Robust and easy to care for – this is what popular garden and house plants look like. This also applies to the Canary Islands dragon tree. Its unusual shape, the white flowers and later orange berries contribute significantly to its attractiveness.
How do you care for a Canary Islands dragon tree?
To successfully care for the Canary Islands dragon tree, you should plant it in loose soil, place it in a sunny to partially shaded location, water and fertilize moderately, and overwinter at around 10°C. Propagation is easy using soil shoots, cuttings or seeds.
Planting the Canary Islands dragon tree correctly
The Canary Islands dragon tree (Dracaena draco) doesn't have any great demands on the soil; it should be loose and not too lean. In summer, the Canary Islands dragon tree is welcome to stand in the garden or on the balcony; wind and weather don't bother it much. However, it is well suited for planting in winter gardens or as a houseplant.
Water and fertilize the Canary Islands dragon tree properly
The Canary Islands dragon tree does not need a lot of water or fertilizer. However, regular watering promotes its rather slow growth. The Canary Islands dragon tree prefers abundant watering and a subsequent drying phase before it is watered again. From April to October, fertilize the plant approximately every day.
Propagate the Canary Islands Dragon Tree
The Canary Islands dragon tree is quite easy to propagate. However, you will only get germinable seeds from your own plant after many years or not at all. Therefore, use purchased seeds that are easily available in stores.
Propagation through ground shoots is relatively uncomplicated. But also cuttings, stem pieces or individual leaves. You can use rooting powder (€9.00 on Amazon) for propagation. Insert the shoots or cuttings into coconut fiber or growing substrate and keep them evenly moist and warm while rooting.
The Canary Islands Dragon Tree in Winter
The Canary Islands dragon tree should not stay in the garden in winter, as it can only tolerate temperatures around freezing point for a short period of time. Overwintering at around + 10 °C is ideal. The soil should always dry thoroughly between each watering; this may take more than a week.
The most important things in brief:
- relatively robust and easy to care for
- growing slowly, at least initially
- sunny to partially shaded location
- can be left outside in summer
- fertilize and water little
- Wintering ideally at around 10 °C
- can tolerate temperatures around freezing point for short periods
Tip
If you have little time to care for your houseplants or don't have a green thumb, then the Canary Islands dragon tree is ideal. It is exotic and attractive, but also easy to care for and robust.
