Meet Dracaena Marginata:
Dragon Blood Tree
A strong, low-maintenance plant, with not too many requirements, makes the Dracaena marginata (dragon's blood tree) an ideal plant for the living room and workplace. The dark green leaves have graceful pink-red edges, making this plant a real eye-catcher.
Dragon blood
Dracaena comes from the Greek 'drakaina', meaning female dragon. The plant got this name because some Dracaenas, such as the Dracaea draco, have red juice, which was seen as dragon's blood. In nature, Dracaenas grow into trees, but in the living room they usually do not grow larger than a large shrub. As they get older and bigger they will branch out more.
Location
The Dracaena marginata originates from the rainforests of Asia, Africa and Central America, but can adapt well to living room conditions. Although this plant can tolerate a somewhat darker spot, it does best in a fairly bright spot out of the sun. The leaf color then comes into its own best. Avoid placing it in a draft, as this can cause it to develop brown tips. The temperature should not fall below 12 degrees at night, but this tropical plant prefers a warmer position.
Watering
The Dracaena consumes small amounts of water and there should not be a layer of water left in the pot, because then the roots and trunk can rot. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. In practice you will have to water about once a week, slightly less often in winter. Exactly how much your plant needs depends, among other things, on the temperature in the room and the amount of light at the location. The darker, the less water. During the growing season (spring-summer) you can give plant food for foliage plants every other week during watering.
Repotting and pruning
It is not necessary to put the Dracaena in a larger pot every year, but it should in any case be given new soil every 3 years. Use a good potting soil for this. If your Dracaena develops brown tips, you can cut them off. The same goes for whole leaves. Do not pull unsightly leaves from the plant, as you may damage it. Over time, the plant will drop its older leaf on its own. If it has become less attractive as a result, you can prune it. Cut or cut the branch(s) at least 15 centimeters from the ground. The plant will then form several offshoots and thus branch out. It can take a long time for the suckers to appear on the plant, so it is better not to prune all branches at once or put the plant out of sight. Cut branches can be propagated by placing them in cutting soil or by placing them in water.