Dracaena is a genus of about 120 species, a lot of that are easy-care, low-maintenance houseplants or backyard specimens.
These robust and adaptable vegetation hardly ever undergo from pest and illness points, and with little assist from the gardener present fascinating foliage and in some instances, flowers.
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The genus contains houseplant favorites just like the snake plant, aka mother-in-law’s tongue (D. trifasciata), dragon tree (D. draco), corn plant (D. fragrans), and fortunate bamboo (D. sanderiana).
Dracaena are identified for his or her easygoing angle, hardly ever dealing with issues with pests and ailments.
Notice that I mentioned hardly ever, not by no means.
Simply because they’re robust and adaptable doesn’t imply they’re resistant to illness. It goes with out saying that protecting your dracaena wholesome, in the correct circumstances, will make an infection much less seemingly.
Illnesses are likely to strike specimens which are burdened by their environmental circumstances. In our information to rising dracaena, we talk about easy methods to domesticate these vegetation in your house.
In case your dracaena isn’t doing too properly, this information will help you determine what’s inflicting the problem and easy methods to clear up it.
Listed below are the ailments we’ll cowl:
Earlier than we begin potential ailments, it’s value noting that fluoride toxicity is widespread in Dracaena species, and the signs can seem like the plant is contaminated with some type of illness.
In case your municipal water is handled with fluoride, it may well accumulate within the leaves over time, stopping photosynthesis.
Signs usually begin within the margins of the leaves, turning them brown and necrotic. Ultimately, all the leaf may even die.
To keep away from fluoride toxicity, water with rainwater or filter fluoride out utilizing charcoal or reverse osmosis.
Study extra about watering dracaena in our information.
“Flecking” is one other environmental difficulty to concentrate on. This drawback causes white or cream spots to develop on the ideas of the foliage and is commonest on multicolored or variegated specimens.
It may be prevented by sustaining constant moisture, gentle, and avoiding temperature fluctuations.
To begin with, we’re going to take a look at a illness that’s commonest in out of doors specimens, however may have an effect on houseplants at times, as properly.
1. Anthracnose
Anthracnose is an issue that may have an effect on dozens of plant species, together with these within the Dracaena genus.
The illness is brought on by the fungus Colletotrichum dracaenophilum and, to a lesser diploma, C. gloeosporioides.
Signs embrace blackened or pinkish water-soaked lesions on the floor of the leaves. There may additionally be rings of brown or black fungal growths contained in the lesions.
These lesions can cowl a majority of the leaf floor and will trigger the foliage to change into chlorotic and drop from the plant.
To deal with anthracnose, you will have to take away any symptomatic leaves and spray with a fungicide.
Merchandise containing the helpful fungi Trichoderma harzianum or T. viride might be extremely efficient. Bacillus subtilis and B. pumilus are highly effective choices, as properly.
I extremely suggest protecting a fungicide containing the helpful micro organism Bacillus in your houseplant toolkit as a result of it’s efficient towards so many alternative issues.
The micro organism targets the disease-causing pathogens, disrupting their reproductive cycle.
CEASE Biofungicide
CEASE, which might be present in one- and two-and-a-half-gallon sizes at Arbico Organics, harnesses this highly effective bacterial ally.
When you use a product that accommodates B. subtilis, isolate your dracaena and spray it as soon as every week till new progress begins and no new signs develop.
In any other case, comply with the producer’s instructions carefully.
2. Armillaria Root Rot
One other illness primarily affecting out of doors dracaena, armillaria root rot is brought on by fungi within the genus Armillaria, often A. mellea.
It assaults dozens of herbaceous and woody vegetation, in addition to ferns and palms.
As soon as it’s current within the backyard, the illness can unfold quickly from host to host. Fruit tree growers know simply how terrible oak root fungus, because it’s generally identified, might be.
The pathogen can stay within the soil and on plant particles for many years and rears its ugly head seemingly out of nowhere once you introduce a brand new host, like an unsuspecting dracaena.
