Dracaena

is probably one of the most sought after houseplants in the world. Although the focus of most people when buying a houseplant is the ornamental benefits, there is more to a good houseplant than the visible looks. Let us look at the key reasons why dracaena is the perfect plant for indoor use.

Purify air

You have certainly heard it all about houseplants and air purification. They absorb the chemicals in the air. Plants remove up to 87% of volatile organic compounds every 24 hours. This is according to a NASA research. However, some plants are better in air purification than others.

Dracaena is one of the most effective houseplants in air purification. It helps remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene and carbon dioxide. These are chemicals linked with several health problems among them headaches, respiratory problems, anemia, marrow disease, kidney disease among others.

The houseplant will improve the indoor air quality. According to the American Society of Horticultural Science, indoor air can be 12 times more polluted than the air outside in some areas. This is mostly because of the compounds in furnishings, paints, clothing as well as building materials. Eliminating the pollutants with dracaena will make breathing easier, fight colds, remove airborne contaminants, and improve overall health.

Humidity control

Through photosynthetic and respiratory processes, plants release moisture into the air. This will increase humidity in the air. Plants typically release about 97% of the water they take in. The placement of several dracaena houseplants will increase humidity in the room. This will in turn help you control respiratory distresses. According to studies by the Agricultural University of Norway, the use of houseplants will help decrease incidences of colds, dry skin, dry coughs and sore throats. Dracaena is effective in humidity control.

Sharpening focus

The Royal College of Agriculture in Circencester, England, found that when there were plants in the room, 70% of students demonstrated attentiveness during lessons. Attendance was also higher in classrooms that had plants. The reason behind these findings is the fact that houseplants enhance cognitive function. They improve concentration, memory, better goal achievement as well as heightened attention. A study by the Texas A&M University found that workers in rooms that had at least two potted plants generated 13% more ideas than the other workers.

Make you happy

The benefits of dracaena can be seen across many studies in the psychological, cognitive, physical and social realms. The plants have been linked to increased self-esteem, improved mood and sense of well-being, increased sense of stability and control as well as increased feelings of relaxation, calm and optimism. All these contribute to the feeling of being happy.

As you can see, dracaena houseplants are good not only for producing oxygen and improving the visual appeal. They contribute to a Zen feeling and bring actual health benefits. You can either have one houseplant in the house or several. The recommended number of plants is one in every 129 square feet. Match the right houseplant with the theme of your house and the right growing conditions.

Dracaena

Dracaena

is popularly used as a houseplant. More often than not, it is used to achieve a tropical look. You can either use it indoors or outdoors. Considering it is a genus of over 40 species of trees and succulent shrubs, you will find a pot or landscaping plant that is perfect for you. With the noise about the many benefits of this plant, the question you may be asking yourself is this; is dracaena a plant for me? The direct answer is yes.

Anyone can benefit from the plant

If you love houseplants, then dracaena is perfect for you. This is certainly the perfect plant to use if you are looking for a tropical look. It will significantly help with your ornamental needs. In addition to that, the plant will help you remove harmful chemicals from the air, control humidity and offer many more health benefits among them sharpening your focus and soothing respiratory problems.

You can use dracaena in landscaping. There are several shrubby species to suit your needs. When used indoors, the plant will brighten up your room and create an atmosphere that is relaxing.

Simply put, dracaena can be used by anyone. However, some people benefit more from the plant than others.

Persons with respiratory problems

Respiratory problems are often agitated by chemicals/particles in the air. Formaldehyde is a common chemical that causes the irritation of the mucous membranes of the throat, nose, eyes and respiratory system. The chemical is found in foam insulation and in most wood fitted furniture such as wardrobes and cupboards. When there is an excess of this chemical in the house, a person with respiratory problems may experience more discomfort. Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde can also cause respiratory problems and other illnesses. Dracaena is an effective remover of formaldehyde. It will further help you remove other dangerous chemicals like benzene, trichloroethylene as well as carbon dioxide.

