Dracaena ‘Song of Jamaica’ Plant

Dracaena (Dracaena reflexa) ‘Song of Jamaica’ is a sturdy, versatile plant that can grow in both a light and a bright spot.

Song of Jamaica has lovely, elegant, narrow leaves in a dark green with a pretty pale green stripe down the center.

The Dracaena, also known as the Dragon Tree, is a plant from Africa, giving it a rough appearance and it is a plant that you can easily take care of.

In the living room the plants can grow into large bushes and in nature they even grow into trees.

For this reason and because of the fact that this plant is very air-purifying, compact size and robustness makes the Dracaena compacta a decent houseplant choice in offices and other business premises.

The plant stands about 12 inches in height. Its leaves grow close to the stock and give it a corn plant appearance.

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Temperature : Prefers  moderate weather. 18° C during the day and 13° C at night

Lighting preference : The Dracaena enjoys a light spot with morning or evening sun. But Avoid Direct Sunlight . ideal for homes or growing in offices and other commercial buildings.

Rotate dracaenas weekly so that they don’t grow toward the light, become one sided, and lose their beautiful shape..

Irrigation of water : Only When Top Of Soil Gets Dry . Too much water can make its root decay. It will tolerate irregular watering rhythms and dry soil much better than too much water.

Dark brown tips usually indicate the following: too much chlorine or fluoride in the water, water is too salty (never use water that has passed through a softener), or too much plant food. Muddy brown leaf tips on new growth means the plant needs more water.

If a Dracaena gets discolored leaves, this is probably due to too much water. If there are spots or brown edges on the leaves, the cause is too much light. Curled leaves indicate drought, if you notice this, the plant has been dry for too long in the past or this is the case when you see this.

 Humidity : prefers dry or medium humid environments  . Only spray the Dracaena occasionally to remove dust from the leaves and prevent vermin. Spraying also promotes the quality and decorative value of the houseplant.. Providing extra humidity or Over misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Fertilization and feeding : Song of Jamaica grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

Flowering : Yes, you may see your Dracaena  bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water. when they do, we recommend immediately cutting off the flowers. Allowing the flowers to stay on the plant may distort the growth pattern of the plant and ruin its shape.

 Soil : Song of Jamaica does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Toxicity : The sap of the Dracaena Compacta is toxic to animals. It is not considered poisonous to humans but should not be ingested.

 Pot Size : It is best to repot a Dracaena once every two years in a larger pot. The best period for repotting is spring or immediately after the plant has been purchased. A larger pot will stimulate growth and the advantage is a larger buffer soil so that the water is spread more and there is less chance of root rot. Always take a pot that is 20 to 25% larger and do not use Hydro pellets on the bottom of the pot. It is best to use a plastic insert cover for large pots.

 Pruning : Quickly remove dead or dying canes. Prune brown or yellow leaf tips with a wet scissors. A Dracaena is a relatively slow grower and is best pruning in the fall. The advantage of this is that the plant receives more light and remains more compact. The Dracaena will branch “at every branch where it has been pruned”. This gives you a nice full room or office plant. Use a secateurs for this

Diseases :With the thicker and fuller plants, occasionally look at the leaves and stems to see if there are any pests there. Common diseases are shield or aphid. Mealybugs can also occur due to drafts on the plant. Use a biological “or if desired” a chemical pesticide to treat the plants.

 Air Purification : The Dracaena is not only a great indoor plant to see, it is also one of the most air-purifying indoor plants that exist. The plant removes various substances such as trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde. Dracaena has even been named one of the most air-purifying houseplants on behalf of NASA.