You need to change the water in the vase once a week, and once a year, pull it out and trim all the dead and mushy roots from the bottom. You should also go to the nursery, and get some Lucky Bamboo Fertilizer. It needs to get nutrition from somewhere. Byee
ice skates
Monday, May 11, 2009
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata 'Colorama') not doing well. Can you help?
I have a dragon tree (Dracaena marginata 'Colorama') which is not looking very healthy. I can't tell if I am over- or under-watering, or if its getting too much or not enough light. Everytime I water it, a few leaves go brown and drop within a few days. The tips have also turned brown. I have had this plant for a long time, and it is only in the last year that it has looked like this... Please help!
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata 'Colorama') not doing well. Can you help?
Well, I'm not expert, but I've lost a couple with similar description and its seems to be more an issue of lighting. They really want bright, warm light either for at least 1/2 the day. I had 3 trees in my master bedroom and during the summer, they set in full afternoon sun from about 1:30 to almost sunset and do well. Last winter, when decided to seal my bedroom window and kept the shades shut. The filtered light just wasn't enough and 2 of the 3 were dead before March.
You do want to watch the watering though too. I seem to get the best growth if I let the planter go dry (about 2" inches down on a 12" planter) and then give them a good soak. Usually watering once a month (twice during the heat of summer) like this and they just thrive.
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata 'Colorama') not doing well. Can you help?
Well, I'm not expert, but I've lost a couple with similar description and its seems to be more an issue of lighting. They really want bright, warm light either for at least 1/2 the day. I had 3 trees in my master bedroom and during the summer, they set in full afternoon sun from about 1:30 to almost sunset and do well. Last winter, when decided to seal my bedroom window and kept the shades shut. The filtered light just wasn't enough and 2 of the 3 were dead before March.
You do want to watch the watering though too. I seem to get the best growth if I let the planter go dry (about 2" inches down on a 12" planter) and then give them a good soak. Usually watering once a month (twice during the heat of summer) like this and they just thrive.
Dracaena fragrans massangeana?
my corn plant in my office stinks like moist soil. there' s no moisture or condensation on the plant or in my office. i have sufficent space. why does it stink so bad? i thought these corn plants doesn't have a scent?
Dracaena fragrans massangeana?
If the plant itself stinks, it may be because the canes are rotting... other than that, I can't think of a reason why the plant would smell. Press on the cane (like you're going to pinch it) at several points, it should be hard to the touch.
Now, if it isn't rotting, the smell has to be coming from the soil. Is their decorative moss on the soil surface? had there been, and now it's removed? maybe pushed down around the sides of the pot? Moss can smell as it decomposes.
Has the plant ever been transplanted? Most potting soil is what we call "soilless mix", that is, it's mostly sphagnum peat. Some mixes might smell. Sphagnum peat holds quite a bit of water. Be sure to allow the soil to dry completely between watering's for a month or two. That might help reduce the smell. Use a butter knife or spoon to dig into the soil an inch down to see that it's dry.
Don't spray the soil or plant with any commercial air scents. You can use them in the proximity of the plant, just not directly on it. An air freshener might be the only solution.
Good luck
I hope that this helps
Reply:You will probably find that the plant maintenance guy is using a liquid fertilizer - the fish based ones really stink for a few days after application.
Dracaena fragrans massangeana?
If the plant itself stinks, it may be because the canes are rotting... other than that, I can't think of a reason why the plant would smell. Press on the cane (like you're going to pinch it) at several points, it should be hard to the touch.
Now, if it isn't rotting, the smell has to be coming from the soil. Is their decorative moss on the soil surface? had there been, and now it's removed? maybe pushed down around the sides of the pot? Moss can smell as it decomposes.
Has the plant ever been transplanted? Most potting soil is what we call "soilless mix", that is, it's mostly sphagnum peat. Some mixes might smell. Sphagnum peat holds quite a bit of water. Be sure to allow the soil to dry completely between watering's for a month or two. That might help reduce the smell. Use a butter knife or spoon to dig into the soil an inch down to see that it's dry.
