Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ or Dracaena fragrans ‘Janet Craig’ is a popular tall houseplant that thrives in low light. Its plants have long glossy green lanceolate-shaped leaves. Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ is an excellent plant to grow indoors because of its bushy leaves and tolerance of shade or bright light.
You can learn how to grow Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ plants indoors in this article. You’ll also get useful advice on how to cope with any emerging problems with these ordinary houseplants, along with this care guide.
How to Care for Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ – Overview
‘Janet Craig’ plants flourish in average room temperatures and humidity. They prefer filtered, indirect light away from direct sunlight. Only water the potting mixture when the top layer dries out. Plant in light, well-draining soil. Without fertilizer, Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ plants thrive.
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Facts
Dracaena deremensis, often known as Dracaena fragrans, is a tropical slow-growing shrub that produces cultivar plants such as the Dracaena “Janet Craig” houseplant. Dracaena deremensis grows to be 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall in its native habitat of Africa. The plants known as the Janet Craig reach a height of around 3 feet (1 meter) indoors.
The glossy dark-green leaves on the upright, woody stems are about 2 feet (60 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) broad. The indoor tree-like plant has a full, bushy look due to the abundance of large pointed leaves. Planting dracaena plants such as Janet Craig in shaded corners adds vertical emphasis and height to the area.
If you have a variegated dracaena cultivar, this versatile plant thrives in bright indirect light. Make sure to purchase a plant with three stalks in the pot if you want the Janet Craig plants to have a full, bushy appearance for your interior design.
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Compacta
The Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ Compacta is a small variant of the main plant. The Compacta ‘Janet Craig’ has lance-shaped leaves that grow from the stem at the soil level and are up to 5 inches (12 cm) long. Outside, a fully developed Compacta dracaena plant may reach up to 6 feet (1.8) tall. Yet, in order for this sluggish-growing plant to reach its height indoors, it may take many years.
Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig Compacta’ is also known as ‘Pineapple Dracaena,’ ‘Compacta Janet Craig,’ Dwarf Compacta,’ and ‘Dracaena Compacta.’ In indirect light or shade, and at room temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the ‘Pineapple Dracaena’ thrives. When the soil dries, only water the plant with ‘Dracaena Compacta.
How to Care for Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’)
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig,’ for example, is a popular houseplant because it is so easy to grow. Because their roots are susceptible to root rot, the most important care tip is not to overwater ‘Janet Craig’ plants. It should grow for many years if you water it sufficiently and keep it out of the sun. Here is how to grow Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ in the most careful way possible.
Light Requirements for Growing Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant Indoors
Bright, indirect light is best for Dracaena ‘Janet Craig. Dracaena plant is a low-light houseplant that grows equally well in shade as it does in bright light. Janet Craig plants grow best in east or north-facing windows. The delicate foliage should be protected from direct sunlight in a south-facing room.
‘Janet Craig’ is an ideal plant for bedrooms, workplaces, dark rooms, or places where there’s only artificial light because of its tolerance of shade. The plant’s growth, on the other hand, slows down in low-light situations. The lance-shaped leaves become narrower and smaller as they grow in dark environments.
It’s important to note that the leaves of the Janet Craig plant can get scorched if it is exposed to direct sunlight. Protect the plant from the windowsill with a sheer curtain or keep it at a distance of several feet away. Pale patches or yellowing leaves are indications of sun leaf damage.
The Best Soil Type for Indoor Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plants
In a loose potting soil with excellent drainage, Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ plants thrive. Using one part peat moss, one part compost, and one part perlite, make the ideal dracaena potting soil. You can also add gravel, perlite, or pumice to the soil of your houseplants if you purchase a commercial potting mix.
Peat moss, for example, is lightweight and airy in composition. The nutrients and moisture are retained by this houseplant soil component. By adding an inorganic substance like gravel or perlite to the soil, water can easily drain away by loosening the soil mix. Your dracaena plants will flourish in this kind of potting soil indoors.
