Fragrant dracaena: description of varieties and home care

Today, even exotic crops can be grown at home, which are not only decorative value for the amateur gardener, but can also bear fruit. However, plants such as dracaena, presented in a wide variety of species, are no less popular. Among this assortment, the fragrant dracaena stands out, capable of decorating the room with beautiful flowering.

Dracaena belongs to the genus of tropical evergreens, represented in their natural environment by trees and shrubs from the Asparagus family. In nature, there are more than a hundred varieties of these crops, and many of them are grown by humans for landscaping public premises, as well as for breeding at home. Fragrant dracaena is most often bred in pots, since the plant develops well in apartments and offices, does not require a special and laborious approach to care, in addition, it stands out for its decorative appeal.

Today Dracaena Fragrans is classified as indoor plants, from the category of "trees of happiness". There is an opinion that culture blooms only where a favorable atmosphere develops, there are no conflicts, love and mutual understanding reign. In apartments and houses you can find various varieties of this culture, which will differ in the color and appearance of their leaves.

In nature, hot African countries are considered the homeland of dracaena. By developing in the natural environment, the trunk of a plant can reach a height of about 6 meters. As for indoor varieties, dracaena, as a rule, does not grow more than 2 meters in a pot..

The green mass of the culture has a rich emerald or even yellow color with a glossy surface. As a rule, the leaves are up to 1 meter in length, with a width of no more than 10 centimeters. And also the foliage is notable for a wide strip located at the edges, which, based on the variety, can have different colors and sizes. Some varieties of dracaena have double-colored leaves with pronounced veins.

Features of the development of green mass in dracaena, in which the leaves of a young flower grow tightly to the stem, but fall off the lower part of the trunk as they develop, determine its external resemblance to a palm tree. Despite the bare underside and the lush rosette of green leaves at the top, the culture has nothing to do with palm trees. In the flowering phase, the plant transforms, as the flower throws out a rather long tassel with flowers that have a very pleasant aroma. As a rule, a raceme with light green small flowers reaches 1 meter in length.

The aroma from the plant has some similarities with the honey smell and aroma from freshly cut grass.... Some amateur gardeners refer to the type of fragrant dracaena as a type of plant, which is called deremskoy. In fact, these are two different crops, and the latter will be decorated with red and white flowers with a brighter aroma during flowering.

Today, more than two dozen species of fragrant dracaena are actively grown. All available varieties stand out for their attractive appearance, in addition, they develop well indoors.

Among the most demanded, it is worth highlighting several cultures.

• "Compact". Most often, this particular variety is grown at home. This plant is a small shrub that is within 2 meters of height. The perennial has rather dense stems, as well as a beautiful and lush crown, which is formed using glossy foliage.

• "Yellow Coast"... A feature of the appearance of such a culture is a spectacular and spreading crown. At the same time, the leaves of this variety of dracaena combine yellow and green colors. The stem of a plant, with proper care in a pot, can exceed the two-meter mark.

• Lemon Lime... This culture stands out for its neat size at a young age, but over time, the dracaena acquires a rather expressive size and a tree-like trunk. In this case, the foliage will be narrow and oblong, with a glossy surface and distinct longitudinal stripes. At the same time, the color of the green mass combines shades of yellow, white and emerald.

• "Massangeana"... This variety, in comparison with other varieties of fragrant dracaena, will be small in height. In an adult state, the plant reaches only one and a half meter mark. The popularity of the culture was due to yellow-green leaves, in the middle of which there is one variegated strip with a maximum width and several thinner ones on both sides.

• Golden Coast... A compact bush, the height of which varies within 1–1.5 m. The foliage is quite dense and develops into a spectacular rosette. The shoots are dark and rich in color, with longitudinal stripes on each side.

• "Malayan"... This variety is a beautiful variegated tree with a beautiful and expressive green mass. The dracaena of this species reaches a height of 2 meters, while the foliage is rather wide, but not long. The color is light, in the center the shades reach almost white, while the border will be rich and green.

Dracaena fragrant does not pose any danger to humans during cultivation at home. The plant is not poisonous, does not emit dangerous and toxic substances.

As a rule, the basic rules for caring for a plant are quite simple, lovers of indoor flowers note the unpretentiousness of dracaena in terms of the conditions created. However, there are certain points that should be provided to the culture for productive development and flowering.

