Upon receipt of your Steudner's dragon tree (Dracaena steudneri) you have several options:

• Stand it in an attractive planter with holes in the base. Cover the holes with a layer of gravel or potsherds and stand the plant, complete with nursery pot on top. The planter will need to be stood in a dish to collect the drain off.
• Pot it up into an attractive planter with holes in the base. Cover the holes with a layer of gravel or potsherds and add potting compost. Stand the root ball at the correct depth and fill the pot with compost around the roots. Press firmly down - leave a space of about 3 cm from the top edge of the pot. Stand the planter in a dish to collect the drain off.
• Stand it in an attractive planter without holes but do layer the bottom of the pot with gravel so the plant's pot is off the bottom. A wide planter is best as then you can see whether or not the bottom of the pot is standing in water or not.
• Or just stand the plant, nursery pot and all, on a dish - on a layer of gravel, or just directly on the dish.

The best spot for your Steudner's dragon tree

The most perfect spot for your Dracaena steudneri is:

1. Somewhere with lots of light but sheltered from the hottest midday sun - early mornings or evenings are not a problem (in fact it will appreciate it!). Usually somewhere around 3 metres from a window is ideal.
2. Somewhere warm - 18-23 degrees centigrade - wonderful if you happen to have under-floor heating. Immediately next to or above a radiator will not be appreciated (it will dry the potting compost out too quickly, giving more chance of leaf drop).
3. Somewhere with relatively high humidity (60-70%). Spraying the plant regularly will help - 2 or 3 times a day even!

Watering your Steudner's dragon tree (Dracaena steudneri) weekly will help it to grow well - add some plant food for leafy plants to the water fortnightly. Water 2x a week in the warm summer growing season but do wait until the compost feels dry to the touch. In November and December, Dracaena steudneri goes naturally into dormancy. During this time reduce watering, keep the plants on the dry side and stop feeding. Continue as before after the dormant period is past, feeding and watering.

In homes with a low humidity (< 50%) the plant will appreciate being sprayed once or twice a day. A chalky residue will show on leaves in areas with hard water so we advise using rainwater or cool, boiled water to spray.

As the plant generally grows towards the light, it is a good idea to give it a quarter turn every month - standing it, pot and all, on a wheeled base makes this easier of course.

Extra tips

Although Steudner's dragon tree (Dracaena steudneri) is a fairly large house plant, it will appreciate being stood outdoors on a warm but rainy day. It will really perk up after a shower!

As in its natural habitat, it will regularly lose its lower leaves - do not worry if they turn yellow and drop off, as long as it continues to make new ones. Remember all of the above and you can keep your Steudner's dragon tree healthy and looking fresh for a long time.

Dracaena steudneri is a strong house plant that is easy to grow.

This Steudner's dragon tree originated in the tropics of Africa - from the Sudan to Mozambique and from Angola to the Ivory Coast. It is used in those regions as a decorative outdoor plant in public places but in temperate climes like ours the Dracena steudner makes a very popular house plant.

Dracena is classified under Asparagaceae.