05/25/2024 – the parlor palm love it inside the house and has sprouted new fronds. On Thursday, may 22, 2024, bought a Tri-Color Dracaena, Canna Kaleidoscope Lily Garden Perennial Outdoor/indoor Plant and a Birds Nest Leslie Fern (Asplenium nidus).
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Canna Kaleidoscope Lily
The plant can absolutely stand on its own as a foliage plant, yet when outdoors it produces showy, long-lasting, large red flowers.
Where to place a Canna Lily indoors?
Light
A good place is south-facing window that provide plenty of bright light and warmth for a canna lily to grow. They do best in long-lasting, direct light less than 1 foot from a window.
Watering/fertilizing
Canna Lily is a relatively rare houseplant that needs regular watering to thrive. Canna Lily likes soil that is well draining. You may want to supplement with a gentle, organic fertilizer throughout the peak growing season.
Artificial Grow Lights
Position the plant lights between 12-36 inches above and to the sides of the plants, and keep them on for a solid 8-12 hours.
Like the Tri Color Dracaena, I bought this plant for it deep Burgundy and green leaves. I learned that it will flower under the led grow lights that I have setup for all my indoor plant, but that for what I want out of the plant is best to cut off the flowers when they appear. I will also try using a forage fertilizer instead of flowering one to encourage the leave growth, and hope the plant maintain the Burgundy and green leaf colors.
Tri Color Dracaena
Other names: Dragon Tree
Ribbon-like green leaves with red and cream stripes; can be used as an accent tabletop or floor plant; tolerates low light areas.
Sunlight/ Plant Light
• Dracaena marginata does well in medium to bright indirect light or dappled sun, which makes them a great candidate for growing under plant lights alone. It is a slow growing indoors. Mature height 8 feet indoor and spread up to 3 feet wide. However, it can reach 30ft tall outdoors.
Temperature/ Humidity
• Dracaena plants require warm temperatures to thrive. Ideal temperatures range between 65 and 90 ºF outdoors and average house temperatures indoors. However, the plant will start to decline at temperatures below 55 ºF.
Water
• Dracaena marginata is plant do not do well in consistently moist or soggy soil. It is also a drought-tolerant plant up to a point, and it should only be watered when the soil has dried thoroughly. Rule of thumb, it is best to under watering, than to overwater.
Soil/Roots
• Dracaena plants like good quality potting mix. Soil amendments can include coco coir or perlite up to 25% to improve aeration.
Flowering
• Dracaena marginata blooms small white flowers in the spring once it reaches maturity, which can take five years or longer. That said, these plants rarely flower indoors.
Fertilization
• Dracaena marginata do not require much fertilization to thrive. To give them a boost during the growing season or refresh the soil, feed them with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted at half strength once a month. Feed your Dracaena from spring through summer, but do not fertilize in the winter.
Propagation
• Stem cuttings are the most reliable way to propagate a Dracaena plant. Using a clean, sharp blade, cut the stem away from the mother plant and allow it to callus over a couple days.
• Callused stems can then be placed directly in the soil. While the Dracaena is rooting, keep the soil lightly moist by misting it daily but do not soak the soil. Until your Dracaena has established roots, it only needs minimal water.
• Cuttings can also be placed in water while they are rooting. Change the water once a week. Keep an eye on your cutting and put it in soil once you see roots that have grown 2-3” long.
• Place the cuttings in a warm, bright spot.
• Stem cuttings also encourage the parent plant to produce new growth
Diseases
• Dracaena marginata are tough, low-maintenance plants and are not especially susceptible to pests or diseases. The most common issue with these plants tends to be root or stem rot by overwatering. Luckily, when in the house, pests and diseases on plants is rare. However, with all houseplants a weekly check for mealybugs, scales, aphids and spider mites is preventive care. On Dracaena, it is best to look for pests in the nooks and crannies of the stems where leaves meet the stems.
Maintenance (Pruning, Legginess, Repotting)
• These plants require very little maintenance to remain happy. As the plant grows, lower leaves may start to fall off. This is perfectly normal. New foliage will generate from the top. Prune away any unhealthy looking leaves by running your fingers through the leaves gently from bottom to top. Dead leaves should detach from the plant easily.
• These plants prefer to be somewhat root bound and will only need to be repotted once every two to three years. When repotting select a pot that is two to three inches larger in diameter.
Toxicity
• Dracaena marginata are toxic to pets and humans. Ingesting this plant can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. Keep out of reach of children and pets
Birds Nest Leslie Fern (Asplenium nidus)
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They prefer medium to bright indirect light, high humidity, and moist, well-drained soil. Because they thrive in warm, humid environments, these ferns make an excellent choice for a bathroom. Bird's nest ferns have a slow growth rate and grow more slowly and remain smaller when kept indoors versus outdoors
These ferns have long, erect bright green fronds that grow from a central rosette. Unlike some other ferns, which grow feathery leaflets, bird's nest ferns have smooth, lance-shaped fronds that sometimes develop gentle ripples when grown with sufficient light.
Bird's Nest Fern Care
Light
Bird’s nest ferns grow well in filtered sunlight to partial shade. Don’t expose them to direct sunlight other than the very early morning sun. Harsh direct sunlight can burn the leaves. Indoors, an east- or north-facing window is ideal.
These plants like soil that’s loose and rich in organic matter with excellent drainage. A peat-based potting mix is good for container plants.
Water
These ferns prefer consistent soil moisture, but do not do well sitting in soggy soil. Water whenever the top inch of soil is dry. Avoid watering directly into the center of the plant, as this can encourage mold growth and rot in the dense nest. Aim water at the soil to avoid wetting the fronds.
Temperature and Humidity
Bird’s nest ferns thrive in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant can tolerate temperatures down to 50 degrees, but anything colder can harm the plant, especially with prolonged exposure. Indoors, protect your plant from air conditioning or heating vent drafts.
This fern prefers high humidity and moist environments, such as a bathroom, greenhouse, or terrarium. You can also run a humidifier near the plant to create a more humid environment.
Fertilizer
During the fern's growing season, which is spring through the early fall, feed once a month with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Apply fertilizer to soil not fronds, as direct contact with fertilizer can burn foliage. Stop feeding in the fall, then resume the following spring.
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I also fed and watered all the other indoor plants.