Rhaphidophora Decursiva How to Grow

Rhaphidophora Decursiva also known as the Dragons Tail is an awesome plant to have in your houseplant collection. It’s dynamic leaf structure is unique and beautiful. This plant, like it’s cousin the Tetrasperma is a very easy care plant.

To grow a Rhaphidophora Decursiva you need great lighting, the right soil, pot and proper watering.

How to grow a Rhaphidophora Decursiva

1. Light
2. Soil
3. Water
4. Pot

Light

The Rhaphidophora does best in bright indirect light. If your window pours in direct sun move your plant back a few feet. These climbing plants live in the understory of the forest and can handle for a short period of sun before burning.

Pro Tip: If you want your plant in more direct sun you will want to acclimate it first by giving it an hour the first day then two hours the second day until it’s in eight hours of sun or or less.

Soil

Rhaps do well in a moisture retentive chunky soil mixture. You can make one by using coir, pearlite and orchid bark. This will allow the soil to hold moisture but not for too long and bark to give the roots something cling to while adding drainage along with the pearlite. If you prefer not to buy all of these separate items for a mix. You can use a prepared bagged soil and add orchid bark.

Pro Tip : You will need to add a slow fertilizer to this mix. Worm castings or a pelleted plant fertilizer will work.

Water

The Decursiva is very drought tolerant, if you happen to forget to water. It can take a while before it shows signs of dehydration. If you are seeing signs of dehydration such as wilting, dying foliage or leaf spots you have waited too long to water. Give this plant a full drink of water when the top few inches of soil are dry. Depending on your pot size and type you may need to water sooner or later if its a pot that holds moisture. My Rhaphs that are in plastic or ceramic get watered every two- three weeks. My Rhaphs that are in terra cotta are watered every week to week and a half.

Pot

You can grow the Rhaphidophora in just about any type of pot. Remember your pot must have a drainage hole in order to properly grow any plant. If you are growing your plant in ceramic or plastic adjust your soil mix to have more drainage by adding more orchid bark or pearlite because those types of materials help to hold in moisture. If you are growing in terracotta your soil mix will dry a lot faster so make your soil mix more moisture retentive.

The Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a fun houseplant to have in your collection. It’s one of the more easy plants to grow indoors and if you take good care of it, it’ll reward you with gorgeous new foliage.

Happy Gardening,

Ciearra