For optimum development, Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ plants need the right kind of potting soil. Too much moisture stays in the growing medium if the soil is thick and heavy. Root rot and a variety of other growth issues are caused by waterlogged soil. You’ll need to adjust the soil to loosen it if water pools on the surface or drains slowly.
How to Water Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plants
Only Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ stays damp in the top layer of soil. Roots of a dracaena plant degrade, rot, and ultimately kill it if it is over watered. Make sure the top 2 inches to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) is dry before watering. Next, thoroughly wet the soil before allowing it to drain completely. During the summer, if your Janet Craig plant is exposed to bright, indirect light, it may need watering every week.
However, just water the plant every two or three weeks if the dracaena is in constant shade during winter. Always, though, make sure to water your plant according to the soil’s dryness, not a set schedule. It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that watering frequency can be influenced by a variety of factors. For watering Janet Craig plants, follow these simple guidelines:
- Type of pot—In comparison to plastic and glazed pots, soil moisture drains quicker from terracotta pots. As a result, clay pots dry out the soil faster, necessitating that the plant be watered more often.
- Season—When growth is vigorous, plants require more water. This is from spring to summer for Dracaena ‘Janet Craig.’ In the winter, water the bushy green plants less often.
- Temperature—Evaporation is caused by hot weather and home heating. You’ll need to increase the watering frequency if the climate is warm.
When the weather is gloomy, chilly, and humid, plants are particularly prone to fungus infection.
Temperature Range for Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plants
In typical room temperatures, tropical Dracaena plants like Janet Craig thrive. These plants prefer a temperature range of 65°F to 90°F (18°C to 32°C). The plant’s growth will slow down if the temperature stays below 65°F (18°C) for long periods. Janet Craig has a minimum temperature of 55°F (12°C).
While growing Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ indoors, temperature is seldom an issue. Your dracaena plant will feel at home in most environments if you’re comfortable inside. Just make sure that the plant isn’t exposed to chilly drafts in the winter or cold air-conditioning currents in the summer.
In frost-free climates, Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ thrives in USDA zones 10 and 11. In the summer, put your potted plant in dappled or filtered light if you want to keep it outside. It’s recommended to bring the plant indoors when temperatures fall below 60°F (15°C). The Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ thrives in colder climates, but wind chills need to be avoided in temperatures below 60°F (15°C).
Humidity Requirements When Growing Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plants
When grown indoors, Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ needs no special humidity. The plants adapt well to dry household air, despite their native habitat being tropical. Dracaena plants’ growth rate is unaffected by even dry air caused by household heating or air-conditioning. When caring for Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ at home, you don’t have to worry about the glossy lanceolate leaves.
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant Growth Rate
The growth rate of ‘Janet Craig’ dracaena plants is usually medium to slow. In bright light, this plant species grows faster, as long as it isn’t exposed to direct sunlight. The dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ grows slowly in shaded rooms with little artificial illumination. If you want to speed up growth, move the plant to a brighter location despite the fact that low-light conditions are adequate for its health.
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant Flowers
The blooming plant Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ has long, thick stalks that may be up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. This popular houseplant has large white flower clusters that give off a fragrant smell. The flowering habit of Janet Craig should be noted for a few things. These bushy foliage plants don’t typically bloom indoors unless growing conditions are optimal. Additionally, the white dracaena blooms may create a sticky sap that stains furniture. As a result, plant owners immediately remove the buds once they appear.
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant Fertilizer Requirements
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ plants require very little care and feeding if you take care of them. Dracaena plants are fertilizer salts sensitive when growing indoors in pots. Dracaena leaf tips may become brown as a result of this buildup in the soil. Water the plant as needed, and grow it in indirect light for optimum development.
A balanced houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half strength, is used to apply fertilizer. Only fertilize in the spring and summer, not more than that.
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant Pruning
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ is fprmed for height management and dead foliage removal. Cutting off any part of the stem can help you reduce the plant’s size. Around the cut, new growth will emerge. In the spring, you can improve the look of the Janet Craig plant by trimming its bare stems. To propagate the dracaena plants, cut off pieces of the stalk.
