The Dracaena Lisa adds a touch of elegance to any space, showcased here in a Coral Mid-Century Pot atop a Light Wood stand.

With their striking upright leaves and air-purifying qualities, Dracaenas are a sought-after choice for both seasoned indoor gardeners and newcomers to plant care alike. Originating primarily from tropical regions of Africa and Asia, Dracaenas boast resilience and adaptability, making them ideal companions for indoor environments. While these low-maintenance beauties can thrive on minimal care, providing them with the right nutrients can elevate their growth and vitality. Read on to discover the best fertilizer for all varieties of Dracaenas and how to effectively fertilize these beloved houseplants.

Understanding the NPK Ratio

The Best Plant Food for Dracaenas

Can Fertilizing My Dracaena Enhance Growth?

When to Fertilize Your Dracaena

Understanding the NPK Ratio

Booste Vitaminé plant food: the secret for thriving plants.

When it comes to fertilizers, deciphering the NPK ratio is crucial. The NPK ratio represents the proportion of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the fertilizer formulation. Different plants have distinct nutrient requirements, so selecting a fertilizer tailored to your Dracaena's needs is essential for optimal growth and health.

For Dracaenas, a balanced, all-purpose liquid fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or similar is recommended. This balanced blend ensures that your Dracaena receives essential nutrients necessary for robust growth and overall well-being.

The Best Plant Food for Dracaenas

While there are various fertilizers on the market suitable for nourishing Dracaenas, consider opting for a high-quality, all-natural liquid plant food that is gentle yet effective. Our Boost Vitaminé is a premium plant food crafted to promote growth, strengthen roots, and enhance overall plant vigor. Formulated with natural ingredients, Boost Vitaminé provides Dracaenas with the nutrients they need to flourish, offering a convenient solution for your plant care routine.

Can Fertilizing My Dracaena Enhance Growth?

Dracaenas are prized for their unique foliage and air-purifying properties, but they are not necessarily fast growing plants. While Dracaenas can occasionally produce fragrant flowers, particularly when grown outdoors in optimal conditions, indoor specimens typically do not bloom. Regularly fertilizing your Dracaena will help it maintain steady growth, but again, these are not super fast growing plants.

By selecting the right fertilizer and adhering to a simple feeding regimen, you can ensure your Dracaena thrives and maintains its beauty. Dracaenas are resilient and forgiving plants, making them suitable for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

When to Fertilize Your Dracaena

Timing plays a crucial role in fertilizing Dracaenas. These plants exhibit active growth during the spring and summer months, making this period ideal for providing them with nutrients. Incorporate a balanced liquid fertilizer into your watering routine every four to six weeks during the growing season to ensure your Dracaena receives adequate nourishment.

As fall approaches and your Dracaena enters a phase of slower growth, reduce fertilization to once every two months. During the dormant season, Dracaenas require fewer nutrients, and excessive fertilization can negatively impact their health.

By understanding the unique nutritional needs of Dracaenas and selecting the appropriate fertilizer, you embark on a journey of fostering growth, strength, and resilience in your beloved houseplants. With each carefully measured dose of plant food, you nourish not only the roots and leaves but also the spirit of your Dracaena.

Discover our curated selection of Dracaenas that will add a touch of elegance and vitality to your indoor space here.

At Léon and George, we're on a mission to bring the beauty of nature into your daily life. Our hand-selected, California-grown plants such as the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree, Ficus Audrey, and Bird of Paradise are carefully chosen for their quality, health, and beauty. We believe in simplicity, fairness, and sustainability, sourcing our plants from trusted local growers who share our values. When you bring a Léon and George plant into your home, you're not just getting greenery – you're getting a piece of nature treated with our all-natural products and staged for optimal growth. We're here to make plant ownership accessible and enjoyable for everyone, fostering a connection between people and the natural world.

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False Aralia

AKA Dizygotheca elegantissima

A beautifully unique houseplant with wispy, textured foliage, the False Aralia (also known as Threadleaf Aralia and Spider Aralia) is a wonderful plant for any level of green thumb. Read up on what it takes to care for a False Aralia, from watering and light needs to problems and more.

