Once you have placed the dragon tree as a houseplant in a suitable location, then this plant, which is not hardy outdoors, requires very little care other than watering and fertilizing. Nevertheless, moving to a new planter may be necessary from time to time.
When should you repot a dragon tree and how do you go about it?
A dragon tree should be repotted before the beginning of spring when it is growing faster, possibly even annually. When repotting, the old soil should be removed and a suitable substrate or hydroponics should be used. After repotting, protect the plant from strong sun and spray it regularly with water.
Out of the old earth
The commercially available dragon trees, unless they are hydroponic specimens, are usually sold in planters with ordinary potting soil with a high peat content. However, in contrast to a specially mixed type of dragon tree substrate, this type of soil tends to collapse and therefore after a short time no longer allows any air to get through to the roots. It may therefore be appropriate to repot a dragon tree in a pot with a more suitable substrate. Regular repotting should take place before the strongest growth begins in early spring. However, you should get your dragon tree out of the old earth more quickly if:
- the substrate is inhabited by the larvae of pests such as fungus gnats
- the root ball shows signs of root rot
- harmful fertilizer components have accumulated in the substrate
How about hydroponics?
The right rhythm when watering can sometimes be relatively difficult to find with the dragon tree. Why don't you make this annoying chore of caring for your dragon tree easier by switching to hydroponics with a practical water level indicator (€5.00 on Amazon)? When repotting, make sure that all soil is removed from the roots so that diseases and fungal spores don't have a chance.
Root balls also get bigger over time
While compact dragon tree species remain very small, similar to a bonsai, other varieties can grow surprisingly quickly in a suitable location. Smaller species may only need to be repotted for the first time after about two to three years, while faster-growing dragon trees need a slightly larger planter and fresh soil every year.
Tip
Immediately after repotting, dragon trees are somewhat vulnerable and should therefore be protected from excessive sunlight for a period of a few weeks. It also doesn't hurt to spray the plants with a little water from a sprayer during this time, especially around the leaves.