How to Propagate Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant
The stem cutting technique may be used to propagate most varieties of cane plants, just like with other types. Cut the stem into 5″ (12 cm) sections to propagate Dracaena “Janet Craig.” Position the cut stems in individual tiny pots packed with potting soil immediately after allowing them to dry overnight (mark the top and bottom end for replanting). Plant the bottom end in the ground, not the other way around.
Place the pot in a well-lit area with moist, not soggy, soil. The cuttings should take root after around three weeks, with new leaves beginning to appear. The dracaena cuttings may then be moved into a bigger, new container. Dracaena plant reproduction is best performed in the spring or summer, when growth is at its peak.
How to Repot Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant
When a plant becomes rootbound, repot it with the name Dracaena plants. Dracaenas need to be repot every two to three years, on average. To allow the roots to flourish, choose a new pot that is one or two sizes bigger than the current one. After repotting, Dracaena plants may seem a bit limp for the first two weeks.
Remove all the old soil from the roots when repotting Dracaena ‘Janet Craig. Check the health of the roots by checking for dead or rotting mushy roots, and trim if needed. Plant the dracaena at the same height in the new pot as it was previously in, using an appropriate potting mix. Water thoroughly before putting in the ground.
Pests Affecting Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant Growth
Mealybugs and scale insects are common pests that affect Janet Craig plants. Plant pests can suck the vitality from houseplants. To naturally get rid of plant pests, use a neem oil solution. Add 2 tsp. of salt to the mixing bowl 1 tsp. of neem oil is added to the mixture. Using a spray bottle, mix 1 quart (1 liter) of warm water with liquid dish soap.
Spray the neem oil solution liberally on your Dracaena plant’s leaves weekly to treat bug infections. To kill small white mealybugs on contact, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud. Mealybugs are little white creatures that produce a fuzzy white substance when they leave.
It’s more difficult to spot scale insects. But on the stems, they appear to be little bumps in the wood. Scale insects suck the plant’s sap, gradually depleting its development, even though they don’t move.
Diseases Affecting Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant Growth
If you overwater Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ plants, they are likely to get fungal diseases caused by root rot. Roots rot gradually due to soggy soil, frequent watering, or poor drainage. It may be too late to save a dying “Janet Craig” plant by the time you notice the signs of dracaena root rot: yellow leaves and wilting growth.
It is critical to repot the Janet Craig plant as soon as possible if you believe you have a problem with root rot. Your ‘Janet Craig’ houseplant may be revived by refreshing the potting mix and watering it solely when the soil dries.
Are Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plants Toxic?
Cats and dogs should not be allowed to eat Janet Craig Dracaena plants. Toxic saponins are allegedly found in Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig,’ according to the ASPCA. Vomiting, loss of appetite, and excessive drooling are possible side effects from swallowing parts of the dracaena plant.
FAQs About Growing Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ Plant
Dracaena plants, often known as Janet Craig, are low-maintenance and easy-care houseplants. However, your plant’s development may be influenced by a few factors.
Why are my ‘Janet Craig’ leaves turning brown?
Brown tips on Dracaena leaves are frequently a watering problem, either too much or too little. Dryness of the soil should be tested. Wait until half of the soil has dried before watering the potting mix if it is soggy. After that, thoroughly soak the soil and allow it to dry.
You’ll have to increase the watering frequency if the potting mix is bone dry. Dracaena plants are drought tolerant, but their roots need hydration to stay healthy, even if they are drought tolerant. Fungus gnats can be attracted to dry soil and arid conditions.
Roots get enough moisture without succumbing to root rot thanks to the drench and dry method of watering houseplants. You’ll need to trim brown leaves or brown-tipped leaves to improve the plant’s appearance in order to get rid of them.
Why are Janet Craig plant leaves turning yellow?
Giving the plant too much water too frequently is common with Dracaena leaves that turn yellow. Therefore, wait until the plant has dried before watering it.
Do Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ plants clean the air?
Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ may help clean the air, according to NASA researchers. Researchers found that plants from the Dracaena species, dubbed Janet Craig, may aid to remove indoor pollutants like formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene during their tests.