Plant Care Guide Dragon Marginata
What is the Madagascar Dragon tree?
The Dragon Marginata, also referred to as the “Spanish Dagger” and “Red-Stemmed Dracaena,” is native to Madagascar and its neighboring Indian Ocean islands. Its nicknames come from the thin, sharp appearance of its light green leaves, while flow out from its hardy stem.
It dons the appearance of a miniature tree, and its ease-of-care allows you to sit back and enjoy its progress without worry of being neglectful. This drought-resistant, air-purifying plant is perfect for all indoor spaces!
Light Care
The Madagascar Dragon Tree prefers to be placed where it can enjoy bright, direct sunlight. Unlike many other houseplants, indirect light simply will not get the job done for this plant, as it is used to direct sunlight. However, it does adapt well to indirect and lowlight conditions, providing you with some leniency here.
Find an area of your home that enjoys bright, direct light throughout the day. If you are unable to find somewhere in your home that fits this description, you can place it in an area that enjoys indirect sunlight and supplement it in different ways.
Water Care
Water your Madagascar Dragon Tree on a biweekly basis. It is fairly drought-resistant, meaning you do not have to be frequently watering it in order for it to thrive. Wait until the top half of the soil is dry before watering again, and make sure to evenly disperse the water in order to moisturize as much of the soil as possible.
To check the water levels of your plant’s soil, place a water meter a few inches into the soil, where it will give you an accurate indication. If you do not own a water meter, stick one finger knuckle-deep into the soil. At this depth, you will be able to accurately account for the soil’s level of moistness.
Food Guide
Like most other houseplants, it is hard to go wrong when choosing the soil for your Madagascar Dragon Tree. Provide it with soil that is loose and drains well, allowing for excess water to pass through and avoid becoming stagnant.
While many experts agree that this plant requires little to no fertilization, you can provide it for your plant 1 - 2 times during the growing season. It is recommended that you use a controlled-release fertilizer, which will slowly enrich your soil with nutrients over time. Do not fertilize during the Winter months, as your plant will not need it.
Staff Holy Grail Pro-Tip:
Similar to other members of the Asparagaceae plant family, the Dragon Tree is especially sensitive to the salts and chemical compositions found in most tap water. These components could have adverse effects on your plant, causing it to lose its natural beauty. To prevent this, make sure to provide it with a consistent source of filtered water!