What type of light does my False Aralia need?

The False Aralia does best bright indirect light. Be sure to keep it out of harsh direct sunlight as this will cause its leaves to brown.

How to water your False Aralia

Let your False Aralia dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly when topsoil is dry, usually once a week. Avoid overwatering, and note that your watering schedule may change during winter months. False Aralias also love an occasional bottom watering. Consider using a tool like a moisture meter to take the mystery out of your watering schedule.

How fast does the False Aralia grow?

False Aralias are relatively slow growers, but can reach a height of about 6ft when grown in a container.

Common problems with False Aralias

Leaves drooping

The most common cause of leaves drooping on a False Aralia is underwatering. Check the soil: f you suspect your plant is dry, give it a healthy watering and wait 24 hours to see if it perks back up.

Leaf shedding

False Aralias can be sensitive to change. When this plant begins to loose leaves, it is usually due to a change in its environment, whether that’s light, humidity levels or both. Be patient, sometimes it will take a few weeks for plants to adjust to their new home.

Another thing to keep in mind with leaf drop on False Aralias is that this plant typically loses its lower leaves over time. If you’d like to maintain its bushiness, prune it back once a year.

How to maintain a beautiful and healthy False Aralia

Take care of your Aralia and it will take care of you! Below are simple tips to continue caring for your False Aralia over time.

Pruning Your False Aralia

The False Aralia is a slow grower that requires very little pruning and maintenance over time. You will only need to prune your plant if you’d like to control its height or to encourage bushiness. If you’d like your plant to maintain it’s bush-like form, prune it back in the spring for fuller growth. Otherwise, it will slowly lose its lower leaves and take on a more tree-like appearance.

Cleaning Your False Aralia

With so many thin leaves, the False Aralia can be difficult to clean! We recommend regularly misting to keep dust off, and occasionally cleaning the leaves with a moist towel and L’Original black olive oil soap for plants.

How To Repot A False Aralia

Houseplants grow much slower than they would in the wild. Depending on the size of your plant and the density of the roots, this is nice to do every 1-2 years to provide fresh nutrients and encourage new growth.

• When to repot - Aralias are particularly slow growing plants, but repotting them once a year in the spring will help them grow faster.

• Pot sizing - if you want your plant to grow taller, find a nursery pot that’s 2” in diameter larger than the current pot. If you want your plant to stay the same height, you can reuse the same pot and simply change the soil. You may need to cut back some of the roots to do this.

• Get your hands dirty - spread out newspaper on the floor, remove the plant from the pot and shake off as much of the old soil as possible so that you have clean roots. Place the plant in the center of the pot, add new soil and pat down firmly. Water the soil thoroughly and place the plant in an area with bright indirect light. Your plant will take 2-4 weeks to settle from the shock and adjust to its new home.

Need help repotting? Check out our Deluxe Repotting Kit which includes everything you need to repot your plant, including step by step instructions and a video tutorial with our Plant Doctors.

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False Aralia

A unique plant with textured, serrated foliage that requires little maintenance over time.

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Dragon Tree

AKA dracaena marginata

A timeless indoor plant with a striking appearance, the Dragon Tree, or Dracaena marginata, is known for its slender striped leaves that burst out of strong trunks. One of the easiest plants to care for and a fabulous indoor air-purifier, the Dragon Tree requires little maintenance to bring beauty and elegance to any space it graces. You can’t go wrong by buying a Dragon Tree: they’re truly as easy-going as they are gorgeous! Learn how to care for and grow your very own Dragon Tree.

What type of light does my Dragon tree need?

Dragon Trees prefer bright indirect light, though they can adjust to medium to low levels of light as well. Keep them out of harsh direct sunlight, as too much of it can scorch their leaves.

How to water your Dragon Tree

Let your Dragon Tree dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly when topsoil is dry, usually once a week. Avoid overwatering, and note that your watering schedule may be less frequent during winter months. Consider using a moisture meter to take the mystery out of your watering schedule and monitor soil humidity.

