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Dracaena | White and Jade Jewel Plant | Care Difficulty – Easy

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I am going to cover two plants in one today. Both are a white variegated Dracaena; one is called White Jewel and the other is a Jade Jewel. They require the same care–it’s just their coloring that differentiates them. In fact, I find it difficult to tell these two Dracaena plants apart. They both have strong white striping that contrasts beautifully with the broad-leafed, deep-green background. This species of the Dracaena family is a compact plant, which makes a stunning tabletop display.

Water Requirements

These plants have a reputation for not needing a lot of water. True, but they need a thorough soaking when the soil dries out! It is best to use filtered water, rainwater, or distilled water since they don’t like salts or minerals. Dracaenas prefer dry soil. If the soil remains soggy, it will promote fungus and root rot.

Light Requirements

A  mix of sunshine and shade is ideal for this dracaena, but it’s best to avoid direct sunlight. Although it grows quicker and better in bright light, you’ll also find it survives and thrives well enough in low light conditions.

Temperature Requirements

It prefers temperatures between 65 – 75 degrees (F). Under 55 degrees (F) will harm the plant, which may become noticeable if the leaves begin curling. Try to avoid placing the plant near cold drafts, which will also cause harm.

Fertilizer: Plant Food

I feed mine once a month during the growing season with a 1/4 diluted complete liquid fertilizer.

Plant Characteristics to Watch For

Diagnosing what is going wrong with your plant is going to take a little detective work, but even more patience! First of all, don’t panic and don’t throw out a plant prematurely. Take a few deep breaths and work down the list of possible issues. Below, I am going to share some typical symptoms that can arise. When I start to spot troubling signs on a plant, I take the plant into a room with good lighting, pull out my magnifiers, and begin by thoroughly inspecting the plant.

The leaves have brown tips

The leaves have black tips

Brown, dry spots on some of the leaves

The leaves have brown edges

There are white deposits on the pot near the drain holes

Small brown spots trimmed in yellow

The leaves are curling

Additional Care

Common Bugs to Watch For

If you want to have healthy houseplants, you MUST inspect them regularly. Every time I water a plant, I give it a quick look-over.  Bugs/insects feeding on your plants reduces the plant sap and redirects nutrients from leaves. Some chew on the leaves, leaving holes in the leaves.  Also watch for wilting, yellowing, distorted, or speckled leaves. They can quickly get out of hand and spread to your other plants.

 

IF you see ONE bug, trust me, there are more. So, take action right away. Some are brave enough to show their “faces” by hanging out on stems in plan sight. Others tend to hide out in the darnedest of places.

Toxicity

The sap is poisonous to animals. It is not considered toxic to people, but Dracaena is not fit for human consumption (stick to kale and spinach if you are craving greens). Keep it away from pets.

11 thoughts on “Dracaena | White and Jade Jewel Plant | Care Difficulty – Easy

  1. Deborah says:

    Very Informative.
    Thank you for this !!!

  2. Deborah says:

    Very Informative!
    Thank you for posting!!!

  3. Patricia says:

    Hello, can you grow cuttings from this plant?

    • amie-sue says:

      Good day Patricia,

      This is one plant that I haven’t tried propagating. But I have read that you can lop off the top (crown) of the plant and place it in water so roots can grow. Then transfer to soil, much like a pothos propagation. I have even seen people pull off the leaves and place them in water, some producing roots. Though, I have never seen the final outcome of doing it that way so I am not sure what the success rate is on that method.

      I am sorry that I don’t have the experience in doing this to share. blessings, amie sue

  4. Edith says:

    When is the growing season?

  5. Leo says:

    Mine, is like having black on the tip of the leaves. I don’t know to prevent that. Thank you for your advice.

    • amie-sue says:

      Hello Leo,

      The leaves have black tips

      This can be a sign of overwatering.
      Solution: Double check the watering schedule and back off if the soil is really wet. Refer to watering requirements above and adjust accordingly.

      I hope this helps :) amie sue

  6. Peter says:

    Recently purchased my Dracaena Jade Jewel plant 45cm 2+head after my other house plant of three yrs grew to a height of 7ft & eventually died through my ignorance of over watering or that was my conclusion. I want this new Dracaene Jade that looks stunning to have a long life & grow tall like the previous one. Can I ask if I’m better at keeping a watering log-diary to remind me of watering periods. Plus when to fertilise in growing season. Do you have example a calendar that gives same info of weekly watering checks for insects etc. I can see something like this would be very useful.

    • amie-sue says:

      Good afternoon Peter,

      I am sorry to hear about the loss of your large plant. That is always hard. I don’t have any watering charts. I used to be a scheduled waterer, but I found myself either over-watering or under-watering since each plant has its own needs and timing. Even the same species of plant, which has the same watering requirements, can differ from plant to plant based on its location in the house. Air vents, more light, less light, drafts from doors, the size of the plant, etc., all change up the watering needs of a plant.

      I now water randomly as I see the need. It took a little time to adjust to this form of watering, but in the end, my plants are better off for it, and it’s less stressful for me. I do have one plant, Christmas Cactus, that is more finicky, and I use the calendar on my phone to notify me to water it every 4 days. It sends me a notification.

      Best of luck with your new plant~ amie sue

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