Madagascar Dragon Tree Repotting: Everything You Need to Know

Madagascar Dragon trees are wonderful plants to have indoors. Their green foliage adds a fantastic pop of color to the room. Plus, tropical plants are easy to maintain.

Here is a complete guide on Madagascar Dragon tree repotting.

Why Is Madagascar Dragon Tree Repotting Important?

Every variety of Madagascar Dracaena plant will eventually require repotting. Repotting benefits plant growth or health for several reasons.

Growth

Most parents of indoor plants are worried about growth, which is the primary justification for repotting. Even though Dracaena Marginata plants grow more slowly indoors rather than outdoors, they will eventually fill the entire space in the pot.

You’ll be able to tell the plant is rootbound whenever the roots begin to round the base of the container, poke out some drainage holes, or emerge above the soil line. The upper part of the plant cannot develop if there is insufficient room for the roots to expand.

Repotting will help the plant develop much more by giving it extra room. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to separate roots that can be tangled and restrict one other, preventing difficulties with water and nutrient absorption.

Soil Quality

Incredibly slow-growing plants may remain content within the same pot for several years before outgrowing it. The soil they are sitting in won’t necessarily still be conducive to healthy development.

In the same container, the soil starts to deteriorate with time. The plant’s structure gradually degrades, compacting some areas and retaining much less water in others.

The longer you wet the soil, the more nutrients wash out. Degraded soil cannot retain nutrients unless you apply more fertilizer. Instead of sending the nutrition to the roots where required, they wash away through the drainage holes.

The plants will require fresh soil after 3–4 years. For smaller pot plants, 2–3 years are needed to maintain healthy roots. Based on the plant, you might even be capable of reusing the same container by gently repotting it into the fresh soil after washing the old dirt from the roots.

Read: How Often to Water Peacock Plant?

Diseases and Pests

Despite your best efforts, probably, you will eventually run into a sneaky issue with our indoor plants.

If the issue is soil-borne or contagious, as it can be with fungus gnats, mildew, or root rot, repotting is a crucial step in the solution.

The soil frequently harbors pests and illnesses that take advantage of the dampness and gloom. Although certain fungicides and pesticides may be helpful, they also risk damaging the plants. A safer type of control is repotting.

Repotting enables you to look more closely at the roots and repair potential damage in the event of root rot. Till the plant is fully dead, the issue will persist without stopping and spread to additional roots.

Repotting lets you swap out the soil, remove the roots, and permanently solve the issue.

How Often Should Dracaena Marginata Plants Be Replanted?

Like other plants, Dracaena Marginata plants may be a touch delicate regarding repotting. They only need a larger container each second or third year since they grow slowly.

Meanwhile, the Dracaena Marginata plant’s growth rate is influenced by several distinct factors. For example, if the plant receives little light, it could develop more slowly.

To know when to transfer the plant to a bigger pot, keep an eye on it. If you see the following, you might want to repot more frequently:

Roots are poking through the soil’s top layer.
Roots sticking out of the pot’s drainage holes
Roots may intertwine closely or produce a thick mat.
Slower development than usual (not of the environmental conditions)
Issues like mold, root rot, or fungus gnats

Best Seasons to Think About Repotting

The beginning of spring, just before the growing season begins, is the ideal time to repot the Dracaena marginata. The earlier the plant can recuperate from possible harm, the better since repotting may induce shock.

If you have to repot immediately because of stunted development or disease and pest problems, you may do it at any time of the year. Repotting would be healthier for the plants in these situations than waiting. To prevent future growth difficulties, be cautious while doing so.

How Is a Dragon Tree Repotted?

Although repotting a big dragon tree can appear challenging, it’s rather easy. Here is a detailed instruction:

Step 1: Selecting a New Pot

The root ball of the dragon tree shouldn’t be more than 2-3 inches bigger than the container. There’s more water than even the plant can manage when it is in an enormous container. The result might be root infections.

Ensure that the new pot includes drainage holes so that any extra water can be drained as required.

