Binomial name: Dracaena draco
Family: Asparagaceae
Characteristics: It is an attractive, sculptured plant which creates a beautiful feature indoors (and outdoors, when mature). It's a Palm-like plant when young, evergreen, slowly growing to 10-30 feet tall. The plant is related to Agave, and looks like one when young. At this stage, it's used as a houseplant.
Seeds per packet: 10
Description: Seed can be sown throughout the year indoors exposed to light in a mini glasshouse.
Planting medium: Soilless medium - peat moss or sand
Optimum germination temperature: 27°C.
- Scarify seed: nick seed with a sharp knife or abrade with coarse sandpaper. Not too much. Just enough for water to reach the embryo.
- Create a mini glasshouse. Follow instructions here.
- Choose a soilless medium such as sand or peat moss and moisten it thoroughly. When it’s dried to barely moist, fill up a planting container and lay the seed on the surface of the medium.
- Dracaen draco seeds require light to germinate, so barely cover it with sand or peat moss. This top layer, although thin, prevents the top of the seed from drying.
- Space seeds about 4cm apart from each other and lay the seeds on the surface of the planting medium.
- Put lid on container, as it increases heat and conserves moisture.
- Put mini glasshouse in the light.
- Put container on heat pad or near a heat source. Keep an eye on the planting medium and container. Spray with water often.
- Germination should take about 8 weeks, sometimes longer.
- Once the draco seeds sprout, give the draco seedlings lots of direct sun and continue to keep the soil moist.