How fast does the Dragon Tree grow?

The Dragon Tree is a slow grower houseplant, though it is constantly unfolding new leaves and shedding old ones. Indoors, it can reach up to eight feet tall! Fertilize your Dragon Tree 1-2 times per month in the spring and summer with indoor plant food, or foliar feed year round.

Common problems with Dragon Trees

Leaves falling off

If you see your Dragon Tree leaves falling off, worry not! The Dragon Tree naturally sheds its leaves, so it is not uncommon for you to find them at the base of the soil or on the floor. To avoid them falling to the ground, you may periodically prune your Dragon Tree by simply removing any dead leaves once every week or two. Also consider fertilizing your plant in the spring and summer to make sure there are enough nutrients to go around the many many leaves!

If your Dragon Tree is losing many leaves (think the plant is starting to look scarce and/or showing other signs of distress), you may actually have a problem. Check first to make sure you are not overwatering — the soil should dry out in between waterings. Overwatering can lead to more severe ailments and that may eventually require you change the soil.  

Read more about leaf drop in Dragon Trees here.

Leaves drooping

If you see leaves or foliage dropping on your Dragon Tree, it’s very possible you are either overwatering or underwatering. If you suspect it’s underwatering, give your Dragon Tree a thorough shower and let it completely drain out — it should perk up within 24 hours. If you suspect overwatering, check the soil, particularly at the bottom of the plant. Is there moisture? Let the plant dry out before watering again, and if you expect a case of root rot, you may need to repot the plant with fresh soil.

Read more about droopy Dragon Trees here.

Leaves turning brown

Are the new leaves of your Dragon Tree turning brown? This could be due to temperature fluctuations. The Dragon Tree does not like drastic temperature changes that could be caused by air vents (AC or heating) or drafts.

Read more about Dragon Trees and their brown tips here.

How to maintain and grow a beautiful and healthy Dragon Tree

Take care of your Dragon Tree (AKA dracaena marginata) and it will take care of you! Below are simple tips to continue caring for your Dragon Tree over time.

Pruning Your Dragon Tree

Remove dry or dead leaves all year round, but save any major pruning for the spring and summer months. If you would like to remove an entire stalk or branch of your Dragon Tree, simply cut them off at a 45 degree angle with sharp pruning shears.

Brown tips? No problem. This can be common but not serious with Dragon Trees. Simply cut the tips off, following the natural shape of the leaf.

Cleaning Your Dragon Tree

With so many thin leaves, the Dragon Tree can be difficult to clean! We recommend regularly misting to keep dust off, and occasionally cleaning the leaves with a moist towel.

How To Repot A Dragon Tree

Houseplants grow much slower than they would in the wild. Depending on the size of your plant and the density of the roots, this is nice to do every 2-3 years to provide fresh nutrients and encourage new growth.

• When to repot - If the roots of your Dragon Tree are outgrowing its pot, it will let you know by bulging out at the sides.

• Pot sizing - if you want your plant to grow taller, find a nursery pot that’s 2” in diameter larger than the current pot. If you want your plant to stay the same height, you can reuse the same pot and simply change the soil. You may need to cut back some of the roots to do this.

• Get your hands dirty - spread out newspaper on the floor, remove the plant from the pot and shake off as much of the old soil as possible so that you have clean roots. Place the plant in the center of the pot, add new soil and pat down firmly. Water the soil thoroughly and place the plant in an area with bright indirect light. Your plant will take 2-4 weeks to settle from the shock and adjust to its new home.

Shop beautiful Dragon Trees at leonandgeorge.com

How to propagate a Dragon Tree

The Dragon Tree (AKA dracaena marginata) is a simple plant to propagate. Though there are many ways to do this, water propagation is generally the easiest way to go about it. Follow these instructions to propagate your Dragon Tree:

• Select a branch or stalk to propagate - Using sharp, clean scissors or shears, cut a branch off your Dragon tree at a 45 degree angle.

• Place in water - Find a clear glass and fill with water. Make sure only the stem is submerged, and no leaves are sitting in the water.

