If you want to learn how to grow a dracaena spike plant indoors, you’ve come to the right place.
The key is to get the conditions suitable for ideal growth. These include bright, indirect sunlight, moderate to high humidity, and warm temperatures, and it’s also important to use the right type of soil with good drainage.
Don’t worry if this sounds like a lot – we’ll cover all of these points and much more below so you can keep your dracaena spike plant happy.
Let’s get into it.
Contents
A Quick Disclaimer
Before we dive into growing dracaena spike indoors, it’s important to address what type of plant this actually is.
You see, ‘dracaena spike plant’ is often used incorrectly to describe an immature Cordyline australis plant.
You may also often see dracaena spikes sold as dracaena indivisa, which comes from confusion with the Cordyline indivisa.
So, in essence, the ‘dracaena spike plant’ is the same as the ‘dracaena indivisa,’ and both terms are used incorrectly to describe the Cordyline australis, specifically immature versions that are still small.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll keep the name dracaena spike for this article, but the plant in question is a small Cordyline australis.
Can You Grow A Dracaena Spike Plant Indoors?
Although it is much more common to see dracaena spike plants grown outside in USDA zones 9 to 11, it is possible to grow them inside as well.
This plant is well-suited for indoor growth if you provide the proper care and conditions.
Ideal Growing Conditions For Indoor Dracaena Spike Plants
Let’s look at the ideal conditions for growing dracaena spike plants indoors.
Light Requirements
Dracaena spike plants thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. Good places for this type of light include east-facing windows or on the interior or south-facing rooms.
They can tolerate some direct sunlight, but prolonged exposure to direct sun may scorch their leaves. If you notice sun scorch symptoms on the leaves, move the plant to a more shaded location.
Temperature And Humidity
This tropical plant prefers warm temperatures consistently above 60 °F for optimal growth indoors.
Make sure to maintain a stable indoor environment, avoiding drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations.
Dracaena spike plants also appreciate moderate humidity of at least 60%.
You can increase humidity around your plant by placing a tray filled with water and pebbles underneath the pot or using a room humidifier. You can also place your plant next to humidity-loving plants like hoyas or anthuriums to increase the humidity around them.
Soil And Drainage
Choosing the right soil type is also important for keeping dracaena spike plants indoors.
Succulent soil mixes and cactus mixes with added perlite can work well. You can also make your own mix using equal parts peat, loam, and perlite.
Having several drainage holes in the bottom will also help prevent overwatering.
Other Care Requirements
Once the conditions are right for growth, it’s all about watering and fertilizing properly to maintain good growth.
Here are some easy tips for getting these right.
Watering
Dracaena spike plants require consistent moisture, but it’s essential not to overwater.
Watering when the top inch to two inches of soil become dry is the easiest way to get this right, assuming your soil mix drains well.
The watering frequency will vary depending on the season. For example, you will need to water more often over the summer than in winter, so keep this in mind when checking the soil.
Fertilizing
Providing your dracaena spike plant with appropriate nutrients is essential to encourage healthy growth. Use a balanced, liquid fertilizer, diluted according to the package instructions, once a month during the active growing season (spring and summer).
In the fall and winter, reduce the frequency to once every two months.
Benefits Of Keeping Dracaena Spike Plant Indoors
Keeping dracaena spike plants indoors has some clear advantages over keeping them outside.
Lower Risk Of Disease/Pests
It’s much more common for pests like scale and mealybugs to affect outdoor dracaena spike plants rather than those kept indoors.
There’s also less risk of diseases like bacterial leaf spots that spread from water splashes in wet conditions. Root rot can still affect indoor dracaena spike plants, but it’s more controllable as you are responsible for watering.
No Risk Of Cold Damage
Dracaena spike plants are not very well suited to cold temperatures. This is why bringing them inside during the winter is a good idea if the temperature gets near or below freezing.
Keeping them inside eliminates this risk and ensures that frost damage is not something you have to worry about.
Drawbacks To Keeping Them Inside
It isn’t all positive, though; some drawbacks must be considered.
Overall Size
When planted outside, dracaena spike plants can grow to impressive heights (20 to 30′), but they will be much smaller if kept as houseplants.
Expect sizes of a few feet wide and the same leaf length for indoor dracaena spike plants.
Be Wary Of Pets
One major issue with dracaena spike plants is that they are toxic if ingested by pets like cats or dogs.
If you have pets, you might want to reconsider keeping this plant inside, as it is possible to grow it outdoors year-round in USDA zones 9 to 11.
You could also consider keeping it out of the reach of animals; either way, it’s essential to know about this if you have animals.
In Summary
Dracaena spike plants can be grown inside or outside; it depends on personal preference and the conditions where you live when deciding between these two options.
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