I have a madagascar dragon tree about 6 ft tall. I've had it for 2 yrs. When it came to me it had ivy planted at its' base. Recently i felt too many of the leaves were turning yellow so I did some reading and decided I had been watering it too much. I was watering it once or twice a week (mostly because of the ivy). Now I am wondering if the ivy may be crowding the tree roots and if I should try some way to remove the ivy even though I'm not sure how. The ivy is flourishing. It's all still in the same pot I received it in. Any ideas?
There are some reports of Hedera species producing allelopathic compounds. Such compounds have not been well characterized in the literature (leaving some to be skeptical of their presence), but this would explain, at least in part, why Hedera hibernica is such a successful competitor and invader of woodlands. With respect to your Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia (Madagascar dragon tree), the decline is more likely due to plain, ordinary root competition.
