Song of India (Dracaena Reflexa) Profile
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is an evergreen shrub of Liliaceae, perennial roots, green and glossy leaves, Draconia family, Draconia genus. There are golden stripes in the middle of the leaf, which is very beautiful, and is one of the family common cultivation of leaf plants.
Song of India Picture
Song of India Info
| Botanical Name | Dracaena reflexa |
| Common Names | Song of India |
| Plant Type | Broadleaf evergreen |
| Sun | Indirect Sun indoors/Partial Shade outdoors |
| Hardiness Zones | 11-12, USA |
| Flower color | White |
| Native Area | Mozambique, Madagascar |
| Mature size | 18 - 20ft outdoors, 3ft plus as a houseplant |
Morphological characteristics of song of India
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Leaves linear or lanceolate, entire, dark green glossy, loosely clustered; Inflorescences are solitary or branched, often reflexed, flowers white, dioecious.
Inflorescences of Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) are solitary or branched, florets white. Its variegated variety Phnom Penh, Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is also seen in cultivation, the leaf margin has golden yellow longitudinal stripes; Song of India, leaf margin green, gold in the center. Inflorescences are relatively long, up to half a meter.
Song of India's Ecological Habits
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) has a strong habit, likes high temperature and humidity, the growth temperature is 20-28 ℃, drought and humidity tolerance, high temperature will lead to vigorous growth, winter dry and cold easy to cause leaf tip dry. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) should be half shade, avoid strong direct sunlight, overwintering requirements above 12℃. The soil and fertilizer requirements are not strict.
How to Grow and Care for Song of India
The Substrate
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) has good adaptability and can grow in clay and sandy soil, but the sandy soil with loose and fertile, good drainage and rich humus is the best for growth. For home cultivation, leaf rot soil can be mixed with river sand or slag ash as a cooperative substrate.
Humidity
The optimum growth temperature for Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is between 20 ~ 30℃, and the winter temperature is best kept above 10℃. It is not resistant to low-temperature freezing damage. A certain amount of humidity in the air is needed during growth, otherwise the leaf color will become dull and the gloss will decrease. In the growing season can often spray water to the plant, if conditions permit, it is best to increase moisture in the environment.
Light
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) likes light and avoids direct sunlight in summer. For family maintenance, it can be placed under the south window or on the balcony. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) can only avoid direct sunlight in summer, and it is better to give some light in other seasons, otherwise the golden stripes in the middle of the leaves will dim and disappear, seriously reducing the ornamental value.
Watering
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) has a wide tolerance to water, and mild drought and wet stains will not do much damage. However, it is best to water thoroughly after the dry surface of basin soil in management, which is conducive to its good growth. Watering alternately between wet and dry can make the branches and leaves dense, compact branches, high ornamental value.
Fertilization
The demand for fertilizer is not strict, and can be in the growing period of topdressing chemical fertilizer or organic fertilizer liquid can be, but the application of chemical fertilizer to a small number of times, and in time after fertilizer watering. Additional can be in every year when changing the basin changes soil to join certain decrepit organic fertilizer to make base fertilizer, can assure its growth is good.
Trim
The plant shape is generally good because it has a certain persistent root and can grow new branches from the root. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is relatively resistant to pruning. It is better to properly increase fertilizer and water management before and after pruning to ensure better growth of new branches and leaves. Pruning is mainly plastic, of course, cuttings in cuttings reproduction are one of the main reasons for pruning.
Re-Potting
We would suggest re-potting once very 2 -3 years and a pot one size bigger if it's becoming terribly pot bound. Slightly pot bound is fine.
Song of India Propagation Methods
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is available for sowing method or cutting method, a large number of breeding available sowing method, spring to summer for the appropriate sowing period, germination and root suitable temperature is 20~25℃. Cuttage in spring, autumn as the appropriate period, cutting branches each section of more than 10 cm if with leaves to cut off most of the cutting in wet sand bed or soil, maintain humidity, accept sunshine 50%~60%, about 30-40 days can root.
Seeding Method
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is mostly used for mass propagation. The sowing season is better in spring and summer, and the suitable temperature for germination and root is 20~25℃. The sandy soil with loose and fertile, good drainage and rich humus is the best for growth, which can be mixed with plant nutrient soil, leaf rot soil and river sand.
Cutting
Spring will cut the stem cut into 5 cm to 10 cm without a leaf of the stem section, or cutting base tip easy dry. Long-term in indoor shade part of the branches with the tip of the stem, inserted in clean coarse river sand, pouring water permeable, covered with plastic bags, keep the substrate moist, placed in a bright indoor place, about 25 days can take root. Or cut the branches into water, 25℃ about half a month can take root.
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is fond of high temperature, humid climate, warm and humid semi-shade environment. The suitable temperature for growth is 20-28℃, and the overwintering temperature in winter should not be less than 10℃. A slightly lower temperature and dry air will cause leaf tip drying. Negative resistance is strong, although in full sunshine or half sunshine conditions can grow, but in the shade of 50%-70% of the best growth. The requirement for moisture is not strict. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is drought-resistant, moisture-resistant, not cold-resistant, and afraid of scorching sun exposure. But it is suitable for growing in wet and well-drained sandy loam with rich organic matter. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) likes a humid environment, when the air humidity is high, the growth is vigorous, the growth period should be more to the foliage and the surrounding environment spray water, and every half a month fertilizer.
Disease Control of Song of India
In Song of India (Dracaena reflexa), there are few diseases and insect pests, and the main diseases are leaf spot disease. In the family maintenance process, the red spider is often harmed due to dry air or other flowers and plants. Generally, it can be washed with large water many times or directly sprayed with special insecticides for mite prevention and control, such as acromatol, Nolan and achromatic, etc.
The distribution area of Song of India
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is originally from Madagascar.
Uses of Song of India
Ornamental Value
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is very popular with people, this kind of plant leaf color elegant, for indoor leaf viewing good taste. Originated in Madagascar, it is widely cultivated as a foliage plant with elegant and graceful leaves and good shade tolerance. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is suitable for indoor ornamental and hydroponic appreciation.
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is one of the most commonly cultivated foliage plants in the home. It also blooms with small, white, dioecious flowers.
Song of India Landscape Uses
Now Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is widely cultivated as a leaf-viewing plant with elegant and graceful leaves and good shade tolerance, which is very suitable for indoor viewing and hydroponic appreciation.
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) is very popular with people. This kind of plant leaf color is elegant, for indoor leaf view good taste.
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) has large and small leaves respectively, small fine leaves sunlight resistant, suitable for outdoor. Song of India (Dracaena reflexa), on the other hand, is a semi-shade plant that cannot be exposed to the sun. It is a good choice for interior decoration.