• Place in a bright area and wait! - Avoid any direct sun. You may need to change the water out every few days to keep it fresh. It usually takes just a few days for the root to start growing.

• Transfer to soil - After a few weeks, transfer to indoor potting soil. Depending on the size of the branch and its roots, make sure to choose an appropriate size pot — you do not want an overly large pot for a small cutting or roots.

• Keep hydrated - During the first few weeks, or until your plant feels firmly rooted in its soil, regularly water and drain your Dragon Tree. The soil should be just barely moist to the touch at all times.

Illustrations by our talented plant stylist, Kailie Barnes.

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Dragon Tree

Recognizable for its long slender striped leaves that spring forth from a robust trunk, the Dragon Tree is a favorite among easy-to-grow house plants. Its adaptability to different styles makes it a must-have for any gardener. While it thrives in bright light, it remains one of the easiest plants to grow and care for. Each Dragon Tree comes with the option of various pots, including a self-draining ceramic pot that ensures optimal moisture levels. Additionally, the perfect potting mix provided with it wards off pests and harmful insects, ensuring your plant remains vibrant and healthy. Whether you're an avid gardener or just beginning your journey with house plants, the Dragon Tree is an excellent choice to add to your collection.

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Why Are The Leaves of My Dragon Tree Drooping?

The foliage of Dragon Trees is iconic: spiky, sprightly and full of volume. And with its low-maintenance disposition and elegant height, this Dracaena variety has earned its reputation as an attractive and easy-care statement plant. Systemic health issues with Dragon Trees are uncommon, and ailments are typically easy to correct for this variety when they do occur. So if you notice that your Dragon Tree is exhibiting drooping or sagging foliage, don’t panic! Below, we offer guidance on assessment as well as quick tips on how to get your Dragon Tree’s foliage back on track.

Underwatering

If it has been weeks since you last watered your Dragon Tree and its foliage is drooping, there is a good chance that the sagging leaves may be your plant’s way of signaling that it is dehydrated. Push aside a portion of its decorative moss and probe its top two inches of soil with your finger. If the topsoil is dry to the touch, underwatering is likely the culprit, and it’s time to give your Dragon Tree a drink. Water thoroughly, and your Dragon Tree’s foliage should perk up within about 24 hours.

Overwatering

This is the other side of the coin: limp, drooping foliage can be a sign that your Dragon Tree is overwatered. Again, you’ll need to probe its topsoil, by sticking your fingers two inches down into it. If the soil feels wet, take a look at the Dragon Tree’s overall moisture level by carefully lifting it out of its ceramic pot and gauging the soil within the plastic nursery pot. Is it soaked through? Soggy? Don’t forget, if there is any standing water at the bottom of the ceramic pot, it should be dumped out. If your Dragon Tree’s soil is significantly wet, allow it to dry out entirely before resuming your watering routine, and remember: don’t overwater. Provide only 2-3 cups of water at a time, when the Dragon Tree’s top two inches of soil are dry.

More Support

If you take action by utilizing the steps above and do not see an improvement in your Dragon Tree’s foliage within a couple weeks, reach out to the Plant Doctor for guidance. Simply log into your Leon and George account and click “Contact Plant Doctor”, then attach photos of your Dragon Tree as a whole, as well as close-ups of the drooping foliage. Our Plant Doctor team will respond with an assessment and care instructions within a couple business days.

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Dragon Tree

A low-maintenance, gorgeous statement plant with vibrant, sprightly foliage, the Dragon Tree is a perfect easy-care floor plant. Versatile, textural and spirited.

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Everybody who owns a Dragon Tree knows that they are a green gift that just keeps on giving. Vivid, sculptural, multi-leveled foliage and slim trunks make this easy-going Dracaena variety a great choice for myriad spaces, and they are a truly low-maintenance plant for those looking for a low-touch routine. They really don’t need much, but like all living plants, they can react to changes in the seasons, their plant care routines, and more. And for Dragon Trees, that stress can take the form of falling leaves. But don’t fret: this leaf fall is easily diagnosed and corrected. Read on!

