Dracaena Reflexa Plant Care

Dracaena reflexa is an ornamental plant you can add to your collection of indoor plants.

It has an irregular-shaped growth that grows into a tree. You find them in protected landscapes, growing up to 20 feet tall. Another name is the Song of India, which has yellow-striped leaves.

Or the Song of Jamaica with off-white stripes. Both species have narrow, pointed leaves around the stem while tufted on the ends of branches.

What is the Song of India?

Dracaena reflexa originates from Madagascar, Mauritius, and islands in the Indian Ocean. Jean-Baptist Lamarck introduced the plant in 1786. Since then, it has become a common ornamental houseplant. The Dracaena song is famous for growing indoors and as an outdoor plant.

Interestingly, the genus name comes from Greece ‘drakaina,’ meaning female dragon. Another intriguing thing is NASA used the plant in their Clean Air Study plan. During the study, they showed how effective it is in eliminating formaldehyde.

Yet, the most significant appeal of the song of India is the leaves with yellow lines. Even better, the plant adapts well to thrive on your patio in your home. Fascinating hey! But that is not all! Check out the Dracaena reflexa song below to learn more about this interesting plant.

Song of India Plant Care Basics

The Song of India plant can grow high and wide, so providing enough space to grow indoors is best. While the size might be overwhelming growing up to 15 feet, there is no need to worry, as caring for it is easy. You’ll notice it thrives well once you learn to provide it with the best growing conditions.

So keep reading to find out how to care for this beautiful plant.

_{The Best Soil Mix for Your Houseplant}

The secret with the soil mix for your reflexa song of India all comes down to using a high organic matter. The material improves fertility while enhancing the structure. Using loamy organic well-drained soil helps the roots aerate and penetrate well.

Some great organic matter to use is peat moss or compost. The container needs proper drainage, allowing the water to drain well. So grab one part peat moss, one part houseplant soil, and one part perlite for the best soil mix for your plant.

_{Dracaena Song of India Watering Needs}

Remember your song of India needs watering only when you feel the topsoil is dry to the touch. Great news, right? You need not water it every day. You can give it some misting to keep it hydrated with the soil moist. Yet, do not overwater your reflex plant, as it can lead to root rot.

Your plant has a high drought tolerance compared to other indoor plants. So, how do you know you’re overwatering this plant? If you notice yellow leaves, the water might not drain well. But as they mature, they can dump the leaves to produce new ones.

Another important thing is that this plant does not like tap water as it is sensitive to fluoride. Hence, we recommend using filtered water instead.

_{Dracaena Reflexa Lighting Need}

The good news is that when it comes to your Dracaena reflexa care, it fits well into your living space. It can withstand medium, low, and extreme light conditions. Yet, if placed in direct sunlight, the blade ends scorched. Still, too little light can lead to curled or faded leaves.

We recommend placing the Dracaena song in moderate light. If you put it in high light, you may need to increase the watering. So, a few hours of bright light will give it the growth it needs.

_{Temperature Needs}

One thing the Dracaena plants prefer is temperatures from 65° to 78° F (18° to 25.5°C) during the day. Yet, when the evenings get more relaxed, it helps with flower growth. Still, temperatures below 55 °F (12.5°C) can cause damage. The best is not to place your plant close to an AC or heating unit.

_{Best Humidity Levels}

Your reflexa song of India needs more humidity when placed inside the home. The reason is that it is indigenous to a subtropical climate. Remember, you can adapt to the room humidity in your home.

If you live in warm regions, your plant grows healthier outside, where it gets enough humidity. So, the best is to plant it in areas where the moisture is not too low. Doing this results in brown leaves. Yet, you can elevate the humidity inside using a humidifier.

Another method is placing your plant on a pebble tray with water. As the water evaporates, it adds the moisture your foliage needs. You can mist the leaves every few days.

_{Fertilizer Requirement}

One thing that will make you happy is the fertilization needs. Pleomele, yes, another name for your plant needs not much fertilizing. If you plant it in peaty soil and organic matter, it needs fertilizing less.

