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How to Care for a Dracaeana Marginata

ByNell Foster Published on

The Dracaena Marginata, also known as Madagascar Dragon Tree, was favored by people who wanted an Asian, modern or architectural feel.

I was an interior plantscaper many years ago – yes, I maintained plants in offices, lobbies, hotels and the likes. I saw and took care of my share of Dracaena marginatas.

As a floor plant, this one grows with a lot of cane (or trunk) and you can find it in many interesting forms. Dracaeana marginatas are as easy as can be to care for if you follow the points below.

Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference:

Dracaena marginata care

This is a candelabra marginata.

I wrote another book, Keep Your Houseplants Alive, and this one is on houseplant care.

It’s a guide written in very simple terms with lots of tips and pictures. I guess this post a little warm up to that.

Like all Dracaenas, this is a very easy care plant.

The majority of interior plants are replaced because of two reasons. The first one is they are put in the wrong place and the is that they are overwatered. Head’s up – this is what you need to pay attention to:

Dracaena Marginata Care

Light

They like nice bright light but no direct, hot sun.  On the other hand, keep it out of low light areas – no dark corners please.

Watering

Water when the top 2-3” of the soil is dry. I water mine every 2 weeks maybe a little more often if it’s really warm. Water less in the winter. These plants grow much slower in the cooler, darker months and need a little rest time.

The tips of this plant will brown if you have salts and/or flourides in your water. The salts will settle to the bottom if you fill your pitcher or watering can and let it sit for a day or two.  The fluorides won’t settle nor will they evaporate. You need to use distilled water for houseplants if these two are a problem.

Fertilizing

Houseplants appreciate a little food once or twice a year. People over-fertilize their plants which is worse than not doing it all.  I would recommend Organics Rx Indoor Plant Food or Superthrive (this is not certified organic but it’s natural).  Be sure to sure them at the recommended strength because if you up the ante, you’ll burn the poor babies.

Update: Read about my worm compost/compost feeding right here.

Pests

Yep, your marginata will get spider mite and/or mealy bug 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 too because that’s where these critters hang out.

You can use alcohol diluted by half with water dipped on a q-tip for the mealy or spray if your plant is larger. Be sure to get deep inside the nodes.  If the infestation is not too bad, then strong but gentle spraying off of the plant should do the trick. Any of these treatments need to be done at 7-10 days intervals for 4 weeks. Sorry, 1 treatment won’t knock them out.

Pruning/Cleaning

You can cut off the brown tips if you’d like. These plants are native to the humid tropics and tipping occurs because our homes are dry. Be sure your scissors are sharp otherwise the leaves will tear.  The bottom leaves will yellow and die. That’s normal – it’s how the plant grows.  Spray the leaves with water or take it to the sink, tub or outside to hose it down.  It likes humidity and will love you for doing this.

Dracaena marginata care

By the way, kitties love to chomp on these tender, crispy leaves. This is my Oscar who is 14 years old and naps all day but gets the energy to gnaw away on this plant any chance he gets.  The plant has been moved to safer grounds high atop a bookshelf where he stares at it daily with longing.  Sorry Oscar.

The Dracaena Marginata architectural, sculptural plant is a great addition to any home environment.  Oh … be sure to keep an eye out for my houseplant book. It’s going to be a no nonsense guide to keeping 23 of the most reliable interior plants alive and kickin’.  Confessions of an interiorscaper!

Another Post On Houseplants: Sansevierias! Sansevierias Are Easy Care Plants

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53 Comments

  1. 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 !

  2. 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?

  4. Hard to say Florence. Houseplants are easy to over water. Also, could have been lack of light, insects or other reasons. Nell

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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!

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

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