Dracaena plants are known for their lush, tall, spiky fronds, and have been favoured by gardeners and landscapers alike for their ability to produce a luxe tropical look with low to no effort.
WATCH: Charlie Albone’s guide to succulents
Much like their lookalikes, yuccas, there are over 40 varieties of dracaenas, which vary in size, shape, colour and pattern. The most common are the dracaena draco (dragon tree), dracaena fragrans (happy plant), and the deremensis group. Again, much like yuccas and also succulents, the beauty of this spiked plant is that they are equally suited for indoor and outdoor growing and are incredibly hardy and low-maintenance.
The dracaena also gets brownie points for its ability to purify the air – and this is according to NASA, so you know it’s true! But be careful, as while they can clean the air around you, they can also be toxic to cats and dogs, so it’s best to keep them out of reach from prying snouts.
How to grow dracaenas
Aspect
Dracaenas are pretty low-fuss, meaning they can generally be grown just about anywhere. However, they will always perform best in bright, indirect sun. Too much sun or too little humidity will end in burnt, brown leaves. To up the humidity, lightly mist its leaves every now and then.
Climate
These spikey-leaved plants are pretty adaptable, too. They will thrive in most areas of Australia but need sun and well-draining soil, so if you live in a particularly wet area, it might be best to opt for a pot indoors.
Soil
Gritty soil is the go – dracaenas really need soil that can drain completely after a good water or rain if outdoors as root rot is a common threat to them.
Water
If your dracaena is outdoors, natural rainfall is usually enough to give it what it needs. If you keep your dracaena indoors, however, occasional watering will do the trick – just be careful not to go overboard!
Fertiliser
Dracaenas don’t particularly need feeding, however, if you’d like, fertilise monthly with a slow-release fertiliser sparingly in the spring and summer months.
How to propagate a dracaena from cuttings
Much like succulents and many popular indoor plants, you can propagate and grow a dracaena from cuttings, such as trimmed tops. Simply pop them in water and wait for them to root! Be aware though, dracaenas in general are fairly slow-growing, so the process can be lengthy. Once the roots have grown to about 2.5cm long, you can plant or pot them.
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