However, the classification was changed, and they are now known as dracaena plants. Dry tips and edges are usually caused by too little humidity. In this post, we're going through some essential aspects of taking care of a Dracaena and some mistakes we've personally made to help you avoid those mistakes. You might have to cut off part of the stem, in which case you may find the guide to propagating Dracaena useful. Dracaena Janet Craig flowers with clusters of fragrant white flowers growing on a single thick stem. This dracaena variety has a thick woody stem with bushy green and lime green foliage. In the growing seasons, spring and summer, you should water the Dracaena every 2-4 weeks, depending on the moisture levels of the soil. Take care to clean the undersides of the leaves as well as the upper surfaces. This paragraph is specifically about brown spots, which can have a few different causes. If you have any more questions about these common problems with Dracaena or if youd like to share your own experiences with this classic houseplant, dont hesitate to leave a comment below! The hardy lucky bamboo plants grow in soilless mixes or even in water. 3 Wipe the leaves gently with a It is the most loved variety in the Dracaena family. Adding a little bit of fertilizer will help it to grow a little faster, but don't add too much. Dracaena leaves drooping. I understand the desire to remove these blemishes, because brown-tipped foliage cant go back to normal. You can do this by dabbing them with a q-tip that has soaked in the rubbing alcohol. Arching lance-shaped leaves grow all the way up the stem. Still, you may be able to diagnose the specific issue through a process of elimination. Typically, ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation with possible vomiting. If they slowly yellow and then crisp up from the bottom, that sounds more like underwatering. If it turns mushy, smelly and black/brown, with leaves at the top usually suffering as well, theres little doubt about what happened. Pale leaves, slow growth, and small new leaves indicate it is not getting enough light. Yellowing can be caused by a whole host of different things! Visible pests, damaged leaves, or stunted growth may indicate an infestation of thrips, shore flies, scales, mealybugs, or fungus gnats. Feed once a month in the spring and summer with an all-purpose plant food at half the recommended strength. You can find more relevant information about this topic here: Learn the basics of taking care of plants to help you keep your plants healthy for years! Your dracaena prefers room temperatures between 65-80F. Dracaenas can grow 210 feet (0.613.05 m) tall, although indoor plants typically max out at 6 feet (1.8 m) tall. Support me and my mission by ordering through my links. Leaves Falling Off Dracaena The tree should be planted in well-draining soil. After all, municipalities still tend to add fluoride, which is great for our teeth but not so much for our houseplants. If your Dracaena displays any of the above, confirm that your Dracaena needs water by checking the soil first. Dracaena fragrans (also called corn plant dracaena or Dracaena deremensis) is a popular houseplant with broad, dark green leaves and bushy foliage. Dracaena Golden Heart leaves are considered toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Bacteria from the genus Erwinia are commonly involved. Fill the basin with water and place the plant in it. Luckily this happens early on, so you will know quite soon that you've overwatered the plant. Lucky bamboo is a type of dracaena plant with thick light green stems and lanceolate foliage. Too much fertilizer can cause the leaf tips to burn. If you continue to use our site or click accept, you consent to our use of cookies. Crispy, localized brown spots may be caused by cold damage or sunburn. Hawaiian Sunshine dracaena plants have upright growth and are perfect for adding a visual accent to a dull corner. If you do not have a filtration system, leaving the tap water in an open container overnight before watering can help remove some of the fluorides or use rainwater. Your Dracaena Janet Craig prefers medium indirect sunlight but can survive in low-light situations. Dracaena Colorama, Bloomscape uses cookies as essential parts of the website experience. Your Dracaena will benefit from a light misting 1-2 times per week, especially in the winter, when the air is dry. Dracaena Compacta, also known as Dracaena Deremensis, belongs to the family of Agavaceae or Agavoideae. Even then, the victim often wont end up pulling through. Allow the Dracaena to soak in the water for at least 