How to Take Care of Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)

Written by Maggie

Originally a woody plant in the tropics and subtropics, Dragon Tree can grow to heights of three to five metres, but now it is usually grown in large potted plants. When we grow it, we may face many problems, like leaf tips drying or drooping. How to take care of Dragon Tree? Here are some caring tips for you.

How to take care of Dragon Tree leaf tips drying

The yellow and dry tip of Dragon Tree leaves is related to light, water and fertilizer, diseases and insect pests. Too little light will affect the photosynthesis of plants, and the leaves will lose luster. Too much water and fertilizer will damage the roots of plants, unable to absorb water and nutrients normally, resulting in yellow leaves. Root rot and scale insects are relatively serious diseases and insect pests. If not dealt with in time, the plants will wither and die. The following are details of how to take care of dragon tree leaf tips drying.

1. Light for Dragon Tree

Dragon Tree is light loving and suitable for growing in warm, moist and airy climates. If the plant is kept indoors for a long time, it will be unable to carry out photosynthesis and accumulate nutrients without sunlight, which will affect the growth of the plant and thus make the leaves dry and turn yellow. For a long time, plants in the dark indoor position, the leaves will grow smaller, not conducive to the growth of plants.

2. Water and fertilizer

Dragon Tree likes wet. It needs water and fertilizer during growth, but it should not overwater and fertilize. If you water too much, the root system will rot after the pot bottom water. If you fertilize too often, too much fertilizer will burn the root system. When a plant's root system is damaged, it can't absorb water and nutrients properly, resulting in yellowing leaves and thin branches.

3. Root rot

If a large amount of water accumulates in the basin and soil of Dragon Tree is not disposed of in a timely manner, it will be very easy to induce root rot in a closed environment. Root rot will cause the root of the plant to rot and gradually lose the ability to absorb water and nutrients. In the early stage, leaves will dry up and turn yellow from the tip without timely treatment. In the later stage, leaves will wither and turn yellow in large quantities, or even fall off, making the plant lose vitality.

4. Scale insects

In a humid and hot environment, Dragon Tree will induce insect pests and common scale insects, which generally move in spring. The scale insects attach themselves to the opposite side of the young leaves and suck up the nutrition and water of the young leaves. In the early stage, the leaves will become dim and lackluster, and start to turn yellow from the tip, and in the later stage, the leaves will completely turn yellow and dry, which can seriously make the plants wither and die.


Dragon Tree - Most Common House Plant

How to care for Dragon Tree leaves drooping

There are many reasons for the drooping of Dragon Tree leaves. If there is too much water, stop watering. In normal watering, keep the humidity at about 50% ~ 60%. The following are details of how to care for Dragon Tree leaves drooping.

1. Reduce watering

Dragon Tree is a wet-like plant, especially during the growth period. If there is too much water or serious water in the basin for a long time, it is easy to cause the branches and leaves to turn yellow and fall off, which is also one of the reasons for the drooping leaves of Dragon Tree.  At this time, watering should be stopped, and watering should be done thoroughly every time. It is more appropriate to keep the humidity at 50% ~ 60%.

2. Light for Dragon Tree

Dragon Tree is a kind of sunny plant. Bright light is beneficial to the growth of Dragon Tree. If there is often no light or semi-shade, the branches and leaves will turn yellow and droop, which makes them look lifeless.

3. Soil for Dragon Tree

Dragon Tree, a shallow root system distribution, like in a loose and good drainage are grown in sandy soil, alkali soil, the soil acid alkali is heavy, if choose or soil harden and can lead to root rot cause drooping branches and leaves yellowing phenomenon. It should be dealt with in a timely manner in the soil at this time, again to choose rotting leaves after soil and peat soil and sand soil back on the basin.

4. Disease control of Dragon Tree

As Dragon Tree likes to grow in a high temperature and humidity environment, the most common diseases during the growth period are anthrax and leaf spot, which will lead to yellows and drooping of branches and leaves in a long time. The disease can be cut off at the early stage of the disease, and an appropriate amount of carbapenem solution can be sprayed for disinfection, and then diacao solution can be sprayed for prevention and control.

Read More:
How to Propagate Dragon Tree
How to Care for Dragon Tree
Dragon Tree Profile