Madagascar Dragon Tree: Dracaena Marginata Care Guide
The Madagascar Dragon Tree is a striking plant known for its slender, spiky leaves and unique growth habit. With its tall, cane-like trunks and elegant, architectural form, it’s a favorite for those looking to add a modern and/or Asian-inspired touch to their space.
Despite its exotic appearance, a Dracaena marginata is surprisingly easy to care for—if you follow a few key guidelines. The two most common reasons houseplants don’t thrive are improper placement and overwatering. Avoid these mistakes, and your plant will stay happy and look great for years to come.
Botanical Name: Dracaena Marginata Common Name: Madagascar Dragon Tree, Red Edged Dracaena, Dragon Tree
Madagascar Dragon Tree Traits
Size / Form
You’ll see the smaller plants for sale in 4″, 6? or 8? grow pots, which are tabletop plants. When you get into the 10?, 12? and 14? grow pot size, those are floor plants. The tallest I’ve seen one growing as an indoor plant is 12?. The most common heights range from 5′ to 8′.
They’re available in many forms—some are tall and slim with a single stem, while others have multiple canes of varying heights for a layered look. The woody stems (aka canes) give them a tree-like appearance, adding to their sculptural, modern vibe.
Over time, these canes develop interesting twists and bends, making each plant unique.
Growth Rate
They’re slow growing. The more light they get and in warm temperatures, the faster they grow.
Uses
On tabletops, but more commonly as a floor plant.
Dracaena Marginata Care Guide
Exposure
They like bright, indirect light. Keep yours out of direct, hot sun (in a west or south-facing window) because the leaves will burn against the hot glass, especially in summer. Mine grows in my bright bedroom in sunny Tucson, AZ. It’s next to an east-facing sliding glass door and gets a lot of bright light all day.
On the other hand, keep it out of low light conditions – no dark corners, please. If not getting enough light, the plant will lean towards a light source, get a leggy, sparse appearance, and skinnier, droopy leaves.
If the light level lowers significantly during the winter months, consider relocating the plant to a spot with more light. You might need to rotate your plant every few months so it receives light on all sides.
Watering
Water when the top half of the soil is dry. In the warmer months, I water mine in a 14″ pot (7′ tall) every 7-10 days because the sun shines almost every day here in the Sonoran Desert.
Water less in the winter. These plants grow much slower in the cooler, darker months and need a little rest time. In the winter, I back off on the watering frequency to every 10-14 days. It’s not the active growing season; the light levels and temps tend to be lower. I always use room-temperature water.
I can’t give you a watering schedule. You must adjust the frequency according to your plant’s pot size, soil mix, and home environment. You want a happy medium with this plant – not bone dry or soggy wet.
Make sure there’s at least one drainage hole on the bottom of the pot. You want the excess water to flow out, preventing root rot.
The tips of this plant will brown if you have salts and/or fluorides in your water. Tap water can cause salt burn on the edges and tips of the leaves over time. Consider using filtered water if your tap water is high in salts or other minerals. I have a tankless r/o water filtration system in the kitchen with a cartridge that puts the good minerals back in. I use it to water all of my houseplants.
If you’re a beginner, this guide to watering indoor plants will give you more information.
Temperature
Regarding houseplants, if your home is comfortable for humans, it’ll be the same for your plants. Just keep yours away from any cold drafts and air conditioning or heating vents.
Humidity
This plant is native to the subtropics. They love high humidity but can handle regular household humidity just fine. Small brown leaf tips appear when there’s a lack of humidity. Mine has quite a few, but they don’t bother me.
I have a humidity meter in my dining room. It’s inexpensive but gets the job done and works fine, displaying the temperature and humidity. I run my Canopy humidifiers at night when the humidity reads low, often here in Arizona! Any small humidifier placed nearby should help. Consider misting your marginata two or three times a week.
Fertilizing
We have a long growing season here in Tucson, from mid-February through October. I fertilize with Grow Big, Liquid Kelp, and Maxsea or Sea Grow five to seven times during the growing season (mainly spring and summer). I alternate these liquid fertilizers and don’t use them all together.