Step 2: Take the Plant Out of Its Container

Carefully place the Dragon plant over on its side. Press the plastic pot’s edges to help the plant emerge if it is in one.

To get it out, you may also knock the foundation of the pot. If the dragon tree is very obstinate, you may try gently scrubbing the dirt free with a garden trowel around the inside edge of the container.

Check out: Polka Dot Plant Losing Color? [5 Common Causes and Solutions]

Step 3: Loosen the Plant’s Roots

Use your fingers to break up the earth. Try to remove all but a third of the old soil from the roots.

Then, using your fingers, push aside any knotted roots and help them become free. Instead of curving around the pot’s border, you would like the roots to dangle down.

Step 4: Add Your Plant and Soil

The soil should be added to the pot until the dragon tree can be placed on top. The base of its root ball should sit 2 to 3 inches underneath the rim. After that, bury the plant’s roots by packing the earth into the surrounding gaps.

Step 5: Water Thoroughly

Water the dragon tree well and thoroughly. Water the tree gradually until the drainage holes are filled with water and all the soil is equally saturated.

Madagascar Dragon Tree Repotting: The Best Soil Mix

The Dracaena Marginata thrives naturally in nutrient-rich, loose soil that drains well. They like a pH between 6 and 7 that is somewhat acidic. The soil mixture that best suits Dracaena Marginata resembles the plant’s natural habitat, Madagascar’s volcanic soil. Add loam, a mixture of sand, silt, and clay soil, for nutrients, coco coir or peat for acidity, and perlite or vermiculite for drainage improvement.

The ideal potting soil mixture for dragon trees has a high concentration of nutrients, the ideal amount of water retention, great drainage, and a pH that is just slightly acidic. We suggest:

One portion of nutrient-rich loam
For drainage, use one-part perlite, vermiculite, or pumice.
For moisture and pH, use one-part pine fines or peat moss.

Before adding the other ingredients and combining them with gloved hands, wet the pine fines or peat moss with some warm water first.

The Care of Madagascar Dragon Plants

Now that you know about Madagascar dragon tree repotting, you can take a closer look at the other factors contributing to its growth.

Light

You should grow the dragon tree plant in light shade. The best places to sit are on the sill of a window overlooking the north side, adjacent to a window facing west or east, or a little distance from a southern-facing window. If it’s too light, the leaves can burn, whereas if it’s in too much shade, the younger leaves might look limp and dull.

Watering

Try to maintain soil moisture but ensure it is not too wet or soggy. A small bit of root dryness is preferable to the danger of overwatering. Be cautious about reducing watering during winter since this is when plants are most likely to develop the dreaded mushy, squishy stems.

Humidity

A suitable humidity level is needed. The humidity in a typical house is ideal, but you may water the leaves occasionally, particularly if the air seems dry. The sprinkling will help off any dust that settles on the leaves.

You must feed the dragon tree if you want fresh leaves to emerge often. Try to do it once a month in the spring and early summer. There are few during the fall season and almost none during winter.

Click: How to Grow and Care for Peacock Plant?

Temperature

The cold isn’t really pleasant for the Madagascar plant. Its living space must never experience temperatures below 50°F (10°C). If you left the plant outdoors over the summer, don’t forget to bring it inside before the first hint of frost. A temperature range of 60°F (16°C) to 75°F (24°C) is required for optimal development.

Tips for Madagascar Plant

Each week, mist the tropical Dragon plants to prevent the dust from collecting on them and provide humidity to the foliage.

Typically, local water suppliers add fluoride to the water supply. Fluoride causes the leaf tips of dracaena plants to become yellow and eventually die. Distilled water is the finest water to spray and water a dragon tree.

The dragon plant’s side branches should be pruned to maintain a manageable height and promote horizontal branching. If the dragon tree’s leaves start to turn pale yellow, move it to a sunnier location.

Annually, indoor plants should be moved to a bigger pot to give space for root development and to refresh old potting soil with new dirt.

Final Thoughts

Now you know everything you need to know about Madagascar Dragon tree repotting! You can now take proper care of your plant to make sure it is not being suffocated in its current pot.