Fragrant dracaena "Lemon Surprise" (Dracaena fragrans "Lemon Surprise")

Fragrant dracaena «Lemon Surprise» (Dracaena fragrans "Lemon Surprise") – a cultivar of fragrant dracaena, a natural mutation of Dracaena Vand. Ex. L. fragrans of the Compact group. It was obtained in 1996 in the Netherlands by botanist Ruud A. M.

It is a compact evergreen plant reaching 38-40 cm in height. Leaves up to 25 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width, elliptically elongated, margins slightly rolled, light yellow-green in color, with a grayish line along the center of the leaf.

The flowers are white, up to 5 cm long, appear rarely, and are fragrant.

Hardiness zone: 10a (-1°C)

Temperature: Moderate, not below 15°C, prefers a cool overwintering at 10-12°C.

Light: Bright location, partial shade; does not tolerate direct sunlight. Many consider dracaena a shade-loving plant, but in a dark place it will languish. Intensive light is needed for good growth and development. Variegated forms require more light than green-leaved forms. If there is enough light in summer, dracaenas should be moved closer to the window in winter, as there is usually not enough light in winter. Dracaena also grows well under artificial lighting.

Watering: Abundant in summer, moderate in winter, but adjusted to the indoor temperature. Does not tolerate standing water in the pot or drying out of the root ball. Dracaenas are suitable for hydroponic cultivation.

Fertilizer: During the growing period from April to August, dracaenas are fed every two weeks with special complex fertilizers for houseplants. You can use "Raduga", "Ideal", "Ispolin" and others.

Air humidity: Dracaenas are tolerant of dry air, but require regular misting of the leaves when kept in rooms with central heating in winter. Periodically give the plant a warm shower to wash off dust and refresh the plant.

Repotting: In spring every two years. Soil - a mixture of heavy turf and leaf soil, well-rotted manure or greenhouse soil with the addition of sand. Dracaena roots are mostly located in the upper layer of the soil, so provide a large drainage layer in the pot.

Propagation: By apical cuttings (using heteroauxin and soil heating), by pieces of trunk at least 10 cm long, or by layering. If you cut off the top of the dracaena, you can place it in a jar of water, adding a few pieces of charcoal; after about three months roots will appear and the plant can be potted. New shoots will appear from the lateral buds at the site of the cut on the parent plant.

Pests and diseases: not detected so far

Uses: grown as a houseplant. Noted for being undemanding in care and for its ability to help purify the air in the room where it is located.