When my plants start putting out new growth and new leaves, it’s my sign to start feeding. Your start date may be later in a different climate zone with a shorter season. Feeding two or three times yearly with a houseplant fertilizer may be enough for your plants.
Fertilizing too often or with too great a fertilizer ratio can cause salts to build up and eventually cause root and leaf burn. This will show up as brown spots and edges on the leaves. If you fertilize more than three times a year, you can try using the fertilizer at half-strength. The label on the jar or bottle will guide you.
It’s best to avoid fertilizing a stressed houseplant, ie, bone dry or soaking wet.
More on fertilizing houseplants here.
Soil
Dracaenas like a rich, somewhat chunky potting mix with good drainage. You don’t want the roots to stay too wet otherwise they’ll rot out.
The mix I use for dracaenas is roughly 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 rock. Use a potting soil that is peat-based and formulated for indoor plants. I alternate between Happy Frog and Ocean Forest. For the rock, I used clay pebbles. I also tossed in a few handfuls of chunky pumice and a few of compost. I topped with a 1/4? layer of worm compost for added nourishment.
Here’s more on potting soil for indoor plants.
Repotting
The best time to repot houseplants is in the spring or summer months, during the active growing season. If you live in a warm climate, early fall can also work. The faster your plant grows, the sooner it will need repotting. I repot my large dracaenas every four to seven years.
When repotting, make sure the new pot has drainage holes to prevent excess water buildup, which can lead to root rot. It’s best to move up one pot size from the current pot. If the roots are tightly packed, gently loosen the root ball with your hands before placing it into fresh soil.
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how I repotted my Dracaena Lisa.
Pruning
The main reasons I prune this plant are to remove the lower leaves (on dracaena plants, they yellow and die; that’s how the plant grows) and to control the height.
These plants can get tall and spindly over time, so you can cut the stems down to stimulate new growth. The piece you’ve cut off can be easily propagated in water.
These plants are native to the humid tropics, and tipping occurs because our homes are dry. You can cut off the brown tips if you’d like. Be sure your scissors are clean and sharp otherwise the leaves will tear.
Propagation
I’ve propagated this plant using two methods. The first is division, which is possible if the plant has multiple stems.
The second is by stem cuttings. Trim the stem cuttings to 10 – 20 inches and propagate them in water. You can also use a light mix.
Pests
Your marginata may get spider mites, mealy bugs, or scale at some point. For the spider mite, use a spray with a few drops of mild dish soap in water. You can use insecticidal soap for a bad infestation. Be sure to get the undersides of the leaves because that’s where these critters hang out.
You can use rubbing alcohol diluted by half with water dipped on a cotton swab for the mealy or spray if your plant is larger. Be sure to get deep inside the nodes. Strong but gentle spraying off the plant should do the trick if the infestation is not too bad. Any of these treatments need to be done at 7-10 days intervals for 2-4 weeks. Sorry, one treatment won’t knock them out.
More on identifying & treating mealybugs, spider mites, & scale.
Cleaning
Keeping Dracaena marginata plants clean helps them look better and improves their health. If dirt/dust builds up on their leaves, it can impede their breathing. Spray the leaves with water or take the plant to the sink, tub, or outside to hose it down. They like humidity and will love you for doing this.
More on cleaning houseplants.
Pet Safety
All dracaenas are considered to be toxic to pets. I consult the ASPCA website for information on this subject.
Here’s a list of pet-friendly houseplants.
Madagascar Dragon Tree FAQS
How should I water my Dracaena?
alTap water can cause salt burn on the edges and tips of the leaves over time. It’s a good idea to use filtered water if your tap water is high in salts or other minerals. I have a tankless r/o water filtration system in the kitchen with a cartridge that puts the good minerals back in. I use it to water all my houseplants.
How can I tell if my plant is overwatered or underwatered?
Yellow leaves, mushy stems, and wilting can indicate overwatering, while brown leaf tips, leaf drop, and yellow leaves are a few indicators of underwatering.
How can I treat and prevent brown or dried leaf tips?
Brown tips result from low humidity levels, improper watering, or minerals in tap water. You can help your plant by increasing humidity, adjusting the watering frequency, or using filtered water.