This specific illness loves cool, moist climate. As with another ailments on this listing, armillaria actually solely impacts out of doors specimens, although it may theoretically sneak indoors if the circumstances had been proper.
Normally, you’ll see gentle brown or golden mushrooms on the base of the contaminated plant, however not at all times. You can even search for white fan-shaped mycelia simply beneath the bark.
When you see the mycelia, it’s a reasonably good guess that the roots are rotting beneath the soil. Often, you’ll see darkish spots or lesions on the leaves, and possibly some curling, however as with the mushrooms, these may not be current.
Some gardeners don’t even understand there’s a drawback till the dracaena collapses completely.
When you catch it early earlier than the roots are rotten, you should utilize fungicides to cease the injury and permit the dracaena time to generate new, wholesome roots.
Tenet, which accommodates the helpful fungi Trichoderma asperellum (ICC 012) and T. gamsii (ICC 080) is well-known for being efficient towards this dracaena illness.
Tenet Biofungicide
It’s out there in 16-ounce packets at Arbico Organics.
Observe the producer’s instructions carefully for treating armillaria.
3. Bacterial Blight
The micro organism Burkholderia cepacia decimates onion crops and causes lethal pneumonia in people.
It’s not tremendous widespread – but – but it surely’s changing into extra prevalent because it travels on cultivated vegetation from nurseries.
When the pathogen infects a number, the leaves will flip yellow, the stem will collapse, and the foliage will ultimately die off. There’s no treatment, so contaminated specimens should go.
Since this pathogen can infect each vegetation and people, should you’re immunocompromised and also you uncover this drawback in your houseplants, use excessive warning to bag up and get rid of the plant. Higher but, have another person do it.
4. Black Stem
Black stem is an effective description for this illness. Because the title suggests, it ends in black, rotting stems that may kill the dracaena.
It’s brought on by the fungi Colletotrichum dracaenophilum, Corynespora cassiicola, and Thielaviopsis paradoxa, in addition to some Fusarium species.
Learn our information to dracaena black stem to be taught extra about figuring out and addressing this specific difficulty.
5. Fusarium Leaf Spot
Fusarium leaf spot is totally different from leaf spots brought on by Phoma draconis, mentioned beneath, and is typically simply known as fusarium illness.
It’s primarily brought on by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme, however F. solani may trigger signs.
Signs usually seem on the youthful leaves, and are often water-soaked and darkish, however because the lesions develop bigger, they dry out and tackle a reddish-brown or tan hue, with or with out yellow haloes.
The spots can differ in dimension from as small as a pepper flake to an inch in diameter.
Fusarium can stay within the soil for a decade or extra and it’s just about not possible to do away with. The most effective factor to do you probably have an contaminated plant is to take away it and don’t develop something within the space that’s vulnerable to fusarium.
When you catch the issue early, you’ll be able to deal with the plant and soil with a fungicide. When you’re rising your dracaena in a container, toss out the soil, rinse the roots off totally, and pot in new soil.
Be sure that to wash the container with scorching, soapy water after which wipe it with a ten p.c bleach answer (one half bleach to 9 components water).
Then, deal with the dracaena with a fungicide containing Bacillus, hydrogen peroxide, or Streptomyces.
Mycostop is my go-to product for this illness because it accommodates a helpful micro organism derived from sphagnum moss referred to as Streptomyces Pressure K61.
Mycostop Biofungicide
It’s out there at Arbico Organics in five- and 25-gram packets.
Combine it with water and spray the dracaena as soon as every week till signs cease creating.
Some species, like D. deremensis, are proof against fusarium wilt. Others, like D. marginata, are extremely vulnerable.
6. Leaf Spot
Leaf spot is a generic time period for any illness that causes recognizing on the foliage.
Though in Dracaena species it’s brought on by many alternative pathogens, Phoma draconis is the commonest.
This fungal pathogen thrives in moist, humid circumstances, so overwatering or extreme humidity can create the perfect atmosphere for the fungi to thrive and reproduce.
When the fungus is current, the signs sometimes begin on the decrease, older leaves first.