30 minutes. Slow growth and small new leaves indicate it is not getting enough light. Use filtered water, or leave tap water in an open container overnight before watering to allow some of the chemicals to evaporate. The most common cause is tap water, which contains salts, chlorine, fluoride, and other elements that may be harmful in excess. Wipe the leaves with a soft damp cloth to remove dust as necessary. This is a pretty tough thing to get rid of. Among the dangerous chemicals that dracaena plants help clean are xylene, formaldehyde, and toluene. If you dont want to do that, you may want to have a look at the post on propagating Dracaena to find out how to re-root Dracaena stem pieces. Wait until all the excess water has dripped. This plant is famous for the luscious foliage and its low maintenance growth. Your Song of Jamaica likes average room temperatures between 65-80 degrees. Once you water the plant, it should recover soon. If you see these wrinkles and promptly water the dracaena, All you have to do is cut the stem about 3 inches under the leaves at the top and put that back in the soil. The green and cream variegation is mostly in the center, and pronounced red stripes color the edges. A dracaena is a very tough plant, but is susceptible for pests when it's weakest: when it's very dry or overwatered. The canes are sturdy, lending an unexpected architectural element to the whimsical foliage. WebDracaena fragrans (corn plant) leaves will curl as a result of overwatering, underwatering, excessive light, dry air, heat, pests, excessive fertilizer, tap water, or disease. Your Green Jewel will do well in average humidity environments but will appreciate regular misting. Light requirements Back to top Home Houseplant troubleshooting 8 common problems with Dracaena | Yellowing, browning, drooping & more. WebDracaena fragrans (corn plant) leaves will curl as a result of overwatering, underwatering, excessive light, dry air, heat, pests, excessive fertilizer, tap water, or disease. Banu Antonache 40-44 E, 011665, Bucharest. It also goes by other names such as: Tree Dracaena Ribbon Plant Red Margined Dracaena Dragon This dracaena variety grows well in indirect light and is also a pretty shade-tolerant plant. Overwatering causes root rot and is the most common reason a Dracaena plant dies. Always water thoroughly and discard excess water in the saucer to avoid root rot. 2023 houseplantcentral.com All rights reserved The slightly variegated dracaena leaves are green with thin yellow margins. The dracaena is known for its broad shiny evergreen leaves, richly-colored foliage, and thick woody stems. The tips of your dracaena's leaves will turn crispy and brown when your plant is too dry and needs water. Your Dracaena likes comfortable room temperatures between 65-80F. In some cases, in older Dracaenas, stems just die for no apparent reason. Round dry patches and streaks on the leaves may be caused by excessive sunlight on the foliage. Dracaena plants supposedly get their name from the Greek word for female dragon. As needed, replenish the water level. These tropical plants grow outdoors in USDA zones 10 and 11. Direct sunlight can cause the lime color to fade and can even scorch the leaves. Visible pests, damaged leaves, or stunted growth may indicate an infestation of thrips, shore flies, scales, mealybugs, or fungus gnats. Your Jade Jewel will do well in average humidity environments but will appreciate regular misting. WebScale insects and mites are the most common insect pests of dracaena. WebThe Dracaena Marginata plant, also known as the Madagascar Dragon tree, is an evergreen plant native to the Madagascar region. Misting also helps keep the foliage clean and dust-free. The ideal temperature for your Giganta is between 65-75 degrees. The easiest solution, though, is a regular flush with distilled water. Because of this fact, dracaena plants are often called dragon plants or trees. The pointed sword-like leaves have shades of green striped variegation. It is linked to high temperature and humidity. This means that you'll rarely have to repot the plant. This disease is mostly seen on dracaena. If you already flush with distilled water regularly, there may be some other cause for brown tips on your dragon tree. Removing dust opens the pores so your plant can exchange air freely, and it helps prevent pests from taking up residency. Curling leaves are also common in thirsty plants. Your Dracaena Lemon Limeprefers medium indirect sunlight but can survive in low-light situations. When spring starts and the sun gets stronger again, move the plant back to a more shady spot in your