A relative newcomer to the indoor plant scene, the dragon tail is an easy-to-care-for trailing or climbing plant that will breathe life into any warm, well-lit home or office space.
If you’ve been wondering about adding this rather large foliage to one of your rooms, wonder no more.
The epipremnum pinnatum is an ideal bit of nature to introduce into your environment. From its air-purifying benefit to its attractive and active leaves, the dragon tail will make you glad you adopted it.
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A Dragon Tail Plant Is Good for Homes and Offices
Native to Australia, the dragon tail plant is found across jungle and forest floors, making their way up tree trunks.
They begin as long, narrow, deep green, shiny leaves that come to a single point, and as they mature, the leaves split off into three points, resembling, well… a dragon’s tail.
Also known by its nicknames tonga plant, centipede tongavine, and devil’s ivy, the dragon tail is obviously a type of ivy. You can hang it in a pot, and the leaves will drape over the side and dangle down. You can also plant it with a stake or small trellis, and the vines will climb up to at least 3 feet high.
You can add this large plant to any corner with good light or group it with other plants to encourage shared warmth and humidity. Dragon tail is definitely a showstopper that lets everyone who sees it know you’re a plant person.
Are Dragon Tail Plants Good for the Feng Shui Flow of a Room?
Because it is an ivy plant, the tonga plant is great for the feng shui flow of any room. It is one of the money plant trees, so it could make a wonderful addition to your office, bringing financial abundance in large quantities to your professional life.
Ivy also represents long-lasting relationships, both friendships and romantic partnerships, so placing a dragon tail in your nice, warm kitchen is a good idea as well.
To learn more about establishing Feng Shui and flow in your home or office, check out the master class article on how to use Feng Shui.
Are Dragon Tail Plants Easy to Grow and Maintain?
The dragon tail plant is both easy to grow and to care for, so follow a few simple tips, and you’ll have this long-lasting foliage in your life for years to come.
How Do Dragon Tail Plants Grow?
Dragon tail plants grow like ivy, either creeping or climbing. They prefer bright, indirect light, though they will also grow in a shadier environment, just a bit more slowly.
Dragon tail plants loves warmth and humidity; cooler temperatures will also slow its growth.
What Kind of Soil Does a Dragon Tail Plant Need?
Plant your centipede tongavine in well-drained soil rich with organic matter like perlite or vermiculite to ensure your plant is well fed.
Also be sure to repot your dragon tail every two to three years in a larger pot so it can continue to grow.
How Much Light Does a Dragon Tail Plant Need?
Place your dragon tail in a corner that gets bright, indirect light.
It will tolerate lower light, but it will grow more slowly.
If you notice the leaves browning, move it into a less direct light location. In contrast, if you notice the spacing between the leaves becoming deeper or the stem growing leafless, it’s a sign your plant needs more light.
How Much Water Does a Dragon Tail Plant Need?
Water the dragon tail regularly, typically about once a week.
When you first pot it, you should thoroughly soak the plant then wait for the top 3 to 5 inches of your soil to dry out before watering again. Follow this routine for the duration of your plant’s life.
Always be sure you allow the pot to thoroughly drain, so it does not sit in moisture and get root rot.
During the cooler months, note your plant will require less frequent watering.
Take a look at this article on watering mistakes you’re making that are killing your plants for more tips.
Other Conditions that Are Important to a Dragon Tail Plant
The dragon tail plant will enjoy fertilizer once a month to every six weeks from spring to fall to keep it thriving.
Also give the leaves a spritz with a water bottle every month or so or wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep up the flow of moisture and encourage humidity.
You can prune off any browning leaves, and if you notice this devil’s ivy growing out of control, you can propagate a new plant by cutting the stems about 1.5 cm below a node, removing the lower leaf, and placing the cutting in a jar of water. Add water to the jar for four to six weeks as needed to keep the bottom node fully submerged until you see a root start to grow.
You can now start a new dragon tail for your home or office or gift it to a friend!
Dragon Tail Plant Decorating Ideas
Dragon tail is a tropical or lush forest plant, so it longs to take up space and be surrounded by other plants.
For decorating, think of this plant as one of a collection rather than having a single plant in a corner alone.
Hang it from a corner above a selection of other plants or surround its floor pot with shelves and tables of other, smaller companion plants.
The dragon tail is the perfect way to create a small jungle or forest in your own home.
Do be mindful that the dragon tail is toxic to both humans and animals, so be sure no living member of your space ingests any part of this plant.
Do Fake Dragon Tail Plants Look Real?
The dragon tail plant is one of those too-good-to-be-true-looking plants. You long to reach out and touch it to be sure it’s real.
So, if you’re thinking of getting a fake dragon tail plant so you don’t have to care for a live one, this plant is a great option.
You can find high-quality fake dragon plants that will still make any space feel alive with nature.
And if you’re worried about whether fake plants are even trendy right now, check out my piece on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.
But if you haven’t tried to keep a large plant like this one alive yet, give it a shot. The dragon tail is easy to care for and brings so many benefits to your home or office space. You’ll more than likely be glad you tried.
Do you have a dragon tail plant? How are you loving this devil’s ivy? How are you decorating with your dragon tail plant? Let me know in the comments below.
