Rhaphidophora decursiva on a totem: a fast climber whose leaves split into long fingers as it gains height. Often mistaken for a monstera, and just as easy in a bright Arizona room.
Dragon tail starts as a modest plant with plain, oval, glossy leaves and, given a support and bright light, transforms: each new leaf is larger and more deeply cut than the last, until the mature foliage splits into long, pinnate fingers a foot or more across. We sell it already on a totem, which is the point — without something to climb it stays juvenile indefinitely. It handles our dry indoor air better than most large-leaved tropicals and grows quickly enough to be a tall specimen within a couple of years.
We carry it trained on a moss totem. Care is the same as a monstera or a climbing philodendron: bright indirect light, water when the top inch or two is dry, and keep it out of the AC vent’s airflow. The rest of the bench is on our Houseplants page.
This is the dragon tail plant we commonly carry. Availability changes week to week and season to season, so call (480) 987-3308 or stop in to see what’s on the bench today.
Sold on a moss totem. Keep the totem damp and tie new growth to it as it extends; the aerial roots grip on their own once they find moisture. Leaves split progressively as the plant climbs.
Looking for one that isn’t listed? Ask — we can usually suggest a close match or tell you when it tends to come around.
The care tag was written somewhere else. This is the Queen Creek version.
The more bright, indirect light dragon tail gets, the faster it matures and the sooner the leaves split. A spot near an east window or across the room from a south one is ideal; a dim corner keeps it small and plain-leaved. Avoid direct afternoon sun through a west window in summer, which scorches leaves within a day here.
The totem is not decorative. Tie new stems loosely to it as they grow, keep the moss moist, and extend it or move the plant to a taller pole when it reaches the top. Each leaf produced while climbing is larger and more divided than the one before; a stem that falls and trails reverts to small, unsplit leaves.
A chunky aroid mix — potting mix with orchid bark and perlite — in a heavy pot with drainage, because a tall plant on a totem is top-heavy. Repot every two years, moving the totem with it. Feed a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength monthly from March through October.
Water when the top inch or two of mix is dry — about weekly in summer with the AC running, every ten to fourteen days in winter. Soak thoroughly, let it drain, empty the saucer. Mist or water the moss totem too; damp moss is what the aerial roots grip. Flush the pot every couple of months to clear hard-water salts.
Dragon tail tolerates our 15–25 percent indoor humidity, but not a vent blowing on it — brown leaf edges are the sign. Keep it out of the airflow, group it with other plants, and wipe the leaves monthly. It does its best growing during the July-to-September monsoon when indoor humidity rises.
Toxic to cats, dogs and people if chewed, like all its aroid relatives. Spider mites and mealybugs turn up in dry winter air; rinse and treat with insecticidal soap. Outdoors, a fully shaded covered patio in spring and fall only; summer sun and heat burn it and frost kills it.
Yellowing, spots, no new growth — snap a photo of the plant and its window and we’ll diagnose it at the bench. Advice is free.
We stock indoor potting mix, orchid bark and perlite for the chunky blends aroids and epiphytes want, balanced houseplant fertilizers, insecticidal soap and neem for the usual mealybug and mite visits, and moss poles, hoops and saucers. The pottery yard has terracotta, glazed and lightweight pots from 4-inch up, plus hanging baskets and cache pots.
No, though it is often sold as “monstera dragon tail”. Rhaphidophora decursiva is a related climbing aroid from Asia; its mature leaves split into long fingers rather than the holes and splits of a true monstera. Care is the same.
It needs to climb, and it needs bright indirect light. Leaves only split as the plant matures up a support; a trailing or dimly lit plant stays juvenile. Keep it tied to a damp totem near a bright window.
When the top inch or two of mix is dry — roughly weekly in summer indoors and every ten to fourteen days in winter. Keep the moss totem damp as well.
Yes. Like philodendron and monstera it contains calcium oxalate crystals that burn the mouth if chewed. Keep it out of reach of cats and dogs.
As tall as you let the totem go — six to eight feet is realistic in a few years, with mature leaves a foot or more across. Prune the top back if it outgrows the space; the cutting roots in water.
In full shade during the mild months, yes. It cannot take direct sun, our summer heat or frost, so it comes back inside by late May and before the first cold night.
Dragon Tail Plant live on the houseplant bench; any staff member can point you to them. Locally owned, and a short drive from San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa.