Janet Craig
Janet Craig, Janet Craig “Lisa”, Janet Craig “Compacta”
Dracaena deremensis
Light Level: Low to Medium
Water Level: Medium
Dracaena deremensis are among the most popular plants used in interiorscapes because of their beauty, versatility and tolerance to low light.
Dracaena deremensis cv. ‘Janet Craig’ was named for the daughter of nurseryman Robert Craig. It is a sport of ‘Warneckii’ with broad, shiny deep green foliage.
‘Janet Craig Compacta’ is similar to ‘Janet Craig’ but much smaller.
‘Janet Craig Lisa’ has deep green foliage and stems and is found either in bush form or tree form.
Country of Origin
Africa and Asia
Maintenance Tips
When D. deremensis fertility is too low or when the plant is overwatered, it may develop weak color and narrow strappy leaves. Lack of phosphorus can cause a severe dieback in the middle and older foliage. Iron deficiency is common and results in a rather severe interveinal chlorosis, especially in ‘Janet Craig’.
If you gently grab the third leaf back from the growing tip during the middle of the day and hold it lightly in your hand, you may be able to feel the leaf's heat. If you can, it probably means the light and temperature are too high. You can mist the plant to reduce its temperature and move it away from the light or heat source.
D. deremensis prefer low to medium light.
Pests and Problems
Scale, mealybugs, and thrips are most common.
Root diseases are generally caused by overwatering or sitting in water. Leaf spots (which sometimes occurs with wilting) on newer leaves can be caused by fungi living in the soil. Aerate the soil and allow the plant to dry down. Clean any tool used on diseased plants to prevent the spread of the fungus.
Stem rot, which is also caused by overwatering, may cause a bad odor.
Tip burn develops when the plant is too dry, humidity is too low. It can also be caused by an accumulation of boron or fluoride, or high soluble salts.
When exposed to too much light, the leaves may become bleached. Move the plant away from the light source.
Fusarium moniliforme is a leaf spot disease caused by this pathogen often found in Dracaenas. Leaf spots are round, raised, rust colored lesions with yellow halos. Off-white spores appear at the growing point where the apex may rot. Other symptoms include root rot, chlorosis, and wilting.
Phyllosticta maculicola is a pathogen that causes a leaf spot disease. In Dracaena it is characterized by brown leaf spots with yellow halos. With P. dracaenae, the spots are irregular, brown with purple borders and yellow halos, and appear on the lower surface of older foliage.
For more care information visit our comprehensive Indoor Gardening Guide.