Dracaena - Song of India

Dracaena spp., Dracaenas are a group of houseplants you just can't go wrong with. Why? They're among the easiest and most common indoor plants around. Young plants are small and bushy, making them perfect residents of desks and tabletops. Older dracaenas develop woody stems and can become tree like. In fact, after years and years, many healthy dracaenas can reach 5 or 6 feet tall. They're ideal for adding a bold splash of texture to your indoor decor. 

Add interest by selecting varieties variegated with contrasting colors. Striped-type dracaena offers just that: Beautiful leaves that look good by themselves or in combination with other plants. When they're young, they form low mounds that look a bit like stars; as they grow, they pick up some height, eventually becoming tree-like (though it takes a while in your average living room). 

Grow most dracaenas in regular household conditions; they tolerate low light, but thrive in medium and bright spots, too. Water dracaenas when the soil surface gets dry; that's often about once a week or so, but can vary depending on the size of your plant, the size of its pot, the amount of light it gets, and other factors. 

Most dracaenas really don't require much fertilizer --- only once or twice a year to keep them healthy (every six months or so). But if you want more growth, you can fertilize more frequently. Use any general-purpose houseplant fertilizer from your local garden center and follow the directions on the packaging. 

If your dracaena gets too tall and lanky, you can prune the top off. Most types will resprout and become bushier. If your dracaena has brown leaf tips, try boosting the humidity --- dry air (or soil that stays dry too long) can cause the leaves to develop this problem. 

• Light

  Indoors: High light
  Indoors: Low light
  Indoors: Medium light

• Water

  Medium water needs

• Colors

  Green, Variegated

• Special Features

  Purifies the air
  Super-easy to grow

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