root rot on Dragontree
Quick answer
If your Dragontree has root rot, the most likely cause is: Dragon trees (Dracaena fragrans) and Madagascar dragon trees (Dracaena marginata) are described as easy-going indoor shrubs that do not mind erratic watering, yet they are explicitly liable to root decay in permanently wet soil because a waterlogged, poorly drained compost suffocates the roots and lets fungal pathogens colonise the soft, dark tissue.
Start here:
- 1. Remove the plant from its pot, shake off the wet compost, and cut back any roots that are soft and dark, leaving only firm pale tissue, then repot into fresh, free-draining compost in a pot with adequate drainage holes.
- 2. Adjust the watering regime so the top 2–3cm (1in) of compost dries out between waterings during the growing season, keep the compost only just moist in winter, and place the pot on a pebble-filled tray rather than letting it sit in standing water.
Why Dragontree gets root rot
dragontree
Dragon trees (Dracaena fragrans) and Madagascar dragon trees (Dracaena marginata) are described as easy-going indoor shrubs that do not mind erratic watering, yet they are explicitly liable to root decay in permanently wet soil because a waterlogged, poorly drained compost suffocates the roots and lets fungal pathogens colonise the soft, dark tissue.
How to reverse root rot on Dragontree
- 1
Remove the plant from its pot, shake off the wet compost, and cut back any roots that are soft and dark, leaving only firm pale tissue, then repot into fresh, free-draining compost in a pot with adequate drainage holes.
- 2
Adjust the watering regime so the top 2–3cm (1in) of compost dries out between waterings during the growing season, keep the compost only just moist in winter, and place the pot on a pebble-filled tray rather than letting it sit in standing water.
Keep root rot off this Dragontree
Use a free-draining indoor plant compost with a little perlite or potting grit, choose a container with drainage holes, and never let the plant stand in a saucer of water; for Dracaena marginata specifically, allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering again rather than keeping it permanently moist.