Home care primarily involves choosing an appropriate place for the growth of dracaena. This culture belongs to light-loving indoor plants, but the incoming sunlight should not be direct, as this can cause a burn of the green mass. It is best to place the dracaena pot in places with diffused light., for example, on windowsills from the south-east or south-west side.

The most suitable air temperature for fragrant dracaena will be the range from + 18 ° C to + 25 ° C in the spring-summer period. As for the winter months, the optimal indicator for crops will be cool air, but not lower than + 15 ° C.

The flower needs regular moisture, without daily spraying, dracaena leaves often turn yellow, especially on hot summer days. This is also due to the peculiarity of the culture, which is actively developing at this time, which means it evaporates moisture. In addition to spraying, it would be more correct to regularly wipe the green mass of dracaena with a damp cloth so that the flower retains good air exchange.

As for the direct introduction of moisture through the soil, the indoor culture does not require frequent and abundant watering, since it is a drought-resistant plant. In the growth phase, which occurs in spring and summer, 2 waterings per week will be enough for dracaena.... With the onset of a dormant period, it is worth switching to one-time watering.

Exot responds positively to the introduction of fertilizers, so the owners of fragrant dracaena should provide the plant with additional feeding every month. For these purposes, a special store-bought vitaminized complex is used, intended for palm trees and ornamental home crops. In winter, the flower does not need fertilization.

It would be more correct to transplant young plants into a large container after every two seasons. As for adults, one transplant at 3 years old will be enough for them. The fragrant dracaena, which has been growing in the house for a very long time, will be able to develop normally without changing the container, but for such crops it is necessary to remove part of the topsoil every year, replacing it with fresh and nutritious soil mixture.

The very process of transplanting dracaena occurs by transshipment. The essence of the method lies in the maximum preservation of the earthen coma of the plant. This is necessary in order to protect the roots of the flower from possible damage, as well as to speed up the adaptation process in a new place.

As for the purchased flowers only, they must stand in the house in quarantine mode for about 14 days, after which, assessing the state of the culture, it is already possible to make a decision to transplant. The best time for all work will be the spring months.

Spring will be the best time to breed exotic plants at home.

There are several ways to achieve the desired result.

• By rooting cuttings... The first option demonstrates good results, so beginners who want to get a new plant on their own should resort to this method. Breeding material is obtained from the top. Cuttings must be placed in greenhouse conditions using a moist soil mixture in a small container, covered with foil. As a rule, after 1–2 months, the cuttings will have roots, after which the young plant can be rooted in a separate container.

• Layering method... The layering method will only give the desired result when working with a young plant. In this case, it is necessary to make a transverse incision on the dracaena trunk, insert a match into it, wrap it with foil or moss. After a while, roots will begin to develop at this place. During this period, the young plant can be separated from the mother culture and rooted in a pot.

• Cuts from the stem... Stem sections for propagation are obtained by cutting the dracaena trunk into pieces. The material is placed in a moist substrate until the root system is formed, after which it is seated in a separate container.

Molding for a fragrant room dracaena is a must for it to bloom and have a decorative appeal. It is best to plan such work at the beginning of spring, when the culture is out of the dormant phase. Pruning is carried out with a sharp knife, cutting off the top of the shoot, which can be further rooted. The cut site must be treated with crushed activated carbon, and the flower itself must be removed to a shaded place for several weeks. After a while, young buds will form on this part of the flower.

Fragrant dracaena stands out for its resistance to various ailments that can develop on other indoor flowers. However, mistakes related to care can become a provocateur of disease. First of all, it can be rot, which forms on plants when the air temperature in the room is too low and the soil is too moist. Signs of the disease will be the black ends of the leaves. To get rid of this ailment, the conditions of the culture should be changed, as well as the green mass damaged by the disease should be removed.... And also the flower pot will need to be moved to a dry place without drafts, if possible, remove excess accumulated moisture.

Among the insect pests that may show interest in dracaena, it is worth highlighting the spider mite, aphid and the scale insect. The safest for humans and effective for plants will be pest control methods using folk remedies. It could be culture treatment with soapy water, warm shower... If the number of insects is too large, it is necessary to resort to the help of insecticides.

For more information on caring for fragrant dracaena, see the next video.