How can I tell if my Madagascar dragon tree is experiencing environmental stress?
Watch for signs such as drooping, discoloration, curling leaves, soft stems, decreased leaf size, or unexpected leaf drop. These often indicate something isn’t right with the light exposure, watering, humidity, or temperature that may need adjusting.
Video Guide
Conclusion: The Dracaena marginata is an easygoing plant that brings a showy, modern vibe to any space. Give it the right exposure (bright indirect sunlight), and don’t overdo the watering. Keep an eye out for any signs of stress; with just a little proper care, your Madagascar Dragon tree will do just fine!
Happy gardening,
- About the Author
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Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
This is a stunning looking plant! I have never heard of a Dracaeana Marginata before, but I have been looking for something to suit my modern dining table. By the looks of it I should be able to keep it small enough to be an attractive centre piece. Thanks for the run down!
It would suite your modern dining table so well. It comes in all sizes & forms so you could find one that suits you. I’m working on a book about houseplants right now so keep a head’s up for that!
Awesome tips, I have a dragon tree that looks fine but not perfect. After reading your post I guess I must feed it as I never did that before.
Thanks Elena. Be sure to not over fertilize your dragon tree. Once or twice a year is plenty. That’s one of the plants in our newly published book “Keep Your Houseplants Alive”, so you should check it out on amazon. It’s got lots of tips on houseplant care.
Thanks for the very informative blog post, I was wondering if you had any tips for me as we made a mistake and left the plant outside for a couple of days and it looks a bit worse for wear. Would you also recommend the best place to keep it in a room?
Thanks a lot for your help 🙂
Hi Zak – You’re most welcome. If you left your marginata in the sun it may have burned or if it was freezing, it could have gotten cold damage. Marginatas like nice bright light but no direct, hot sun. In a north or east window is fine. If you have a south or west exposure, then near the window but not in it. Hope that helps, Nell
Your candelabra D. marginata is exquisite! Is it possible to get mine to branch or does one have to buy it that way? I’ve had success with propagating rubber plants and “pruning” a Scheflera, so I’m willing to experiment.
One other question… I have a tree in my sunroom that’s gotten over 10 feet high; it grows only from the top. I thought it was a palm, but might it be a tarzan tree Dracaena? Could i get it to branch or is air-layering the only way to get it under control?
Thanks for your great site!
Thank you Pat! I bought my candelabra in that from a grower. They’re hard as the dickens to train so it’s best to buy it that way. It could be a graft or the small “knobs” could be where the cuts sealed over. They’re quite striking as they get taller. Tarzan tree dracaenas really don’t look like palms to me – just bushy, fuller marginata with bigger heads & more foliage. So, I can’t advise you on that one unless you send a pic. nell@joyusgarden.com Hope that helps! Nell
I love your blog! I have watched your videos before on youtube, and now I’m gonna read the blog. I have a few dracaena marginatas.. One of them has a white mould coming from the bottom of the clay pot its in. It actually looks like roots, but its definitely not. Do you have any idea what it could be? Thanks for all the advice on this page, I have successfully propagated a few baby dracaenas, and I am going to try again next summer with your method, mentioned in another blog post. Also, do you have any tips on good garden centers? I live not too far south of you in San Diego. I am looking for somewhere that has an excellent range of pot sizes for careful up-potting! Thanks again for sharing your plant knowledge, I look forward to reading more of your blog!
Thanks so much Jenna! If the pot is sitting directly on the ground or floor, there’s no air circulation flowing under the pot. Clay pots are porous & that’s why mold & moss is able to grow on & under them. Pot feet help to get a bit of air movement under a pot. This doesn’t happen with plastic pots. Another reason for white patches on clay pots is too much fertilizing. Fertilizers have a lot of salt in them & it builds up on the outside of the pots. I love pottery! I’ve been to funky, smaller nurseries in SD on a hunt for unusual succulents but here are a few of the “biggies” that I’ve been to: Armstrong (there are several locations), Walt Anderson & Weidners. I love the Madd Potter for pots but they also have some plants too. Happy gardening! Nell
I recently bought one of these beauties and it’s the perfect desk plant for me. I was wondering if there’s any way to keep this plant small?
