How to Care for the Tricolor Dracaena

Dracaena marginata 'Tricolor'

You might describe this dracaena as a colorful spray of joy.  It's as though it would like to brighten your day!  This was my mother's plant.  It came in a dish garden with some other plants.  When those plants outgrew their container she kept this one.  It always cheered her to gaze upon this resplendent plant as it sat in the morning sun glowing with bright hope.

The tricolor dracaena was cultivated in Japan from the Dracaena Marginata and developed in Florida and Puerto Rico many years ago. The entire Dracaena family of plants are amongst the sturdiest of houseplants to own and the easiest to grow.  Most of them live well in fairly low light conditions. The 'Tricolor' is the only species that requires some sun to appear at its best.  (At least as I write this; you never know what those growers will come up with next!)

  Care instructions--

• Very bright indirect light near a sunny window or some direct sun.  Full afternoon soon may be too strong. The better the light, the better the coloring (but don't overdo it.)
• For a plant in a 6" (15cm) diameter pot, water it when the soil is very dry on top. It should be given about 1 pint or almost 1/2 liter when necessary. 
• A plant in a 10"(25cm) diameter container can dry out about an 1" or so below the soil line and should be given about 1-1/2 to 2 quarts (11/2 to 2 liters) of water when necessary. 
• Water meters for houseplants that measure the moisture content of the soil can be very helpful for some and are available at most garden centers.
• Fertilize regularly. Miracle Gro drops or Schultz Instant  plant foods work very well.

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