Dracaena reflexa is native to Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and other nearby islands of the Indian Ocean.
Dracaena reflexa also called as Song of India, Song of Jamaica, Lomatophyllum reflexum, Cordyline reflexa, Draco reflexa, Pleomele reflexa, is a species of the Dracaena genus. This species was described by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1786.
IDENTIFY DRACAENA REFLEXA - SONG OF INDIA - SONG OF JAMAICA
Dracaena reflexa is native to Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and other nearby islands of the Indian Ocean. It is not for every outdoor tropical landscape due to its unusual form. It is most often used as an interiorscape plant in malls and homes. Despite the irregular growth habit, it is probably best suited for the formal landscape.
It is a slow-growing tree, which reaching a height of 4-5 m (usually much smaller, especially when grown as a houseplant.) with upright in habit. The leaves are unmistakably darker green than most other plants. They are arranged alternately around the thick stems. The flowers are small, clustered, usually white and extremely fragrant, appearing in mid winter.
There are various cultivars of the dracaena reflexa that display different leaf variations, although the most popular you'll see sold in garden stores is the yellow edged variegata type.
DRACAENA REFLEXA - SONG OF INDIA - SONG OF JAMAICA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Dracaena reflexa should be grown under shade. The plant can be grown under 73 to 80% shade (2500 to 3250 fc). A brightly lit spot without direct sunshine is suggested. A small amount of morning or evening sun is not a problem.
Temperature:
As a desert plant and a lover of hot and dry environments, the plants thrives at a temperature between 70 and 90 ° F. Be careful: avoid placing it right behind a window facing south, the direct light could burn it : a window facing west is best. At soil or air temperatures less than 65°F, very little growth will occur. Plants will be damaged at 35°F air temperature if exposed for short periods, 1-2 days, or if exposed to 55°F for 1 week. To simply protect the plants from cold damage, a minimum of 50°F should be held and plants should be sheltered from wind. Temperatures below 50°F, but above freezing, have been observed to cause chilling damage when plants are exposed to wind.
Humidity:
Preferably 50% or higher; however, they will tolerate lower levels without harm. In dry weather, spray your plant with soft water, clean the dust on the leaves: it will be all the more beautiful and you will protect it from red spiders.
Substrate and growing media:
Sphagnum peat, pine bark, vermiculate, or perlite (leach before using) can be volumetrically combined to formulate media for plants in smaller containers while media for larger plants may contain 10–20% coarse sand to keep plants from wind tipping. Media should have good moisture capacity and aeration, and pH of 6.0 to 6.5. A pH lower than 6.0 may cause leaf chlorosis while a media pH above 6.5 will cause iron deficiency.
At the end of winter every year, transplant your plant in a pot slightly larger than the current, with a mixture of garden soil and potting soil. If it is too big for potting, just scratch the top soil and add a layer of potting soil.
Watering:
During growth seasons (spring, summer), watering should be regular, about once or twice a week, but controlled, to make sure the roots don't rot. In autumn, gradually reduce watering until winter, when twice-monthly watering will suffice.
Fertilizer:
They are moderate feeders especially when grown under high light. Reduce feeding if grown in shade. In summer, add liquid fertilizer for green plants every 2 weeks. You can also add slow release fertilizer pellets to the soil mix when planting or repotting. Stop all fertilizer treatments at the end of summer.
Pruning:
The plants have an upright habit and in time can get too tall for the growing situation. At this time the plant can be headed back and they will quickly re-sprout and form a new lead.
Propagation:
Rooting of tip cuttings, air layering, and cane cuttings are the primary methods of Dracaena propagation. Air layering or cane cuttings are mainly used for large specimens, and tip cuttings are used for producing the smaller Dracaena species.
Pests and diseases:
Few problems with insects. Root disease can be an issue if grown wet and cool conditions.
Leaf tips or margins become chlorotic or necrotic (cause of high boron, fluoride, or soluble salts; media pH may be too low): Damaged leaves will not recover; leach media to lower high soluble salts; adjust media pH to 6.5 and use fertilizers and water low in boron and fluoride.
Yellowing of leaves with green veins creating a netted appearance (cause of temperatures above 90°F and low available iron): Lower media pH to 6.0; increase shade levels if in a production area; drench with iron chelate.
Slimy, necrotic spots on leaves, mass leaf drop (cause of chilling injury): Plants should be kept in areas above 60°F at all times, including shipping and showcasing.
Older leaves will turn purple (cause of phosphorus deficiency): Common in soils high in aluminum; increase phosphorus in fertilizer.
Tipburn in older leaves (cause of sodium toxicity): Increase potassium and top dress with gypsum; usually a result of high salinity in irrigation waters.
Reduced leaf size (cause of zinc deficiency): Spray with chelated zinc; affected leaves will not recover.
Flowering (abnormal flowering): Usually caused by cooler, wet weather; an increase in nitrogen helps keep it at bay.
Abnormally narrow leaves (cause of strap-leaf): Root disease or poorly aerated soil; repot into fresh media.
Leaves curl: A temporary condition brought on by high light and/or temperature; as light or temperature is reduced, the leaves will return to normal.
Sunken, rust-colored areas appear on leaves usually near the tips (cause of sunburn): Remove the plant from the affecting light and gently trim the damaged areas.
COMMENTS