Thank you!
Hi Irene –
You can keep it in a small pot which will restrict the root growth. However, over time it’ll start to suffer. If it starts to get too big, you can easily cut off the top to the height you want it to be & new sprouts will appear at the top. Nell
Hi Nell,
For the first time in–I hate to say it–8 years I reported my marginata. It’s been thriving overall. However, after repotting with new soil in a larger pot (was extremely root bound), I fed it for the first time ever with Miracle Grow as I watered it. It’s looking droopy as I imagined from transplant shock, but how bad of a mistake did I make with fertilizing it??
Thank you! Dana
Hi Dana – I don’t use Miracle-Gro but I do know that it’s a water soluble fertilizer which is recommended to be used on houseplants every 7-14 days. That means it’s pretty mild. If you used it at the recommended strength, that shouldn’t be an issue. The droop is caused by low light &/or a watering issue. It’s most likely transplant shock. Don’t fertilize it until spring – I only fertilize my houseplants once a year. Nell
I use Miracle Gro on a row of newly planted hedge plants, about10 to 12 inches long. It was early spring. They ALL died. Afer that lesson, I use only half the recommended dose of ANY plant fertilizer and watch closely.
Yes Linda, a lesson learned the hard way. I’m not a big advocate of commercial fertilizers because people tend to over do it. Also, they contain a high amount of salts. Thanks for sharing! Nell
Nell,
I am a college kid, and the Dragon Tree is my first plant! Been reading some articles to make sure I do this right . . . thank you for writing this! The most comprehensive article I’ve found, and you clearly write it for this plant. Some articles feel as they might apply to any species, so it’s nice to know you have a purpose in your writing. Anyways, I have one question. You mentioned that this plant likes humidity and appreciates misting, is there any limit to how much one should do this? Watering is obviously done more carefully, but is misting bad on a daily basis? Or does it matter? Thank you!
Hi Wesley – Thank you, I’m glad you found the article to be helpful because I always write in a manner which I hope people can easily understand. This plant, like many houseplants, is native to the tropics. It can adapt to a “normal” houseplant environment just fine but would appreciate a weekly misting. Just know that this plant is subject to tipping (dried brown tips on the leaf points) so don’t be concerned about that. My marginata grows outdoors here in the desert & I hose it down every week. It’s doing great which you’ll see in a video & post next month. Nell
Love your video! I have several Dracaenas now..A dracaena corn plant, a redmargin dracaena, and a dracaena marinara. I think..I would love to send you pics and you tell me exactly what I have..
Debbie – Thank you! Dracaenas are some of the easiest houseplants out there. The leaves of a corn plant look just like corn. This is a Dr. Lisa: https://www.joyusgarden.com/dracaena-lisa-care/ Nell
I had a dracena maginata plant for a couple of months I watered it very little n just notice that it died I don’t know what happened
Hard to say Florence. Houseplants are easy to over water. Also, could have been lack of light, insects or other reasons. Nell
Hi there Nell , I’m very new to this plant in my home. After I changed the plant in to organic succulent soil it kind of was drooping. So I gave it a thorough soaking with Pur faucet filtered water. Within 2 days the whole plant just came alive beautifully !! But just about few days after the tips of all the leaves including the new ones all had brown tips !! The soil in dry now to the touch and I also use a moisture meter it shows at 2 level. Please, Nell I really need help what to do ? Watered last on June 17th . Thanks !