Irregular, yellow spots develop and because the illness progresses, they flip brown and necrotic, and develop a purple margin.
In superior instances, a yellow halo may develop across the lesions. These necrotic areas will usually have black spots, that are the fruiting our bodies of the fungus, referred to as pycnidia.
Take care to not overwater and keep away from watering on the foliage of the dracaena. When you’re protecting your vegetation in a moist space, think about rising air motion by opening home windows or protecting a fan operating for a part of the day.
Because it’s so laborious to find out which pathogen is inflicting the leaf spots, simply attain for a broad-spectrum antifungal, like MilStop which accommodates the highly effective ingredient, potassium bicarbonate.
MilStop Foliar Fungicide
It’s made particularly for treating foliar fungal points and is out there at Arbico Organics.
7. Smooth Rot
Smooth rot is brought on by the micro organism Erwinia carotovora pv. carotovora or E. chrysanthemi.
Signs start as water-soaked sections on the base of the stem or leaves. The realm progressively turns brown or black and mushy because the illness begins to unfold.
The decrease leaves will ultimately collapse and fall off the plant. When you get in shut, you’ll usually catch a whiff of one thing foul and rotten smelling.
Water on the foliage, whether or not from a watering can or your sprinklers, contributes to the unfold of this illness, as do scorching temperatures.
The micro organism finds its manner in by means of wounds or broken areas, and as soon as it does, there isn’t a lot you are able to do.
If the rot is in an space which you could safely prune away, go for it. The remainder of the dracaena ought to be uninfected.
But when, as is commonest, the rot is on the base of the dracaena, it may well’t be saved. You’ll must dig it up, bag it, and get rid of it within the trash.
8. Tomato Noticed Wilt Virus
You’re in all probability asking your self why we’re speaking a couple of illness that targets tomatoes, however TSWV targets hundreds of backyard vegetation.
It’s unfold by way of thrips, so should you maintain the pests away, you received’t should cope with this virus.
Simpler mentioned than achieved.
If TSWV does infect your dracaena, you will note black or purple streaks on the stems. The plant may additionally be stunted and the foliage could drop off.
There’s no treatment, so should you uncover this drawback, the one factor you are able to do is get rid of the dracaena.
9. Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium wilt assaults lots of of plant species, dracaena included. It’s technically potential for this illness to impression a houseplant, but it surely’s uncommon. It is a drawback it’s worthwhile to look ahead to in backyard specimens.
The fungal illness, brought on by the pathogen Verticillium dahliae, causes the plant to wilt and die. Usually, it should simply be one department or space that can die off first, generally it should simply be one half of the plant that’s affected.
In case your dracaena is wilting, despite ample water, or solely sure sections of the specimen are trying droopy, take away a symptomatic department and lower off some bark to show the middle of the wooden.
When you see darkish stains beneath the bark, you might be fairly certain it’s “vert” as this illness is usually known as.
So what do you do about it? Not a lot, as soon as it has taken maintain, since fungicides are ineffective towards this pathogen.
Watering on the soil stage and never on the leaves, cleansing your instruments totally between use, and ruthlessly pruning some other contaminated specimens will help to stop the unfold of this illness.
In case your dracaena is barely barely symptomatic, prune off the wilting areas, and add a thick layer of mulch across the plant, however not touching the stem.
Mulch helps keep constant soil moisture and helps to fend off additional an infection.
Feeling Good
Nobody needs to cope with ailments, particularly on a species like dracaena that’s reputed to be robust and resilient.
Anytime one in all my supposedly disease-free vegetation turns into sick, it’s laborious to not take it as a private failing. I imply, if everybody else can maintain their plant alive, why can’t I?
However oftentimes, it’s not one thing you’ve achieved incorrect, it’s simply the luck of the draw.
What illness do you assume you’re coping with? What signs are you seeing? Do you want any assist figuring out or addressing it? Tell us within the feedback part beneath!
And for extra details about rising dracaena, you’ll need to learn these guides subsequent: