The first time I moved house, my mother insisted on giving me a couple of plants, including one with a woody trunk and a beautiful tuft of green and yellow leaves, with a red ribbon tied to the stem. My mother called it "Happiness Stick" and said it attracted success and good fortune. As it stretches its trunk, almost reaching for the sky, your life is filled with joy and good news.
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I don't know how true all this is, the truth is that the Palo de Agua is one of those plants that should never be missing in your collection, it is very beautiful and easy to care for, it also has other interesting applications. I can't prove that it attracts good luck, but at least it does make your spaces look happier and brighter.
The
scientific name of this plant is Dracaena Fragans. You can find it with a lot of names: water stick, happiness stick, Brazil stick, Brazil Trunk, Corn Plant, dracena, among many others. Native to tropical Africa, it has been used as a decorative element in Europe since the mid-nineteenth century. It is a perennial plant, that is, it does not lose its leaves with the change of seasons, it is distinguished by its woody trunk with rings, at the ends of which grows a tuft of green leaves or green with yellow in other varieties. This is why it has been called a 'false palm tree'
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It is slow growing, reaching up to 2 to 3 meters if grown in a pot indoors. Outdoors and planted in the ground, it can easily exceed these dimensions. I have seen specimens in gardens that measure about 5 meters. Another curious detail is that it produces a white flower, in a beautiful bouquet, in spring but rarely blooms when grown in pots. However, it is something that happens only twice in the life of the plant.
The water stick usually has completely green leaves, but there are variegated species, which exhibit other colors. There are many varieties of this plant, the most common being:
- Dracena fragans Massangeana: the leaves have a lemon-yellow line in the center
- Dracena fragans Lindenii: the leaves are green, but have yellow edges.
- Dracena fragans Lemon Lime: It has leaves with light yellow lines around a grayish-green center line.
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It is important to note that it is not a good plant for pets, as its sap can be a bit toxic. For some strange reason, cats may find it attractive and tend to bite the leaves. This is not fatal, as it only causes vomiting and some intestinal problems, but if you see that the symptoms worsen or persist for a long time, you should take him to the vet.
What is the Water Stick used for?
Although this plant has always been appreciated for its beauty and ornamental value within interior decoration, the dracena has incredible properties, as it is known to be one of the most powerful species in the world of purifying plants.
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As evidenced by the famous NASA study, the water stick is one of the plants capable of absorbing harmful substances from the environment and processing them to transform them into oxygen. Toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichlorotoluene, xylene and a long list of other pollutants are processed by this plant, which purifies the environment. It also works as a natural humidity regulator, so if you gather a few in your green corner you can do wonders for the air you breathe.
Within Feng Shui, the Water Stick is a plant that is positioned in the corners and edges that interrupt the flow of Sha energy in the house. As it has a shape reminiscent of a miniature tree, it is fantastic for replacing smaller plants and also because it grows straight upwards it attracts good Chi. In addition, they can be used aligned to delimit the spaces if necessary.
As I mentioned at the beginning, it is considered a plant that attracts good fortune, in fact, its sap known as "dragon's blood" was used as an ingredient in incense and incense to ward off negative energies.
How to Care for the Water Stick
The water stick is a grateful plant, which responds vigorously to minimal care. It's perfect for people who don't have a lot of gardening experience and can be used as a houseplant or outdoors. It is fantastic for giving visual height to the decoration, due to its long and stylized bearing, so it will look great in your living room. The most important thing is to create environmental conditions similar to those of its place of origin, then you can let it grow freely and let it fill your spaces with its happy silhouette.
- Lighting
El Palo de Agua comes from tropical locations, so it prefers places with semi-shade or indirect light. In these spaces, the large trees are responsible for filtering the sun's rays that reach this type of plant, so you should never expose it to direct sun, as its leaves would burn. It can be in very bright places, but where the sun's rays do not reach directly.
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- Temperature
Brazil Wood prefers warm temperatures, ideally between 20 and 26° C. The minimum temperature it can withstand is 10 C, an environment colder than that will cause it to start losing its leaves and die. During the winter, avoid placing it near the radiator or heater, as this will cause it to lose moisture.
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- Watering
This is a perfect plant for those who forget to water at times, because it prefers drought to excess. The substrate should be fairly moist (not soggy) and it is best to wait for it to dry out between waterings to avoid problems with overwatering. These plants are a bit sensitive to fluoride being added to water in some places, so it's best to water it with rainwater. If that's impossible, use water from the filter or water that you've let sit for at least 24 hours.
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- Humidity
As a good tropical plant, it requires acceptable humidity levels. You can spray the plant with a little water from time to time or group it with others to create their own moisture bubble. Another trick is to put it on a pebbled plate and fill it with water, so that the water evaporates without touching the roots of the plant.
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- You
use universal substrate, as long as it's loose and aerated so that the roots can get all the oxygen they need. The substrate should also have very good drainage, because this plant is susceptible to root rot. To avoid any tragedy, don't forget to put a layer of pebbles, pebbles or the like at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage.
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- Reproduction
Reproducing Palo de Agua is very simple. It is recommended to do this in early spring, to allow time for it to develop roots. Just cut off a section of its trunk or a stem from which it has sprouted and put it in fresh soil. I prefer to do it in water, until they develop roots. There are those who use rooting powder, but the truth is that it is not much needed. This plant grows easy if you have enough light.
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- Fertilizer
The dracena is an undemanding plant, however it is ideal to fertilize it from spring to summer. You can use liquid fertilizers every two weeks or extended-release fertilizers. Avoid using fertilizers in winter, which is when the plant goes dormant.
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- Transplants
Change your Water Stick once a year to a slightly larger pot, with fresh and suitable substrate. When you do the transplant, try to pass the entire root ball with the soil adhered to the roots to the new pot, as this way you ensure that they are not damaged by handling. Always remember to put something at the bottom to make it easier to drain.
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- Even
if you take care of your plant with care and care, there are certain typical problems of this type of plant that you should pay attention to. The first thing you should look at on your plant is the leaves. They should look green and very bright, it is the primary indicator of their health and well-being. Remember to take a look at your plant, including the leaves, regularly to catch any problems early.
If the leaves
- turn yellow and stop growing, the leaves that do grow are dwarfed and weak, it is a sign that your plant is lacking nutrients. It's time to use some organic fertilizer to restore its vigor.
- If the leaves turn a deep yellow and start to dry out, then it's because there's too much light. You need to move it. To a place where it is protected from the sun's rays.
- If you see brown spots on the leaves, it's because they lack water. It is true that this plant can resist drought, but if it goes on too long, the leaves will dry out. If the tips of the leaves
- turn brown and the edges of the leaves are yellow, it's because you're getting drafts. It's best to move it around, increase the humidity and give it a slightly warmer environment.
- If the central stem becomes soft, as if it is pliable and fluffy, it is because it has been put in too much water for long periods, but it can also be a symptom that the temperature is too cold. Don't let it get to this point, but if it does, cut off everything that's soft and if any solid sections of the trunk remain, cut and try to propagate it.
- The water stick is sturdy, but you should watch out for aphids and pesky mealybugs. If you see any of these pests, you can use some organic insecticide.
- If the lower leaves turn yellow and start to droop, don't worry because it's normal. Leaves have a life cycle and are replaced by others.
- If you find a leaf with reddish spots, don't worry because the sap of this plant is red when it oxidizes, not in vain its name Drácena means dragon in Greek.
- If the leaves curve in on themselves, forming a tube, it is because they need more ambient humidity. Spray the leaves with water and check if watering is needed.
What you should NEVER do with your water stick
- Overwater. If you water too often, moisture builds up in the roots causing rot. It's best to let it dry out between waterings.
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- Transplant to an excessively large pot. Because there is a chance that moisture will accumulate and affect the roots.
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- Leave it in full sun. direct sunlight is the stick's worst enemy, causing brown spots, drying out leaves, and can kill your plant.
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- Leave it next to the air conditioning or heating outlet. Although these devices provide air conditioning and create pleasant environments for the plant, they tend to dry out the environment too much. Keep them away from these appliances and spray them with some water if you see them showing signs of dehydration.
- Leave the leaves covered in dust. The leaves of the water stick benefit from cleaning, as it allows them to capture light better. Remove dust when necessary with a clean, dry cloth. Avoid applying products to keep them shiny, you don't have to.
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- Leave it outside in winter. This plant cannot survive if the temperature drops above 5°C. It's best to keep it indoors.
- Move on from the subscription. While this is a rather hardy plant, it doesn't hurt to apply some fertilizer in spring. If you are one of those who forget and get lost with concentrations and frequencies, you can try an extended-release one.