Don't spray the soil or plant with any commercial air scents. You can use them in the proximity of the plant, just not directly on it. An air freshener might be the only solution.
Good luck
I hope that this helps
Reply:You will probably find that the plant maintenance guy is using a liquid fertilizer - the fish based ones really stink for a few days after application.
I was reading a book on houseplants, and it said that marginata dracaena plants should not be planted perlite.
I thought that Perlite was only qadded to soil to keep it kind of moist. Will my margined dracaena plant die if is has perlite in the soil?
I was reading a book on houseplants, and it said that marginata dracaena plants should not be planted perlite.
I think you have the wrong idea what Pearlie does. It is added to the soil to loosen up hard sandy soil or heavy peat soil. The reason is to add air to the soil moderately and assist drainage.
Keeping this in mind the dracaena must like its feet a wee bit damp. Like it may be salvaged from a swampish area of the world? Does it explain what to use when transplanting a crowded plant into a bigger pot? That should give you a clue, as well as the watering / feeding schedule. I would get a recipe card and on side 1 out what to do for the plant on the other what not to do,
endangerment to the health.
I was reading a book on houseplants, and it said that marginata dracaena plants should not be planted perlite.
I think you have the wrong idea what Pearlie does. It is added to the soil to loosen up hard sandy soil or heavy peat soil. The reason is to add air to the soil moderately and assist drainage.
Keeping this in mind the dracaena must like its feet a wee bit damp. Like it may be salvaged from a swampish area of the world? Does it explain what to use when transplanting a crowded plant into a bigger pot? That should give you a clue, as well as the watering / feeding schedule. I would get a recipe card and on side 1 out what to do for the plant on the other what not to do,
endangerment to the health.
If I cut off a dracaena branch and put it in water, will it root? Or are there other ways to root it?
I've had the best results with air layering. I'm going to give you a link because it's just one heck of a lot of typing to explain it and the pictures help if you've never done it before.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/exten...
If I cut off a dracaena branch and put it in water, will it root? Or are there other ways to root it?
A dracena is essentially a woody-stemmed plant; it will not root in water, but will simply rot. Instead, try the following:
Get a small packet of rooting hormone powder from your local nursery. Prepare a pot with new soil, possibly "lightened up" with a bit of perlite - but usually a good potting soil will do nicely. Make a fresh cut off the end of the stem, and dip the cut stem in to the rooting powder. Push the stem well down into the soil, and firm the soil around the stem (you may want to support it for a while by tying it to a stick pushed far down into the soil so it doesn't topple over). Keep the soil evenly moist, give it plenty of light (bright, but not direct sunlight), and your dracena should have new roots in no time. Don't feed it for a couple of months, or until you're sure it has roots.
You can use this method with lots of woody-stemmed plants like dracenas, ficus plants, and even rose bushes (great way to get a cutting from a favorite plant or one that you admire belonging to a friendly neighbor). Enjoy.
Reply:Put the tip in hormone powder, this will help it to grow as well.
Reply:I don't know but don't throw it away until it is rotten. I believe a dracaena is one of those plants that you tie a cup around and fill with that planting medium. You keep it wet and the roots will form around a joint. When it is well rooted you snip the branch off. It will form more stems and you have a new plant. The planting medium may be a professional term for a particular product but I simply use spahgum moss, miracle grow dirt and whatever else strikes me as ok. If it will be outside and dry out quickly I put in more dirt and sand so that it will retain its moisture. So my less than professional explanation is anything you need to start the plant rooting.
Reply:Air layer = wrap wet sphagnum moss around the stem. Cover with plastic wrap (saran) and twist tie. When you see roots, cut below the moss and plant.
Rootone is the rooting hormone you dip the cut end in then plant in soil. Place pot in zip type bag, seal. When you see new leaves you have roots.
Dracena will not root in water.
Reply:you might try some rooting medium in the water, or dipping the cut ends of skinny branches in rooting medium and then planting them. best of luck.
skates
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/exten...
If I cut off a dracaena branch and put it in water, will it root? Or are there other ways to root it?
