There is probably room for soil improvement, but I will let others address that issue; suffice it to say that my D. marginatas are dang happy in a very fast & coarse potting mix.

If your plant is in a tiny pot & root-bound, it may be a good idea to pot up (put into a bigger pot without disturbing the soil/rootball drastically) temporarily, until a more favorable time for repotting rolls around.

GB

Take care.

Al

Over-watering is a sure way to kill D. marginata. In the future, make sure soil is dry before giving a drink.

D. marginata is a care-free plant, 'as long as it's not over-watered.' Does best with some neglect.

Marginatas come in different colors... green, green/cream/pink, green/pink and green/red edge leaves.

I bought this baby at our local grocery store for 1.00 in 2007.

In 2005 I also purchased green/red egde, same store, same price, 1.00. As an experiment, I potted both marginatas together.

Here's the outcome.

D. Marginata's do well in bright light. If light/sun is too low, leaves grow thin and lose color.
Although they don't like wet feet, they need humidity.
Well-draining soil is imperative, as are drainage holes..

When you get your marginata? Leaf drop is common in mature plants, but rare with youngin's.

When a marginata is over-watered, leaves first yellow then fall..Toni

The author of this blog said, Perlite can be rinsed before use.

People have their reasons why 'X' medium should or shouldn't be used.
I add Perlite in soil for all plants: Tropicals, Sub-Tropicals and Succulents.

Wish you could remember the reason the nursery you worked for said it's bad for D. marginatas. Toni

It took a while (like 2 or 3 months!), but each of the 6 total stalks has 3 new tops emerging. I was a little worried, because the back-budding took WAAAY longer than rooting the pruned tops, but I kept watering them a little bit & waiting... I even scratched the skin to make sure they were still alive!

If you want your plant to rebound well from the pruning & for the starts to have the best chance to root, I would wait a while & let your plant get very fat & sassy before you lop the tops off.

I will post some before & after pics, once I take one of the new shoots coming on.

GB

Al

However, the jury has gone back into the deliberation room on this one! The most recent studies that I've seen suggest that perlite might not be a problem, after all. Fluoride is pretty easily leached from perlite, and not likely to build up to damaging levels, especially when used as just one component in a potting medium.

Perlite is a very popular rooting medium, as well as a potting medium amendment. I've used it quite often in that manner with great success.

Toni, you would be correct in calling perlite a type of 'glass'. It is, in its natural state, a siliceous volcanic rock (silica is what glass is made from) that when expanded by temperatures of greater than around 1700 degrees F, bursts open like popcorn. That comparison is a natural one, since it is the small amount of moisture contained in a kernel of popcorn AND rock perlite that causes them both to burst.

Rekless, a couple of the ingredients in your Premium Nature Mix can cause problems when used in the confines of a container. The humus and compost are typically too fine-textured to be able to provide the large percentage of large pore spaces that help create a fast draining, coarse textured potting medium. Both of those ingredients can quickly turn muddy and mucky in a container, which is the last thing you want. Or, should I say, the last thing your PLANTS want.

Please know that I have never seen (nor touched) this particular product, but am speaking on general terms. My opinion is that this product would work very well as a soil amendment in my vegetable garden but not as a medium in any of my containers.

Tonni

Small rocks & perlite do little to promote drainage. They can reduce water retention, but have little effect on how quickly water moves through the soil or the ht of the perched water table. The amount of perched water the soil retains, which is the water that occupies the lower layer of water retentive soils and refuses to drain, is what has the greatest negative effect on root health. Soils that retain little or no perched water are easier to grow in and offer much greater opportunity for plants to grow to their potential.

Soils made primarily of particles larger than peat/compost/coir/sand/ and other fine particulates drain better, offer better aeration, and provide the grower with a much wider margin for error.

If you want a short course on some basic soil science, you can follow the link below, or ask if you have questions.

Al

GB

Before:

From Dracaena marginata

After:

From Dracaena marginata

From Dracaena marginata

However, I did a search to make sure the soil is for indoor potting. It is.

I would use it for my marginata. Even though it contains Perlite, I'd add more plus Pea Gravel and bark. Additional mediums help with drainage.
To make myself clear, when I say bark, it could be Orchid Bark or other barks on the market. Orchid bark is a little more costly but other barks are sold in 20+ pound bags.

Rekless. What direction does your window face?
During winter, place before a south or west window. During summer, on the brghtest days, an east is sufficient, or a few feet from south or west.

You need to learn how to water properly.
What size is the pot your marginata is in? Do you know how to measure pot size?

The pot shouldn't be too much larger than the root ball. As your plant grows, repot in a bigger containers.

Watering. Marginatas do not like constantly wet soil. Roots will rot.

Before watering, insert your finger or a stick deep within soil beside roots. If your finger/stick comes out wet, do not water. Wait a few days and recheck.
The larger the pot, the longer soil will take to dry.
When soil looks crumbly on top, and your finger/stick comes out clean/dry, then water. Not before.
It's better soil stays on the dry side than moist.

Rekless, after time goes by, you'll figure it out. It'll come naturally.

Fertilizing now isn't necessary, especially after it's newly repotted.

Keep your marginata away from a heating source. Vents, etc. Place in an airy room.
I mist my marginata's leaves..spraying is a good way to keep dust off. Or placing in the sink/shower and hosing. Try not to hit soil if it's wet, not ready for a drink of water.

That's about it. Everyone has their own way growing plants. The suggestions I've made is how I grow my own Dracaena marginatas.

Good luck, if you have any other questions, please ask.

BTW, what is the pic you wanted me to see on the link you posted? The marginata? Toni

Although it's D. marginta, I don't know which cultivar it is. But it is D. marginata.

You mentioned mold but I forgot to look, lol. I'll have to go back and check.

Actually, your tree is nice-looking. I love its shape. Toni

I was looking at your Pachira/Money Tree, Kalanchoe combo. Cute.

Take care, and good luck with your Dracaena, Toni

Is your Calamondin a bush or tree-shaped?

Do you have south or west windows? A place outside during summer?

Citrus love being outdoors, in sun, fresh air and humidity.

I took a few pics of my citrus the other day, but didn't get a shot of the entire tree because it was too cold to take outside..

The last is lemon..they're very yellow, but look orange on the pics..don't know the reason.

Toni

Dracaena's don't usually have problems with pests, but sometimes, in a big store with lots of other plants, things can happen.

GB

Hey, congrats on your new oranges.

Rekless, there are several different varieties. Some have small fruit, some medium, others large.

Taste differs, too..sour or sweet.

Once oranges are deep in color, feel ripe, they're ready to eat.
However, beware..some sour oranges are much to bitter--your lips will pucker, lol.

For instance, Calamondin has golf ball size fruit. These fruit are often used to make jelly/jam/marmalades.

Mandarin orange is medium size. Some people consider the fruit sweet, others say they're bitter.

Navel oranges are large. Most navels I've eaten are sweet or sweet if completely ripe. And very tasty.

Do you have a pic of your orange tree?

I'm glad you have access to a yard. Setting plants outdoors in summer is their vacation. Lots of sun, fresh air, humidity, etc.

I love citrus scent..flowers and fruit. Some leaves emit fragrace, especially lemons.

If you have any questions, or need help, ask away..

Hello Gravy...Toni

BTW as its a latin name the second name should begin with a lower case letter, hence marginata rather than Marginata.