Dracaena Care: An Easy Plant That Adds Height to Any Room
If you want a plant that adds some height and doesn't ask for much, get a dracaena. They're tough, they grow upright, and over time a lot of them start to look like a small tree. They're great for corners and entryways.
Dracaena care is easy. The two things that matter most are not overwatering and paying attention to your tap water.
The short version
Bright, indirect light. Let the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out before you water. Use filtered, distilled or rain water if the tips start browning. That's most of it.
A little background
Dracaenas are native to Africa and Asia, and some are called dragon trees. There are a lot of them. Some have long, strappy leaves. Some have wide, glossy leaves. Some are striped in lime, white or yellow. Care is pretty similar across the group.
Light
- Best: bright, indirect light. They grow fuller and the color stays stronger.
- OK: lower light. They handle it, but growth slows down.
- Avoid: direct sun. It can scorch the long leaves.
"They don't need light" is a common myth. They'll survive in a darker corner, but they look a lot better with some brightness.
Water
- Let the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out before you water.
- Water thoroughly, then let it drain. Don't let the pot sit in water.
- Lean dry. Dracaenas are drought tolerant and would much rather be a little dry than soggy.
- Water less in winter.
Overwatering is their number one killer. If you're unsure, wait a few days.
The tap water thing
This is the part most people miss. Dracaenas are sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water. Over time that can cause brown leaf tips.
- Use distilled, filtered or rain water if you can.
- Flush the soil every few months. Run plain water through the pot for a minute and let it drain out. That clears out buildup.
Our post on brown leaf tips goes into the other causes too.
Soil and pots
A well-draining, lightweight potting mix. Adding some perlite or sand helps. The pot needs a drainage hole.
They grow slowly and don't need to be repotted often. When roots fill the pot, go up one size in spring.
Temperature
They're indoor plants for most of us. Keep them away from cold drafts and heating vents. Outdoors they only work in warm climates, in the shade.
Feeding
A diluted houseplant fertilizer a few times in spring and summer is plenty. Skip it in fall and winter.
Propagation
Easy. Cut a stem or the top of the plant and root it in water or soil. You can grow a whole new plant from a top cutting. The original stem usually sprouts new growth below the cut too.
Where to put one
Taller dracaenas look good in a corner, by a doorway or next to a couch. Smaller ones work on a desk or shelf. Just a few feet back from a bright window is usually the sweet spot. If the leaves start leaning, turn the pot every couple of weeks so it grows straight.
Common issues
- Brown leaf tips → usually fluoride in tap water, or letting it get too dry. Switch water and flush the soil.
- Lower leaves yellowing → normal aging. Trim them off.
- Lots of yellow leaves at once, soil wet → overwatering. Let it dry out. More in why plant leaves turn yellow.
- Faded color → not enough light. Move it closer to a window.
- Pests → mealybugs and spider mites. Wipe the leaves regularly and check where the leaves meet the stem.
Dracaenas and pets
Dracaenas are toxic to pets. Keep them out of reach of anything that likes to chew on leaves.
A few dracaenas we like
- Dracaena 'Janet Craig' - deep green, glossy leaves and a full, upright shape. It handles lower light well, so it's a good office plant.
- Dracaena 'Lemon Lime' - long leaves striped in green, lime and yellow. Very bright.
- Dracaena 'Tornado' - the one in the photo, with twisted, lime-edged leaves.
- Dracaena 'Warneckii White Jewel' - green leaves striped with white.
See them all in our Dracaena collection. If you're shopping for a dim room, our Low Light Plants collection has more options. For an office, our best office plants post is a good next read. And if you like plants that thrive on a little neglect, the snake plant is a close cousin in attitude. For care on everything else, check out our Plant Care Guide.
The takeaway
Bright-ish light, let it dry out, and watch your water. A dracaena will reward you with years of easy height. Shop the Dracaena collection. Let us know if you have any questions!
Happy growing,
Alex
Chief Leaf Officer, Austin Jungle Co.
