How to Care for a Dragon Tree 'Bicolor'

The mystical Dragon Tree 'Bicolor', also known as Dragon Tree, got its name from an ancient legend where Hercules conquered the 100-headed dragon at the gates of the Garden of Hesperides. Legend has it that Dragon Trees grew wherever the dragon’s blood spilled. As the Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' grows tall, the trunk becomes bare as lower leaves shed in order to direct energy towards new growth at the top, giving it its indoor tree-like appearance. Its eye-catching, sword-like leaves are edged with fiery red streaks.

With easyplant’s self-watering system, caring for your Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' is effortless. Simply check the easyplant reservoir once a month and top it up when it’s empty!

Without an easyplant pot, you need to be mindful not to overwater or underwater your Dragon Tree 'Bicolor'. This plant is especially drought-tolerant, meaning overwatering is the main risk. To ensure you don’t give it too much water, wait until the top 3-5 cm of soil feels dry before watering (this can take several weeks). If the tips of its leaves start to turn brown, it’s usually a sign of either excessive watering or that the water contains too much salt or fluoride. To prevent this, use distilled or filtered water.

The Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' grows best in a space with bright, direct light where sunlight streams inside directly but can also adapt to spaces with bright, indirect light where the sun’s rays are diffused. Avoid placing it in spaces with low light or areas without natural sunlight.

If you’re looking for an easy plant to care for, you’ve come to the right place. The Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' is drought-tolerant, meaning it can manage with very little water, and it’s nearly indestructible. In its first few days at home, it may lose several leaves, or leaves may turn yellow. This is no cause for concern; simply shake off or trim the damaged leaf and look forward to new, better-adjusted leaves growing. To help it thrive and maintain even growth, occasionally dust the leaves and rotate the pot by a quarter turn once a month. To keep its aesthetic shape and height, you may prune it periodically to your liking.

Indoors, the Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' can grow up to 1.8 metres tall. As it develops throughout the year, it will shed some lower leaves, which may turn yellow before being replaced by new growth at the top. Despite its strong and striking appearance, the Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' is a very slow grower, making it ideal for patient plant lovers. It can take a decade to reach just a metre in height and around 15 years to mature and flower. At this stage, it will start to develop stout, upright branches in a magnificent umbrella shape, making the wait well worth it.

Knowing the right temperature and humidity levels for your houseplants is key to keeping them healthy. Dragon Tree 'Bicolor's prefer warmer temperatures between 21°C and 26°C. While standard household humidity is usually sufficient, if your indoor space is particularly dry, consider grouping a few plants together or using a pebble tray to create a more humid microclimate around the plant.

While not considered toxic to humans, the Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' can be highly toxic to pets, so be sure to keep it out of reach of curious furry friends. For people, particularly children, it’s important to be cautious, as even non-toxic plants can still cause irritation or unwanted reactions.

The Dragon Tree 'Bicolor' is fairly resistant to disease and easy to care for. If you water it correctly and keep it out of direct sunlight, you shouldn’t encounter too many problems. However, if you notice the leaves beginning to lose their colour, move the plant to a brighter location. If the leaves become brown or dry, try relocating it to a spot with more indirect light. If you notice spots or dry stems, this may indicate pests, so make it a habit to regularly wipe the leaves to remove dust and any secretions.