Hi Runa – Dracaenas are very easy to over water. Because the soil can take some time to dry out, the damage can be done fast. It could also be transplant adjustment or a reaction to salts in the water (before you bought it). I doubt it’s dry air because you haven’t had it that long. Nell
I have a beautiful draecina. Marginata tall, arching and reaching about 6’ tall. It’s been in the same window for years and doing fine. But lately it’s been dropping 3 and 4 leaves a day, which is unusual for this plant. Yellowing and spotted leaves. I think that I’m watering correctly and fertilizing maybe once a month. I have been using a product from a good local nursery. I don’t want to lose i it. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Diann – Sounds like it could be leaf spot from overwatering. Yellow leaves are also due to being too dry. I vary my plant’s watering schedule according to the temps & light levels of the season. Nell
Hi Nell, I have a dracaena that i’m pretty sure is a Marginata. I’ve kept it in my room by the window for years, taking care not to over-water it, but I’m just now looking at how you’re really supposed to care for them. I hate to say this, but I have never repotted it in the ~8 years I’ve had it. My room is very cold, probably ~59° in winter, and quite dry; I’m kind of freaking out after reading about how they prefer warmer, humid temps! The plant is still alive and well but it’s kind of curving and leaning over and may be getting too tall (The tallest of the 3 stems is around 5 feet). The tips of some of the leaves on the tallest stem are browning as well. I really don’t know anything about raising houseplants but any advice would be appreciated because I want to adjust my environment to help my plant! I also am wondering if there’s any way to prevent it from curving or make it relatively straight again besides pruning it? Thanks in advance!
Hi Henry – The growers train the trunks to curve. If they’re curving in a home environment, it usually due to the fact they’re reaching for the light. The only way I know of to straighten it out is by cutting it back or air layering it. I live in a very dry environment now (Tucson Arizona) & my marginata has lots of brown tips. It’s a reaction to the dry air. I’ve done quite a few posts on marginatas & other houseplants which you can check out here: https://www.joyusgarden.com/category/houseplants/ Nell
Hi! So I have the same plant. It’s very tall. The only problem I have is that I really don’t water it to often but the leaves look great. Until I actually do water the plant. At first I thought maybe it needs vitamins. So in the next watering I added Miracle grow and still the leaves turned yellow.
So I’m confused I don’t water it and it’s great. Then I do eventually water it and it start to turn yellow. ????… HELP
Laura – I water my marginata about once a month in winter & every 2 weeks in summer. I now live in Tucson so mine dries out faster. Depending on the size, the soil mix & your conditions, they’re easy to over water. Nell
Hello Nell, I’m very curious on how to “train” those branches to curve the way yours does. What tools are needed to make the marginata look the way yours does? Also, I’m creating my own soil for this plant 2 parts coco coir, 1 part drainage materials ex pumice, 1 part worm castings, and a little bit of charcoal. Do you think this soil mix will be ok for the marginata?
Thank you Phil. I didn’t train that plant – the growers did. It’s called a “Candelabra Marginata”. The mix you’re creating sounds fine. Just go easy on the worm compost as it’s strong. Nell
Hello again Nell, Thank you for the quick reply. Sorry, one more question, does propagation cause variegation in a Marginata? For example if you have a Colorama will the stem revert back to a Bicolor if its propagated?
Just want to say no Colorama’s are not variegated.
You mentioned spraying with a solution of water and detergent for spider mites
And alcohol for bugs. What’s the ratio of ingredients for mixing.
This is my favorite plant and I don’t find that they are that easy to grow.
I would love to purchase your houseplant book. I have many different indoor plants. What book do you recommended. Thank you
Hi Judy – About a teaspoon of soap (no-toxic) to a cup of water. Same for the alcohol. The is the only plant book I’ve written: https://rb.gy/b2yf8w Nell
When is the best time of year to repot my plant. And what kind of soil do you recommend
Thank you
Judy – I always repot in spring or summer. This will help: https://www.joyusgarden.com/transplanting-my-dracaena-marginata/ I always add in some pumice to up the ante on the drainage factor. Nell
Where is your pot from? I love it!
Hi – I got it at Tuesday Morning years ago. I think Wayfair carries a similar set. Nell
Hi Nell, love your blog & youtube channel! I have a small Dracaena Marginata that I bought a couple of weeks ago and I was just wondering if it could benefit from some misting with water as an indoor plant?
Thanks!
Thank you Charlie! Dracaena marginatas are native to Madagascar, an island in the tropics. If your home is dry, it would appreciate a misting once or twice a week. Nell
Hi, My dracaena has been with me for many years – over 20! But it has gotten SO big, over 9 feet tall so you mostly see the cane. Is there a way to trim and reduce the size?
Thanks
Yes, Nancy. You can simply prune it to the desired height or air layer it. A post on air layering here: https://www.joyusgarden.com/rubber-tree-plant/ Nell