Dracaena Maintenance & Care Checklist
1. Plant Family Overview: Dracaena
These plants are staples in corporate environments due to their sculptural look and air-purifying qualities, but they are often killed by "kindness" (specifically, overwatering).
Appearance: Typically characterised by woody, cane-like stems with tufts of sword-shaped leaves at the top. Some varieties are bushier with leaves growing directly from the soil line.
Common Varieties: Dracaena marginata (Dragon Tree – thin red-edged leaves), Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant – broad striped leaves), Dracaena deremensis (Janet Craig/Lemon Lime).
Office Benefits: Excellent vertical structure (fits in narrow corners), highly effective at filtering indoor air pollutants, and generally slow-growing (low maintenance).
Key Sensitivities: Extremely sensitive to overwatering (root rot) and chemicals in tap water (fluoride causes brown leaf tips).
2. Ideal Conditions
Light: Moderate to bright indirect light.
Target: 1.5 to 3 metres away from a window.
Tolerance: Can survive low light, but growth will stop. Direct mid-day sun will scorch leaves.
Temperature: Standard office climate.
Ideal: 18°C – 24°C.
Limit: Never below 13°C.
Humidity: Average office humidity (40–50%) is acceptable.
Note: If humidity drops below 30% (common in winter heating), leaf tips may brown.
Water Quality: Tepid (room temperature) water. If possible, let tap water sit in an open container overnight to allow chlorine to evaporate.
Potting Mix: (soil plants) Needs to be free-draining. A mix of peat-free soil with perlite or bark chips.
3. Weekly / Fortnightly Maintenance Checklist
Perform these tasks on a consistent day (e.g. every Wednesday).
Watering Check (Soil Plants): (The "Finger Test")
Do not water on a schedule; water based on need.
Insert a finger into the soil up to the second knuckle (approx. 3–5 cm deep), or use a moisture meter.
Action:
If soil is damp/cool: DO NOT WATER. Check again next week.
If soil is dry/crumbly: Add water slowly around the base.
Quantity: Approx. 10–15% of the pot volume (e.g., 250ml for a standard desk plant, 1 litre for a large floor plant).
Crucial: Ensure no water is left sitting in the decorative outer pot after 30 minutes.
HydroCare Plants: Leave for 2 weeks on minimum before topping up, never go above optimum on the water level indicator.
Cleaning:
Dust: Dracaena leaves are dust magnets. Gently wipe leaves with a dry microfiber cloth (dust gloves) or a damp sponge. This allows the plant to "breathe."
Debris: Remove any fallen dried leaves from the soil surface to prevent mould.
Positioning & Environment:
Check that the plant hasn't been moved directly under an AC vent or next to a hot radiator. Ensure the plant isn't blocking walkways or fire exits.
Quick Health Scan:
Scan for pests: Look for white, cotton-wool-like fluff (mealybugs) in the crevices where leaves meet the stem.
Scan for stability: Ensure the tall canes are firmly embedded and are not wobbling.
4. Monthly / Bi-Monthly Tasks
Fertilising (Feed):
When: April to September only.
What: Soil Plants; General-purpose liquid houseplant food. HydroCare Plants; Hydroponic liquid plant food.
Dilution: Mix at half the strength recommended on the bottle. Dracaenas are light feeders.
Rotation:
Rotate the pot 90° (a quarter turn) once a month. This prevents the plant from leaning toward the light source and becoming lopsided.
Pot Maintenance:
Wipe down the exterior of the decorative pot.(Soil Plants) Lift the inner plastic grow pot to check for standing water in the liner.
Pruning:
It is natural for the lowest leaves to yellow and drop as the cane grows.
Gently pull these off downwards only when they are fully brown/dry. If they offer resistance, cut them with clean scissors.
5. Seasonal Adjustments
Spring / Summer (Active Growth)
Watering: The plant will drink more. You may need to water every 7–10 days.
Ventilation: Ensure increased air conditioning flow isn't hitting the foliage directly.
Autumn / Winter (Dormancy)
Watering: Reduce significantly. The plant stops growing and uses very little water. You may only need to water once every 3–4 weeks.
Feeding: Stop completely. Fertilising in winter can burn the roots.
Lighting: As days get shorter, you may need to move the plant slightly closer to windows (within 1 metre) to capture available light.
6. What NOT to Do
Don't leave the plant sitting in a pool of water. This is the #1 cause of death for Dracaenas.
Don't use ice-cold water directly from the tap; it shocks the roots.
Don't use "leaf shine" sprays (oil-based gloss). Dracaenas breathe through their leaves, and these sprays clog their pores.
Don't pull off green or slightly yellow leaves. This damages the cane stem. Wait until they are brown and release easily.
Don't re-pot the plant into a massive pot. Dracaenas prefer their roots to be slightly crowded.
7. Red Flags & Early Warning Signs
Use this troubleshooting guide to catch and treat issues.
Yellowing lower leaves
Natural aging
Normal. Remove when dry.
Yellowing upper leaves
Overwatering
Stop watering. Check for standing water.
Brown crispy tips
Dry air or chemicals
Mist the leaves. Switch to filtered water.
Soft / Mushy stem
Root Rot (Fatal)
Replace. Isolate plant immediately.
Bleached / White patches
Sunburn
Move away from the window immediately.
Drooping leaves (soil wet)
Root Rot
Stop watering. Allow to dry out completely.
Drooping leaves (soil dry)
Thirst
Water immediately.