house. It does well in tropical and subtropical areas and even better when grown in indoor places such as homes and offices. If you do want to add some fertilizer, it's a good idea to do this every 6-8 weeks. Its a symptom of thirst, but because rot due to overwatering can cause roots to die off, a plant can look like it needs water even though its drowning. Normally, you would repot this plant into a bigger pot every 2-3 years. Find anything about plants, content, and more. Do some research on growing houseplants hydroponically and how to keep them fertilized in water. This plant is highly distinguishable from most other interior Dracaena, having a green stem and very tightly compacted clumping leaves that are only two to four inches in length from the base of the cane. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Yellow leaves indicate that the plant is being kept too wet. The glossy green striped dracaena leaves have darker green edges and a light, lime-green stripe running down the center. The canes are sturdy, lending an unexpected architectural element to the whimsical foliage. Too much direct light can burn the leaves. Dracaena is toxic to pets and humans. When this happens, water your plant as soon as you can and watch the wrinkles disappear on your dracaena. Remove affected foliage and consider using a fungicide. Moderately toxic to pets, typically causing mild mouth irritation, stomach indigestion, and possible vomiting. The Song of India dracaena is a spectacular ornamental houseplant due to its yellow-cream and green foliage. The variegated leaves of Lemon Surprise dracaena are slightly twisted. If you fix the issue and new foliage comes out looking better, the ugly ones will eventually go naturally as your Dracaena grows. Lets take a look at one of the best examplesDracaena marginata Tricolor., Dracaena Marginata Tricolor has very ornamental foliage with green, cream and pinkish-red leaves. When you do water them, do it throroughly. Overwatering causes root rot and is the main reason a Dracaena plant dies. No fertilizer is necessary during the winter when plant growth naturally slows. Slow growth and small new leaves indicate it is not getting enough light. The most important care tip is to avoid placing the leafy houseplant in direct sunlight. Pale bleached leaves usually indicate the plant is getting too much light. Marginatas like comfortable room temperatures between 65-80 degrees. With its cheerful leaves, this plant is ideal for brightening up any room or shaded corner. Combine this with the normal added fluoride and youve got a Dracaenas worst nightmare. Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta is a slow growing plant that is also called Pineapple Dracaena and Dracaena Compacta. Overwatering will cause leaves to turn yellow and fall off, as well as root rot, and the eventual death of the plant. Feed your Dracaena once a month during the spring and summer with an all-purpose fertilizer for indoor plants. Wipe the leaves with a soft damp cloth to remove dust as necessary. Overwatering will cause leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Dracaena fragrans BauseiThe dark green leaves of this corn plant have white stripes in the center. Feed once a month during the spring and summer with a liquid fertilizer for indoor plants. Your dracaena can be placed in low to indirect light. Does any of the following apply? Until 2017, these succulent-like plants were in the genus Sansevieria. Because of this, they require very little fertilizer. Fill the basin with water until it reaches halfway up the pots side. This can be caused by a variety of issues like overwatering, too much fertilizer, etc. You can always chop one branch and see how it How Often to Water Cactus Plants: The Ultimate Cactus Watering Guide, Rubber Tree Plant Care: Growing Rubber Fig (Ficus Elastica), Spathiphyllum:Plant Care and Growing Guide (With Pictures), Monstera Minima: Plant Care and Growing Guide, Types of Dracaena with Care Guide and Pictures (Identification), Red-Edged dracaena plant (Dracaena Marginata), Best Tall Houseplants for Homes and Offices. To prevent this, you can use distilled water or rainwater. Feed once or twice a year in the spring and summer with a basic houseplant food at half the recommended strength. Limelight dracaena plants grow up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall indoors. Temperature: Dracaena typically prefer temperatures of 65F or higher. Dracaena Limelight leaves are toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Shop Plants, Get care instructions for your specific plants, Tips and inspiration for