Dracaena Rikki Plant – A Comprehensive Guide to Growing

The Dracaena plant has long been a household favorite among indoor plant owners both for its easy care and exquisitely beautiful foliage. Out of the abundance of different Dracaena plants, the Dracaena Rikki (Dracaena deremensis ‘Rikki’) is a one-of-a-kind variety with a first-rate appearance and particularly manageable care. Whether you are a green thumb veteran or if you are a novice plant owner, the Dracaena Rikki is an idea option for your home. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the Dracaena Rikki plant from its origins to its unique characteristics and detailed care tips including common issues & remedies, how to propagate and more!

 

Watch the video:

Origins and Characteristics of the Dracaena Rikki

Dracaena Rikki belongs to the Dracaena genus of flowering plants, comprising roughly 120 species, native to Africa, southern Asia and northern Australia. The genus name Dracaena, deriving from the Greek word drakaina, meaning ‘female dragon’, is thought to reflect the dragon-like appearance of the plant, especially the larger species of the genus.

Belonging to the Dracaena deremensis species native to tropical Africa, what makes the Rikki variety different is particularly its leaf, long and thin, and up to 24 inches long. Green-coloured with lighter green, or yellowish stripes, going up and down its usually erect and cane-shaped stem, the Dracaena Rikki is an eyecatching touch of elegance for corners, living rooms, offices or bedrooms.

Ideal Growing Conditions for Dracaena Rikki

To ensure your Dracaena Rikki is a happy plant, it is important to nurse it under the appropriate growing conditions. Though the plant is reasonably low-maintenance, try to stick as close to its natural habitat as possible to achieve a colourful and growing plant.

Light Requirements

Dracaena Rikki thrives in bright, indirect light but this plant is fairly tolerant of lower light too. This cultivar comes from a species that grows beneath a canopy of taller trees, so it has adapted to growing in a filtered light environment. Dracaena Rikki will grow indoors near an east or north-facing window. If you find that your only option is a brighter space, for example, south, or west-facing windows, use sheer curtains to diffuse the light and prevent scorching on the leaves.

Temperature and Humidity

Dracaena Rikki likes temperatures in the range of 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C), typical in most homes. It can tolerate somewhat lower or higher temperatures, but beware of sudden drops in temperature or drafts that can put stress on the plant and damage it.

Humidity: Dracaena Rikki prefers moderate humidity levels. A little drier than average household humidity, especially in winter, is tolerable, but it does best with around 40-50% humidity. To raise humidity, you can use a humidity tray, mist the leaves regularly, or place the plant near a humidifier.

Soil and Potting

Dracaena Rikki isn’t a picky plant about the mix its roots are housed in, but it must have well-draining soil. A standard houseplant mix with added perlite or sand will do. Dracaena Rikki needs a very well-drained mix, to prevent root rot (Photo courtesy of Herrero/propagate.com)If the roots of your plants stay wet for too long, they’re likely to experience root rot, an all-too-common problem with Dracaena plants. Therefore, pot your Dracaena Rikki in a container with drainage holes so that excess water can escape.

Watering Schedule

Dracaena Rikki should be allowed to rest a little, and not watered again until the top about an inch of soil has dried out. Over-watering is the most frequent mistake made by plant owners, and can induce root rot and other issues. After you water, leave it until the top inch or two of soil has dried out before trying again. In the colder, slower growing winter months, watering intervals can be further extended.

Be sure to use filtered or distilled water when you water your Dracaena Rikki, since it hates fluoride and chlorine that are commonly found in tap water. If you want to use tap water, allow it to sit out uncovered for 24 hours to give the chemicals time to dissipate.

Fertilizing Dracaena Rikki

Fertilising can be done to help maintain colour and for general plant health: feed during the growing season, which will be from spring through early autumn, with a water-soluble, balanced fertiliser diluted to half strength every 4-6 weeks. Too much fertiliser can result in salt build-up in the soil that can lead to leaf burn, so too little is better than too much.

Once growth starts slowing seasonally, in winter, you can stop fertilising altogether, or only fertilise every two or three months.

Pruning and Maintenance

Dracaena Rikki is a very slow-growing houseplant, so you will not need to prune it very often. From time to time, though, you may wish to give the plant a bit of a shape-up by trimming it back a bit, which can also encourage new growth. If the plant starts to get too green and leggy, you can cut the stems back to the height you would prefer to keep it. It will respond by producing new shoots all the way back down the stem from where you made the cut, filling out the plant again.

It’s equally a good idea to snip off yellowed or dead leaves and, when new shoots appear, to pinch them out for the plant to branch out and produce more compact foliage to keep it looking good and reduce the risk of pests nesting there. Wiping off leaves with a damp cloth is an excellent idea to keep them clean and clear of dust which can stop them from absorbing enough light for photosynthesis and provide an environment for pests to gather.

Common Problems and Solutions

The Dracaena Rikki is tough plant and in most cases, it is easy to overcome any setbacks it may experience, especially if the trees have good growing conditions:

Yellowing Leaves

Check also the leaves for yellowing: this might mean you are over-watering, or your pots have poor drainage. Check the soil is dry – wait to water until the surface has dried out. If the problem persists, repot the plant in fresh soil with better drainage.

Brown Leaf Tips

Brown leaves tips can be due to low humidity, sometimes fluoride in the water, or too much direct sunlight. You can fix this by increasing the humidity level around the plant, using distilled water, and/or moving it away from direct sunlight.

Leaf Drop

If this dracaena, known as Rikki shrub Dracaena, is dropping leaves, the problem will be caused by temperature shock or drafts, or underwatering. Carefully evaluate the environment, and make any needed changes, keeping the plant’s climatic environment as steady and uniform as possible.

Pests

As is the case with many house plants, occasionally pests such as spider mites, mealybugs or scale can attack Dracaena Rikki. Check the plant frequently to keep leaves clean and free of dust, and treat any infestation with insecticidal soap or neem oil, using the product according to label directions.

Propagating Dracaena Rikki

Propagation is easy … simply take stem cuttings from your plant. This process means you can make more plants from your existing one, either to fill your own collection, or pass on to friends.

How to Propagate

Pick a Healthy Stem: Choose a healthy stem with several leaves and at least 4-6 inches in length Make sure the stem has no bugs or disease.

Snip it Close: Cut the stem at a node (the place where a leaf joins the stem) with a sharp, sanitised knife or scissors, but almost as if you were cutting it above a node. If you have a long stem, cut it into several sections with at least a node on each.

Cut the Cutting: Excise all of the lower leaves so you will have no more leaves than a few on top of the cutting. Now you have a cutting that is unfocused, energy-wise.

Placing into Glass of Water – Place the cutting into a glass container filled with water so that the nodes are submerged. Change the water out every few days.Plant Ends – Dig a hole into a pot filled with moist, well-draining soil and plant the cutting straight into the earth.

Wait For Roots To Form: In a couple of weeks, you should see roots forming. When there are several inches of roots, you can plant the cutting in its own pot.

Care for the New Plant: Treat the new plant just as you’d treat a more mature Dracaena Rikki. Remember to ease it into the same light, water and temperature situations.