Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Observe how many hours of direct sun the plant gets daily.
- Check if the plant is leaning toward a window.
- Measure the distance between the leaf nodes to see if they are stretching.
Likely causes
Insufficient Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The distance between leaves is large and the stem looks thin or stretched.
What to do: Move the plant to a spot that receives full, direct sun for most of the day. A south facing window is often the best choice.
Lack of Rotation
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is leaning heavily toward one side where the light source is located.
What to do: Rotate the pot a quarter turn every time you water. This ensures all sides of the tree get equal sun exposure.
Find out what's wrong with your dragon blood tree
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is normal for the tree to lose lower leaves as it grows taller. It is only a problem if the new growth is weak and thin.
Stopping it coming back
Provide as much direct sunlight as possible throughout the year.
Dragon blood tree: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your dragon blood tree and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I prune a leggy tree?
- You can prune the top to encourage branching, but do so sparingly. Always use clean, sharp shears.
- Will it grow back fuller?
- With more light, new growth will be tighter and more compact. The old leggy parts will remain as they are.
More problems with Dragon blood tree
Back to the Dragon blood tree guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.