Dracaena reflexa – Indoor House Plants

Dracaena reflexa is generally known as Pleomele or Song of India, this is one of the more ornamental types of Dracaena that is grown indoors. It is widely grown as a decorative plant and houseplant, valued for its richly colored, evergreen leaves, and thick, irregular stems. While it might achieve a height of 4–5 m, rarely 6 m in ideal, protected locations, when grown as a houseplant. It is slow-growing and upright in habit, tending to an oval shape with an open crown. The lanceolate leaves are simple, spirally arranged, 5–20 cm long and 1.5–5 cm broad at the base, with a parallel venation and entire margin they grow in tight whorls and are a uniform dark green. The flowers of Song of India are little, clustered and usually white in color.They bloom in midwinters. The Dracaena reflexa plant was used in the NASA’s clean air study which proved to remove a considerable amount of toxins from the environment.

Scientific Name: Dracaena reflexa
Synonyms: Lomatophyllum reflexum, Cordyline reflexa, Draco reflexa, Pleomele reflexa.
Common Name: Song of India, pleomele.

How to grow and maintain Dracaena reflexa:

Light:
Dracaena reflexa plant is very tolerant of an extensive range of conditions. It grows best in the bright and indirect light. Low light can be handled pretty fine as well, but the plant will grow much slower.

Soil:
The song of India plant flourishes in a well-drained and moist soil. Utilize a good quality all-purpose potting mix to plant. Soggy soil will cause stems to become soft and mushy at the soil level.

Temperature:
The Normal room temperatures are between 60°F (15°C) – 80°F (27°C). Enabling temperatures to go below 55°F/12°C can harm the plant. Avoid having a plant sitting near cold drafts.

Water:
Give the manure a chance to dry out before watering, in the growing season it can be left very dry for 2-3 days, reduce the watering in winter. Keep the humidity up with misting.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Reduce to once a month during fall. The plant profits from a period of dormancy, so during the winter months discontinue fertilizing.

Re-Potting:
Re-potting should be done after 2-3 years.

Propagation:
Take 3-4 inch (8-10 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring. Pot 3 in a similar container for a fuller effect. Cuttings are easy to root in the moist sterile potting mix.

Pests and Diseases:
No serious insect or disease problems. Look for spider mites, scale, and mealy bugs. Root rot may occur if soils are poorly drained or over watered.