Natural Shedding

Leaf shedding happens! We know, we know- it would be nice if our green friends could keep every leaf of their foliage forever, but that just isn’t the way nature works. Dragon Trees naturally shed leaves over time when they lose viability, and the plant directs its energy toward the growth of new leaves. If you prefer not to pick up shedded leaves, you can trim any dying or unhealthy leaves off of it every couple weeks.

Needs Nourishment: Fertilizer!

Dragon Trees are big and beautiful, and they appreciate extra nourishment in the form of fertilizer. If your Dragon Tree is dropping a large amount of leaves, it may be because it is not being sufficiently nourished to sustain all of its foliage. Fertilize your Dragon Tree one to two times per month in the spring and summer to support its growth. Foliar Feed can be utilized year round for gentle nourishment.

Overwatering

If your Dragon Tree is experiencing severe leaf fall and appears to be very stressed, it may be due to overwatering. Dragon Trees do not want to be overwatered, and their top two inches of soil should be allowed to dry fully before watering. To check if your Dragon Tree has been overwatered, remove it (still in its plastic nursery pot) from its ceramic pot. Check the soil for sogginess, and be sure to look into the ceramic pot for standing water. If there is any standing water, dump it out. Allow your Dragon Tree to dry out entirely (still outside of the ceramic pot) before replacing in pot and resuming the standard watering routine of watering only when topsoil is dry. If you’re deeply concerned that your Dragon Tree has been damaged by overwatering, our Plant Doctors can provide assistance. Contact the Plant Doctor service through your Leon and George account, and add a verbal summation of the issue as well as photos of the Dragon Tree as a whole, from bottom of pot to topmost leaf.

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Dragon Tree

With vibrant, textural foliage and a low-maintenance disposition, the Dragon Tree is a dreamy floor plant, combining great height with a slim silhouette. Easy to care for and perfectly versatile.

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Why Does My Dragon Tree Have Brown Tips?

Dragon Trees are a standout statement plant, and they’re a great option for anyone looking to inject vibrant, sculptural greenery in their space without requiring a rigorous plant care routine. It’s really true: they are an incredibly low-maintenance plant. They’re also powerful air-purifiers, so it’s no exaggeration to say that Dragon Trees provide a lot of bang for your buck! Still, all plants can experience cosmetic issues, including the Dragon Tree, and browning leaf trips are perhaps the most common cause of concern for these vivid indoor Dracaenas. Read on to learn what causes browning leaf tips, and how to return your Dragon Tree to green good health!

Temperature Fluctuation

Temperature fluctuations can do a number on even the hardiest of houseplants, so it’s best to ensure that your home stays in around the same temperature range as consistently as possible. For Dragon Trees, this means not letting the temperature dip below 70 degrees.

Drafts and Vents

We confess that we sometimes enjoy a nice blast of cold air from the A.C on a warm day. But Dragon Trees (in fact, most if not all of your houseplants) do not! The heat-loving Dragon Tree is native to Cape Verde, Morocco, and the Canary Islands- none of which are renowned for their freezing gales. So if your Dragon Tree exhibits brown, crispy edges, take a good look at its location. Is it next to an A.C. or vent? Is it situated to a door that opens and closes frequently, letting in cold air? If so, your Tree may need to be moved. Luckily, the Dragon Tree is tolerant of varied light, which means you will have a host of options when it comes to re-positioning it.

Don’t Be Afraid to Trim

Browning leaf tips can be easily trimmed off your Dragon Tree, and you’ll be amazed by how fresh and vibrant your Dragon Tree looks post-manicure. Simply trim the brown off with clean scissors or shears, while following the leaf’s natural curve. If the idea of trimming your plant makes you antsy, our Plant Doctor service can guide you with custom assistance. Reach out to the through your Leon and George account, and be sure to include photos of the Tree as a whole, as well as close ups of any problem areas that need TLC.

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Dragon Tree

Sculptural, textural, and truly low-maintenance, the Dragon Tree is a fabulous statement plant that is tolerant of varied light conditions.

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