You can use a thin layer of compost (half-inch) around the plant in spring. Or you can use a houseplant fertilizer every two weeks in spring and summer. You can reduce the feeding during fall, and you can stop in winter.

_Propagation

Taking care of your tree is like caring for your other house plants. The best part is you can propagate it from cuttings. So you can provide family and friends with a gift to care for their Song of India plant. Here is how you can do this:

• Look for the highest point of your plant or the stem to take your cuttings.
• Use your pruning shears to cut along the leaf line using the top cuttings. Again, it helps to choose one with many stem nodes.
• If doing stem cuttings, cut a large slice from the stem about 8 inches long with leaf nodes.
• Use some rooting hormone and scrub the bottom side with it (obligatory), as it helps improve the propagation.
• Take some fresh soil or use a container with fresh water and position the cutting in it.
• Please place it in a warm area with indirect sunlight.
• Once it grows roots, you can transfer your cutting to a more significant medium filled with potting mix.

_{Growing Zone}

The plant enjoys tropical temperatures in regions under the USDA Zones 10B through 11. Hence, you can plant your reflexa in these areas all year round.

_Potting

The excellent news is you only need to transplant your Draceanea reflexa song every few years. When the time comes to repot your house plant, make sure to use fresh potting soil. At this time, it helps to provide it with some added sunlight for a couple of days.

When repotting, try not to overwater your plant. The best is to wait it out for seven days for the roots to settle. Another noticeable thing is that you can give it a simple cut-off as it grows big. Yet, do this in spring or summer when growing.

So grab your sterilized shears to remove wounded canes at a single point. Now is also the time to remove the infected or dead leaves.

Other Dracaena Species

Approximately 120 species of shrubs and trees are found in the Dracaena genus. Here are some gorgeous plants you may encounter along your way.

_{Dracaena marginata}

The plant is also known as the dragon tree, a popular houseplant. The plant has a tall, skinny trunk with green sprouts of long, red-tipped leaves. With its abstract silhouette, you can add height to your houseplant arrangement.

Or, you can place it behind your sofa or against a blank wall.

_{Dracaena fragrans}

The Dracaena fragrans, or cornstalk, has multiple stems and is a flowering shrub native to Africa. It resembles a corn crop with a thick stem and glossy green leaves. Occasionally, it blooms small white flowers.

_{Dracaena deremensis}

All houseplant collectors love the corn plant for its lush, deep-green leaves. The plant’s native to Africa, and you find it growing in homes around the world.

_{Dracaena surculosa}

Here is another plant in Africa’s tropical rainforests known as gold dust. It has more leaves than stems and sprouts white or yellow-speckled green leaves. It looks as if someone dusted gold on the foliage, hence the name.

Possible Diseases & Pests

The good news is that the Song of India is, to some extent, pest-free. Yet, fungus gnats are more of a concern when you plant them in bark soil or compost. Here are some pests and diseases you may find on your plant:

• Mealybugs are one insect you need to keep an eye on. You notice them with a fuzzy or cotton mass. You can use a strong spray of water at the sink or outside with a hose to spray them off. Or you can use cotton balls with rubbing alcohol to wipe them away. If you do this, wash your plant using clean water.
• Aphids are black or green with a round shape. You will notice their presence if the leaves turn yellow and have a sticky discharge. Wash them off with a piece of fabric dipped in soap water to remove them.
• Spider mites are another pest you find on this plant and are very tiny. However, if you notice brown or yellow pointed leaves, you know these critters exist. You can use a water spray to remove them or apply a miticide.
• Thrips are winged insects that cause significant harm to your plant. You can spray them off with water and remove the infected leaves. We recommend not using a high nitrogen feed as it leads to much growth, inviting them to feast.
• Common fungus disease is a fusarium with soft rot and a leaf spot. It helps to water your plant from the foundation and not on the leaflets to prevent this from happening.