A dracena is essentially a woody-stemmed plant; it will not root in water, but will simply rot. Instead, try the following:
Get a small packet of rooting hormone powder from your local nursery. Prepare a pot with new soil, possibly "lightened up" with a bit of perlite - but usually a good potting soil will do nicely. Make a fresh cut off the end of the stem, and dip the cut stem in to the rooting powder. Push the stem well down into the soil, and firm the soil around the stem (you may want to support it for a while by tying it to a stick pushed far down into the soil so it doesn't topple over). Keep the soil evenly moist, give it plenty of light (bright, but not direct sunlight), and your dracena should have new roots in no time. Don't feed it for a couple of months, or until you're sure it has roots.
You can use this method with lots of woody-stemmed plants like dracenas, ficus plants, and even rose bushes (great way to get a cutting from a favorite plant or one that you admire belonging to a friendly neighbor). Enjoy.
Reply:Put the tip in hormone powder, this will help it to grow as well.
Reply:I don't know but don't throw it away until it is rotten. I believe a dracaena is one of those plants that you tie a cup around and fill with that planting medium. You keep it wet and the roots will form around a joint. When it is well rooted you snip the branch off. It will form more stems and you have a new plant. The planting medium may be a professional term for a particular product but I simply use spahgum moss, miracle grow dirt and whatever else strikes me as ok. If it will be outside and dry out quickly I put in more dirt and sand so that it will retain its moisture. So my less than professional explanation is anything you need to start the plant rooting.
Reply:Air layer = wrap wet sphagnum moss around the stem. Cover with plastic wrap (saran) and twist tie. When you see roots, cut below the moss and plant.
Rootone is the rooting hormone you dip the cut end in then plant in soil. Place pot in zip type bag, seal. When you see new leaves you have roots.
Dracena will not root in water.
Reply:you might try some rooting medium in the water, or dipping the cut ends of skinny branches in rooting medium and then planting them. best of luck.
skates
Does anyone have any tips or ideas for rooting a dracaena?
Use a rooting hormone like IBA. That will rpmot root growth. Especially root hairs which are the most important. You can buy it at most garden centers.
Does anyone have any tips or ideas for rooting a dracaena?
Rooting hormone keep warm and moist
Does anyone have any tips or ideas for rooting a dracaena?
Rooting hormone keep warm and moist
Is it ok to grow a small dracaena, dieffenbachia, jade plant, and my heart plant in the same planter?
I wouldn't. I've rarely seen a mixed planter of houseplants that looked good over a long period of time. Actually, I think they turn ratty looking. And the jade plant (crassula) is a succulent, requiring less water than the other 3.
An alternative would be to keep them in individual pots and set them all withing a larger container or basket. Allow the "heart plant" (philodendron) to grow around the tops of the other pots so they are not so obvious.
That way, if one croaks, you can always pick up another plant and pop it in to replace the dead one.
Good luck!
Is it ok to grow a small dracaena, dieffenbachia, jade plant, and my heart plant in the same planter?
No, they require different light levels,ie, the jade plant needs more light than the other 3. Also their growth habits differ enough they'd look kinda goofy together. The jade would be best by itself, it's really pretty when it gets full. With the other 3 you could plant some ivy around the base of them, or like the jade, they are pretty by themselves.
Reply:yes because they all have similar watering needs. It sounds pretty too.
An alternative would be to keep them in individual pots and set them all withing a larger container or basket. Allow the "heart plant" (philodendron) to grow around the tops of the other pots so they are not so obvious.
That way, if one croaks, you can always pick up another plant and pop it in to replace the dead one.
Good luck!
Is it ok to grow a small dracaena, dieffenbachia, jade plant, and my heart plant in the same planter?
No, they require different light levels,ie, the jade plant needs more light than the other 3. Also their growth habits differ enough they'd look kinda goofy together. The jade would be best by itself, it's really pretty when it gets full. With the other 3 you could plant some ivy around the base of them, or like the jade, they are pretty by themselves.
Reply:yes because they all have similar watering needs. It sounds pretty too.
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