Capricious beauty - Dracaena unbent

Dracaena bent (Reflex) - A plant of the genus Dracaena hails from the islands of Madagascar and Mauritius.

The interesting name of this plant was formed due to its external feature - leaves curved in the shape of an arc.

Description

Bare trunk and leaves in bunches, growing only at the ends of the shoot, allow you to define this plant, like all other types of dracaena, to false palm trees. However, this representative of the flora has some differences from his relatives: his branches depart from the very base of the trunk. This feature makes the tree look like not a palm tree, but a branchy shrub.

The dracaena of this species has green lanceolate leaves with a light border, on which veins are pronounced. Each dense leaf begins with a wide base, which is firmly attached to the stem. The length of the leaves ranges from 11 to 16 centimeters.

Popular species drayensy bent:

• • "Song of India" (green leaf bordered with cream-colored stripes);
    

In this video you can see to what extent the Song of India can grow.

• • "Jamaica's Song" (dark green leaf has a thin white border).
    

And here is a video about the drama "Jamaica song".

Home care

The dracaena reflex is one of the most capricious species due to the difficulties of growing. This tree grows comfortably in greenhouses, where special climatic conditions are created for it. But if you wish, any fan of indoor plants will be able to grow this kind of dracaena to one meter, performing demanding care.

Features care after purchase

Sometimes after the purchase is required transplant dracaeni, if it is in a special substrate for transport. In this case, you need to replace the ground.

After the purchase care must be taken to support the trunk such a plant, as it is weak and with the growth of the plant will not withstand a large load.

Lighting

Lighting should be bright enough. However, this plant must be protected from direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves will burn out. A bright place without the direction of the sun's rays will fit just right.

Drum is required approximately twelve o'clock daytime lighting. If there is not enough sunlight, then it is necessary to use special lamps to supplement or replace it. In the rest period, additional light is optional.

In the penumbra darker leaves are formed, which bend the trunk. Barrels can be twisted to produce different compositions.

Temperature

For the dracaena bent off, the average summer temperature and the absence of heat are the ideal temperature conditions. The most comfortable level - 17 - 25 degrees Celsius If the temperature rises above 25 degrees, then the plant needs to open access of fresh air, taking it out to the street or loggia.

Air humidity

Air humidity requirements depends on the host conditions of the plant:

• If the summer dracaena reflex is exposed to fresh air, then it does not need additional moisture;
  
• If the plant is in a heated room with dry air, then it will need a daily spraying twice.

On the long leaves of the dracaena, which are bent off, there are intensively accumulated particles of dust, which must be regularly removed with a damp cloth, and sometimes with a warm shower.

When carrying out wet procedures should avoid stagnation of moisture in the grounds of the leaves. This can lead to decay processes in parts of the plant and lead to its death.

Watering

Watering is carried out taking into account the season:

• Abundant - in the summer;
• Moderate - in winter.

With abundant watering, an excess of moisture in the soil must be avoided. At the same time, land should not be allowed to dry out. This means that the soil must always be hydrated.

Moderate watering is based on moisture as the soil dries.

Water for watering is defended at room temperature.

Bloom

Dracena bent flowering in the wild. When home content bloom occurs rarely.

Small flowers of white color, collected in inflorescences, appear approximately in January - February.

Fertilizers (dressing)

The dracaena reflex needs regular feeding during its development. For this purpose, ready-made complex fertilizers with a reduced presence of fluorine are used, for example, Ideal or Rainbow.

Transfer

A young plant is transplanted every year. Transplantation of adult dracaena is made 1 time in 2 years.

When transplanting The following rules must be observed.:

• The pot is taken a couple of centimeters wider than the past;
• When digging the root, it is important not to shake the earthen room;
• Carefully handle the roots, trying not to break them;
• When transplanting an adult specimen, the amount of sod land should be increased by subtracting sand.

The pot for drafes Reflex is selected taking into account its powerful, intensively developing in depth, roots. This means that the height of the landing tank must exceed its width.

Growing up

You can grow this type of dracaena from seed or fruit.

If at home a draenza bloom happens, then it should be artificially pollinating with a paint brush. After pollination, fruits appear - drupes that can be planted. But it is important to bear in mind that the grown offspring will lose their variegation.

Purchased ready seeds are planted in March. The substrate is a mixture of sand and peat.

Seeds are sown in separate containers with drainage holes and placed in an illuminated warm place for 40–180 days, depending on the time of germination. At this time, slightly watered the soil.

Sprouts planted in pots with a small diameter when they reach 4 - 6 centimeters. With proper care, young plants will successfully grow.

Breeding

Breeding dracaena bent possible:

• stem pieces;
• cuttings.

In the first way shoots They are divided into cuttings up to 10 centimeters in length and planted in the ground for rooting. A pot with a handle is covered with a plastic bag to maintain the level of humidity.

When applying the second method a tree with leaves is cut off near the tree and placed in a jar of water. Heteroauxin and regular heating of the vessel are used for the appearance of roots. Three months later, dracaena is planted in the soil.

The predominant breeding method is grafting.

And this video tells about the care of the drama "Jamaica Song".

//youtu.be/H8u1Xq-_GP0

A photo

Photos beauties with curved leaves.

Fruits and their application

In wild nature the mature fruits of the dracaeni of the reflex form the diet of the maned lemur, which lives only in Madagascar. The endangered species of beetles Polposipus herculeanus, living only on one of the Seychelles, Fregate Island, is also closely associated with this variety dracaena.

Diseases and pests

At non-observance of rules of the maintenance of a reflex it is ill. Possible painful manifestations on the leaves dracaena bent and their cause:

• dry ends with too dry air;
• falling off at overdrying of soil and drafts;
• yellowing when overwetting;
• twisting with a lack of atmospheric humidity;
• dark spots when watered with hard water;
• loss of pattern in low light.

The dracaena reflex has a weak stem, so it is supported.

Very often the reflex is affected by pests, among which there is a scythe, a spider mite, aphid and a mealybug. When unwanted guests on the plant, apply the following measures:

• rinsing with a hot shower;
• insecticidal treatment.

Dracena bent off is a capricious representative of the genus Dracaena. But with careful care and respect for the correct light mode, the plant develops well and looks spectacular.