineol;
• tannin;
• taspin;
• methylthymol;
• norisoboldin;
• taspin;
• dragon carmine;
• pigments;
• ethers, etc.

In addition, dracaena fruits and juice contain a high content of tannins, vitamins and minerals.

Pharmacological properties

Recent in-depth studies have revealed the pharmacological properties of dracaena.

The active compounds contained in raw materials from this plant are capable of:

• suppress the activity of viruses, bacteria and pathogenic fungi;
• have an antioxidant effect;
• accelerate wound healing;
• strengthen muscle fibers;
• improve immunity.

In addition, products based on the juice of this plant can be used to eliminate parasites. There is also a positive effect of the active substances present in dracaena on metabolism.

Dracaena varieties

Both natural and artificially bred species of dracaena have their own characteristics.

Marginata

This is the most demanded species among flower growers, which does not differ in whimsical care. Marginata reaches 3 m in height. The leaves of this dracaena are quite narrow and slightly curved. Their edges are reddish. Thin yellow stripes are acceptable. Up to 2-5 shoots emerge from the trunk, crowned with green rosettes.

Fragrant

Fragrant dracaena is distinguished by large leaves, the length of which reaches 70 cm and the width is 10 cm. The outer edges are light green and the core is dark. The tree trunk grows slowly.

This dracaena can reach 2 m. It is one of the few artificially bred plant varieties capable of flowering. In the spring, they throw out white flowers that exude a strong scent.

Deremskaya

This species is slow in growth, but is capable of reaching large sizes. The length of an adult plant is at least 1.4 m. This dracaena forms dense rosettes. The length of the leaves is more than 50 cm. They have asymmetrical longitudinal stripes of different shades of green.

Bent

This species is more suitable for growing in greenhouses, where it is possible to maintain high humidity. It grows in the form of a bush. Dracaena is highly decorative.

The trunk is covered with leaves, the length of which is 20-25 cm. Their outer rims are yellow, and the inner part is deep green. With proper care, the shrub can grow up to 2 m in height.

Gold

The golden dracaena is a dwarf species that grows up to 1 m in height. The length of the leaves is 20 cm. Their width reaches 10-15 cm. The leaves are pointed at the ends. Their edges are golden and the core is rich green. The trunk stiffens slowly, remaining green for a long time. This plant is whimsical in content.

Dragon tree application

This perennial has pronounced healing properties, and is also used in industry and plant growing.

In crop production

Dracaena is bred for further sale as ornamental plants. Less commonly, their leaves are used to make mulch, designed to protect the soil from drying out and erosion.

In industry

In industry, the leaves of the plant are used to obtain coarse fiber, which is the raw material for the manufacture of high-strength ropes. Dracaena juice is used to create natural paints and varnishes.

In medicine

Dracaena juice is actively used in folk medicine in a number of countries in Africa and Asia. It is used to suppress the manifestations of diabetes mellitus, dermatitis and cancer.

In addition, the juice of the plant is used to treat pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and fungal infections. In folk medicine, dracaena is used to eliminate inflammatory gynecological diseases and postpartum hemorrhage. In China, juice is used to eliminate stomach ulcers.

Necessary care

Dracaena is a rather whimsical plant that needs to provide the necessary level of lighting and temperature conditions.

It is necessary to properly water and maintain air humidity. In addition, many species of this perennial are distinguished by increased demands on the composition of the soil.

Location and lighting

This perennial is photophilous, so the pot with it should be placed on the windowsills from the south-east or south-west side. When grown on a southern windowsill, care must be taken to ensure that the leaves do not burn in direct sunlight. The length of daylight hours should be at least 10 hours a day. In the summer, it is recommended to take the plant outside.

In winter, dracaena may lack light. In this case, the leaves may turn yellow and wither. To compensate for the deficit, additional lighting should be provided using phytolamps.

Temperature

Dracaena is a thermophilic perennial. Throughout the year, the temperature should be + 20... + 28 ° C. If it drops to + 15 ° C, to preserve the plant, you need to stop watering. Most species of this plant can survive a short-term temperature drop of -5 ° C.

Air humidity

In nature, dracaena grows in regions where it rarely rains. Most of the moisture it gets from the air. When the room is dusty and dry, the leaves of the plant begin to dry out.

To maintain the required humidity, you need to regularly ventilate the room and periodically wipe the plant with a damp cloth. Place a container of water near the pots. Liquid will evaporate from it, maintaining air humidity.

Top dressing

This perennial needs to be fed 2 times a month in spring and summer, as well as once every 30 days in winter. For this, complex garden fertilizers containing all the necessary nutrients are suitable.

Watering

During the summer heat, you need to water the plant 4 times a month. With the onset of cold weather, the soil in the pot should be moistened once every 2 weeks. For irrigation, it is necessary to use settled water.

Priming

This perennial grows best in well-drained soils with high levels of air permeability.

To make a mixture suitable for dracaena, mix in equal proportions:

• fine gravel;
• clay;
• peat;
• leaf humus;
• pumice stone.

All components are thoroughly mixed to obtain a homogeneous mixture.

Dracaena pot

For planting this plant, pots are suitable, the height of which is not less than 15 cm, and the diameter is more than 10 cm. In the future, this perennial needs to be transplanted every year, increasing the volume of capacity. There must be a large number of holes in the bottom of the pot to drain excess moisture.

Maintaining appearance

Perennials do not require special care. The removal of the lower leaves is practiced to obtain the desired shape.

When and how to prune dracaena

To obtain a branch, they practice cutting off the entire top. In this case, the place of the cut must be covered with polyethylene for 30 days. The cut off part is used to obtain cuttings. It is best to carry out this procedure in the fall.

Planting methods

It is best to breed and plant dracaena during the warm season. The easiest way to perform the procedure is with seeds and layering. Each of these methods has its own characteristics.

Layers

Dracaena, characterized by a flexible stem, can be planted by layering. In this case, the trunk is bent to the ground and fixed in this position. Sprinkle a little soil on top of it.

In the place of the powder, roots will form in the future. The plant can then be separated from the mother root. This process takes about 2-3 weeks. Cover the cut with plastic wrap. In the future, kidneys will form on it.

Seeds

Obtaining plants from dracaena seeds is very difficult, because they are characterized by low germination. To increase the chances of a positive result, you need to soak them in a warm growth stimulator for a day. Then you can sow them in palm soil.

Moisten the substrate moderately. After that, the pot with plantings is covered with plastic wrap. On average, the first shoots appear in 1-2 months. It is necessary to periodically ventilate the containers, lifting the films, and, if necessary, moisten the substrate.

Reproduction

It is easier to propagate this perennial by apical and stem cuttings. This process has some peculiarities.

Apical cuttings

To obtain apical cuttings, a T-shaped incision should be made on the upper part of the trunk, into which the disinfected peat is placed. From above, the place is carefully wrapped in polyethylene. This stimulates the formation of aerial roots. After about a month, the stalk is separated and planted in another pot.

Stem cuttings

If there are a lot of buds on the trunk, they can be used to get new plants. First, the stem is divided into pieces so that at least 2 buds are present on each of them. The length of the segments should be 3-5 cm.

Finished cuttings are planted in a moist substrate, kept warm and provide the necessary lighting.

The container is covered with polyethylene to prevent the soil from drying out quickly. New shoots appear within a month.

Diseases and pests

Dracaena is susceptible to many diseases and pest attacks. Often she suffers from attacks of scale insects, mealybugs and spider mites. Infectious diseases observed in this plant include phylosticosis, alternaria, spotted wilting and bacteriosis.