Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) is a foliage plant that likes medium, indirect light and water every 10 days. Here is everything you need to keep it healthy.
| Botanical name | Dracaena marginata |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Madagascar Dragon Tree, Red-Edged Dracaena |
| Plant type | Foliage plant |
| Light | Medium, indirect light |
| Watering | Water every 10 days |
| Fertilizing | Feed about every two months in the growing season |
| Grown | Indoor |
| Type of plant | Ornamental |
Water Dragon Tree every 10 days as a baseline. Treat that as a reminder to check rather than a rule to follow blindly — push a finger an inch or two into the soil and water only if it feels dry at that depth.
Expect to water more often in warm, bright, or dry conditions, and noticeably less in winter when growth slows. A pot with drainage holes matters more than the exact interval: standing water is the most common way houseplants are lost.
Dragon Tree prefers medium, indirect light. It is happiest a few feet back from a window, where the light is steady through the day but never harsh.
If growth becomes stretched and leggy with long gaps between leaves, it is reaching for more light. Pale or bleached patches usually mean the opposite — too much direct sun.
Feed Dragon Tree about every two months through the growing season using a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the strength on the label. Pause over winter — an unfed plant recovers far more easily than one with fertilizer burn.
Very tolerant of neglect. Let the top half of the soil dry before watering; sensitive to fluoride in tap water.
As a starting point, water Dragon Tree every 10 days, then adjust to your own conditions. Check the soil first: push a finger an inch or two down and only water if it feels dry at that depth. Most Dragon Tree problems come from watering on a fixed schedule rather than watering when the plant actually needs it.
Dragon Tree prefers medium, indirect light. It is happiest a few feet back from a window, where the light is steady through the day but never harsh.
Feed Dragon Tree about every two months during the active growing season (roughly spring through early autumn) with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Stop feeding in winter, when growth slows and unused nutrients build up in the soil.
Dragon Tree is grown as an indoor plant. It does best in stable room temperatures, away from cold draughts and radiators.