The Dracaena Massangeana, also known as the Dragon Tree, or Cane Corn Plant, is a beautiful succulent plant that grows fantastic wild, spike-like leaves that give it a tropical and “dragon-like” look. This is a great plant to grow indoors, and some even swear it grows better inside than it does out.
Whether you already own a Dracaena Massangeana plant or plan on purchasing one in the future, there are many things you need to know in order to provide it with the best conditions for proper growth.
In this article, we will give you all the indoor care required to grow a great indoor Cane Corn plant that you can enjoy for many years.
Table of Contents
What Is a Dracaena Massangeana
A Dracaena Massangeana is a succulent shrub that is native to Africa and Southern Asia. It is commonly referred to as a Mass Cane Corn plant or, even better, the “happy plant.” The happy plant is a nickname for this plant because it is so simple to care for.
This dracaena plant has large yellow and green leaves that sprout out over the planter giving your home a nice natural, decorative look.
Caring For A Dracaena Massangeana
Caring for a Dracaena Massangeana is easier than many other house plants and requires little maintenance once it is settled. It is important to note these guys do not handle colder weather very well, and too much exposure to frost, snow, or ice can kill the plant quickly.
Essential Steps in Caring For Your Dracaena Massangeana
If you want to keep a Dracaena Massangeana in your home, here is a simple list of instructions to follow in order to keep it thriving, so you can enjoy your succulent for many years.
Water
Dracaena Massangeana is a decently drought-tolerant plant and does not require much water to survive. However, you also never want to let the soil completely dry out. To get your watering just right, give your succulent a single soak, then watch the soil and wait for it to dry up before adding more water.
When doing this, be careful the soil never dries out entirely. It should stay moist for the best growth.
If you water the plant too much, the tips of your succulent will start to get black, indicating it is diseased, probably from root tot, and is dying.
What is root rot? Root rot happens for two different reasons. One, the plant is being watered way too often. Two, the plant is in a pot that doesn’t provide proper drainage. When water pools at the bottom of a pot, the roots cannot get the right amount of oxygen, and the roots start to die, decay, and infect the rest of the plant.
Light
The Dracaena Massaneana is often a top choice for businesses and offices because they don’t do very well in direct sunlight. This can scorch the leaves and ruin the plant. The best form of lighting is indirect fluorescent bulbs.
Never put your plant in front of a window where the sunlight can shine through.
Soil
The best soil for growing a Dracaena Massaneana is slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5. It must be a well-draining soil that doesn’t have too much superphosphate or perlite as this ingredient contains fluoride, which can kill your succulents.
Tip: Dracaena Massaneanas are extremely sensitive to fluoride. Fluoride tends to settle inside your plant’s leaves causing them to lose color and they will slowly start to die.
Temperature
Another reason these succulents make great house plants is because of how well they do with the same temperatures inside the home as people do. They thrive the best in average temperatures between 60°F-75°F (16°C-24°C) but can dip down a little lower for short periods of time.
Humidity
Dracaena Massaneanas is a simple plant that doesn’t require special care and will do very well in a normal household humidity level. However, they would be very grateful for a little extra humidity every now and again and it wouldn’t hurt to give them a quick mist once in a while.
Things to Know About The Dracaena Massaneanas
The Dragon Tree is a very interesting and unique plant with tons of advantages and a few disadvantages. Here are some important things you should know before purchasing a Dracaena Massaneanas.
Keep Away From Pets
The Dracaena Massaneanas plants contain a chemical compound called saponin. This toxin is very poisonous to dogs and cats, and if consumed, it can result in vomitting, diareah, lethargy, drooling, weakness, etc.
While it is said the toxin shouldn’t be a huge issue for humans, it is best to keep children away and never try to ingest the plant for any reason.
The Dracaena Massangeana is a Natural Air Purifier
The Dracaena Massangeana is known for naturally filtering air pollutants in a room such as formaldehyde, benzene, and other airborne toxins, including those often found in cigarette smoke and vapes.
The Dracaena Massangeana Can Get Pretty Tall
The Dracaena Massangeana is a slow-growing succulent plant that can eventually reach nearly six feet tall if allowed to do so.
It is best to trim or prune your Dragon Tree in the late summer, cutting the leaves in a diagonal direction in order to reduce the chances of infection.
You can use these clippings to propagate the succulent if you wish to do so and is a fairly simple process.
Repotting Your Massangeana
As mentioned, these plants can grow to be very tall, and obviously, they don’t start out that way. This is why it is very crucial to repot it once a year. Doing so will give the plant’s roots room to grow to allow it to thrive and reach its maximum potential, providing a beautiful floral appeal to any space.
Summing Things Up If you are interested in adding a Dracena Massangeana to your home, you will not be disappointed with the benefits it provides. The maintenance is extremely relaxed and makes the perfect addition to your home.