Another way that dracaena benefits persons with respiratory problems is through humidity control. This is achieved through the process of photosynthesis. A plant releases about 97% of the water it takes in. This will help prevent the situations of dry coughs, dry skin, colds as well as sore throats.

Persons that spend most of their time indoors

If you spend a lot of time indoors, a dracaena houseplant will benefit you in many ways. In addition to purifying the air through metabolic breakdown, the plant will help brighten your mood and improve creativity. Studies have found that the presence of houseplants can improve attentiveness by up to 70%. Persons working in environments that have potted plants also generate more ideas than those in rooms that don’t have plants.

Using dracaena in your house or office or classroom can make you feel better. There are a range of studies that have identified the benefits of the plant across cognitive, psychological, social and physical realms. In addition to making your house more beautiful, the plant will boost your self-esteem, improve your mood as well as boost your sense of well-being. All you need to do is take good care of your plant.

Dracaena

Dracaena

is popular as a houseplant. It is mostly preferred because of the many health benefits it offers. The benefits range from the removal of chemicals in the air to humidity control. If you are considering this plant for its beautification, you will be spoilt for choice. There are many kinds of this plant that you can pick from especially if you are targeting a tropical look. You can go with the Fragrans (corn plant), Braunii (the Lucky Bamboo plant), Marginata (Madagascar Dragon Tree) and so on. However, for that perfect look with dracaena, you need to take proper care of the plant. Here are a few points to help you achieve the best look.

Best growing conditions

If there is no direct light, dracaena will do best in an environment that is bright. It can also be maintained in a lower light environment with good care. Don’t place your plant in hot direct sun.

When overwatered, the plant is prone to root rot particularly if it is in a lower light environment. Spider mites may be a nuisance if the plant is in a hot, sunny location. Keep an eye out for them as well as leaf scorch.

As you may already know, dracaena can take generations to be fully grown. However, with proper care, the growth can be accelerated. One way of accelerating growth is to ensure the plant receives adequate sunlight and that the soil does not dry out. Dry soil causes the plant to wilt and the plant may take a very long time to recover. Great care will ensure you achieve and enjoy a beautiful tropical look.

Watering

When you purchase dracaena in a pot, the first thing you need to do before you start irrigating it is to check the soil with a probe. In lower light, water the plant when the potting media has dried to ½ to ¾ of the pot’s depth. In bright light, water when soil is dry to a depth of 1/2.

For the new plants that have minimal roots, only water with a cane. Plants with an established root system can be watered thoroughly. Again, if kept too wet, dracaena is prone to root rot. A slight drooping of the plant’s leaves is a sign of under-watering whereas the first sign of overwatering is the yellowing of the tips of the leaves.

Keep foliage clean

The lower leaves may yellow. Remove the yellow leaves and trim the brown tips to the natural shape. A new plant will often shed its old foliage when moved to a new environment. It will, however, acclimate and turn into a beautiful plant that suits your tropical look.

You must always keep an eye out for insect problems. Check your plant for thrips, mealy-bug and mites. It is okay to wash the leaves with soapy water when controlling pests.

The above practices will help achieve the tropical look you desire. However, you must always remember that the dracaena is a slow growing plant. Don’t be impatient with it.

Dracaena

Dracaena

is a genus of approximately 40 species of trees as well as succulent shrubs. That simply means you will be spoilt for choice if you are searching for a house plant in this genus. But did you know that these plants offer more than ornamental benefits? Here are some of the reasons why you should consider using these plants.

Ornamental benefits

The obvious reason for adopting a houseplant is for the ornamental benefits. The shrubby species such as D. fragrans, D. godseffiana, D. braunii and D. deremensis make perfect choices. Most of these species are toxic to pets but not to humans. Other than that, these houseplants will surely brighten up your room and create a relaxing atmosphere. Other than that, most people use dracaena mostly for the health benefits they offer.

Air purification

Plant leaves absorb and destroy various organic chemicals through a process known as metabolic breakdown. A group of German scientists were able to prove this by demonstrating the absorption and metabolic destruction of formaldehyde. The plant converts the organic chemicals to sugars, organic acid and amino acids.

• Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a chemical used in construction sites. It is in the form of urea-formaldehyde foam insulation. It is also common in wood fitted furniture such as kitchen cupboards, bedroom wardrobes and counters. Most household cleaning products also produce this chemical. Dracaena can help reduce the concentration of formaldehyde from your house thereby reducing the irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, throat and the respiratory system.

• Benzene

This is a chemical found mostly in tobacco smoke. It is also used as a solvent and is found in various products like rubber, paints, oils, inks, household cleaning products, gasoline and plastics. Chronic exposure to this chemical leads to headaches, drowsiness, loss of appetite, psychological disturbance, nervousness and blood system diseases such as marrow disease and anemia. Dracaena houseplants are considered among the best for removing benzene.

• Trichloroethylene

This is a common industrial solvent found in paints, varnishes, adhesives and printing inks. It can cause dizziness, headaches and confusion. The chemical can also cause kidney and liver problems in the case of prolonged exposure. There are a variety of dracaena plants you can use to remove trichloroethylene.

• Carbon dioxide

This is produced from various sources of combustion including heating boilers and gas stoves. Low level exposure can cause headaches and dizziness. Acute exposure can cause death. Again, there are various dracaena houseplants that will effectively remove carbon monoxide.

Humidity control

A study conducted in the University of Agriculture in Norway concluded that houseplants can actually reduce fatigue, sore throats, coughs and a range of other illnesses related to cold. They achieve this by increasing the levels of humidity in a room and reducing dust. In addition to that, the interior plant will regulate humidity in the house by releasing moisture.

The above are just the main benefits of using dracaena. There are also options for landscaping and other outdoor uses. Go through the assortment of plants. There is definitely a plant for everyone.

Dracaena

Dracaena

is a common species of plants commonly used as houseplants and in landscaping. They offer an assortment of health benefits. However, with extreme popularity comes concern. The question you might be asking at this time is this; what type of plant is Dracaena? The short answer is a genus of about 40 species of succulent shrubs and trees. But there is more to these plants.

Dracaena is relative to the agave; the succulent plants with rosettes of narrow spiny leaves and tall flower spikes that are native to south US and tropical America. This is a large genus that includes the poplar house plants and some striking xeric and massive trees used mostly in outdoor landscaping. There are more than 100 accepted species. Some of them are virtually unknown in cultivation and are continually being reclassified.

Characteristics

It is not easy to pinpoint the characteristics of the Dracaena. However, there are various similarities that seem to distinguish these plants from the rest. The main similarities or generalities are that they are solitary plants with a single stem/ trunk/ cane. They can be branched or not. They tend to branch as they age but they start as palm-like plants. They are hence commonly mistaken for palms. Some can be quite tall and massive; for example the Dracaena dracos in the Canary Islands. Some are very drought tolerant and can survive without water for months. Some are tropical and can grow with their stems immersed in water. A good example is the ‘Lucky Bamboo’. Other than that, most of these plants are listed under the toxic plant list though none of them are very toxic.

The main characteristic is that the Dracaena grows like typical monocots with leaves erupting from a meristem and then forming circular rosette of leaves that hang along the stem and fall off with time. This is a characteristic that makes it easy to prune or remove. Pruning creates a neat, tidy look.

Common Names

• Dragon Tree

The most common name given to the Dracaena is the Dragon Tree. However, most of these plants do not develop into trees; they are smaller, shrubby plants. The plants also produce a reddish sap when cut hence the name. Myths have it that after killing the dragon, Hercules shed blood which led to the growth of the dragon trees. In ancient Greek, the name Dracaena means ‘female dragon’.

• Corn Plant

This is yet another common name given to one of the most common houseplant; Dracaena fragrans. The plant has a vague similarity to the corn plant.

Conclusion

The dragon trees are mostly grown in desert and Mediterranean climates because they are very tolerant to heat, drought and wind. They are very slow growing. It can take several lifetimes for a Dracaena plant to achieve the landscaping tree size. However, when grown in well-draining soil and given plenty of water during summer, their growth rate can be maximized. When grown from seed, the plants can achieve several feet within 10 years.

Dracaena