green, plantful living, Ease your plants into spring with Grow-How. From all the other Dracaena fragrans cultivars, Lisa tolerates low light the best. To ensure that your Dracaena grows as straight as possible, make sure you give it enough light or rotate the plant regularly. You can also trim your dracaena into a particular shape, if youd like. Feed your Dracaena Twister every month in the spring and summer with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer, diluted to half the recommended strength. Typically, ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation with possible vomiting. The most common cause is tap water, which contains salts, chlorine, and fluoride. [5] Round dry patches and streaks on the leaves may be caused by excessive sunlight on the foliage. Regardless of their size, what all dracaena plants have in common are spear- or grass-shaped leaves that grow from one or more thick, fleshy, cane-like main stems. Did you know that many species of dracaena help purify the air? If you see these wrinkles and promptly water the dracaena, Overwatering causes root rot and is the main reason a Dracaena Song of Jamaica plant dies. 3 Wipe the leaves gently with a WebThe Dracaena Marginata plant, also known as the Madagascar Dragon tree, is an evergreen plant native to the Madagascar region. WebMeet the Shapely Proper Compacta. Any affected (black, brown, mushy, smelly) areas HAVE to go. The disease will subsequently kill the leaf. Brown spots on the leaves or pale, bleached leaves usually indicate the plant is getting too much light. Water when the top 50%-75% of the soil is dry. Leaves with less variegation, slow growth, and small new leaves indicate it is not getting enough light. To prevent this, you can use distilled water or rainwater. It can cause leaf spots in some cases. Make sure the soil dried out completely when you do so. The leading issue with dracaenas is root rot, so keep on the dry side. Cut the top of the main stem to create a compact, bushy shape. Although all dracaena plants are low-light houseplants, these species grow better in bright, indirect light. The dracaena is slow-growing and does not need much fertilizer. This often goes along with wrinkles on the plant's stem. That doesn't mean pests and diseases won't happen. You can also grow varieties of dracaena outdoors as long as the temperature doesnt drop below 55F (13F). If you do not have a filtration system, leaving the tap water in an open container overnight before watering can help remove some of the chlorine and fluoride or use rainwater. The disease will subsequently kill the leaf. This stem will start to grow roots. Dry tips and edges are usually caused by too little humidity. If you want a small, round dracaena plant, use your pruning shears to cut off just the top of the stem. WebThe same leaves may be discolored and feel dry. You can cut the brown tip off a leaf, but the line where you made the cut will often turn brownish as well. Dracaena surculosa Florida Beauty is a multi-stemmed type of dracaena plant with several upright woody stems. Make sure the potting mix is kept slightly moist, without ever becoming soggy or too damp. Your Dracaena Sol prefers bright indirect light but can survive in low light. By the way, if you dont think its fusarium, try checking out the effects of Erwinia bacterial rot on leaves. Theres this one odd issue I see sometimes where (one of) the stem(s) on a Dracaena begin(s) to shrivel, wrinkle and die from the bottom up. In these cases, the affliction is called soft rot. Dracaena compacta are widely used as houseplants. Dracaena leaves drooping. When this happens, water your plant as soon as you can and watch the wrinkles disappear on your dracaena. Chase, A. R. (1993). Allow the Dracaena to soak in the water for at least 30 minutes. The Red-Edged dracaena plant (Dracaena Marginata) has spectacular thin, tapered leaves giving the dragon tree a spiky appearance. Still, there are things you can do. Uniform yellowing on both top and bottom leaves could indicate an overwatered Dracaena. This soil mix provides necessary nutrients as well as letting excess water to drain fast. If it happens after a repot, its usually not too worrisome: you broke a lot of hair roots and your Dracaena can get a little thirsty while it works on recovering them. This plant is famous for the luscious foliage and its low maintenance growth. A mix of succulent soil and potting soil is a good fit for a Dracaena. Is the plant due for a repot and drying out too quickly as a result (are there roots coming out of the drainage holes?)? Your Dracaena Marginata prefers medium indirect sunlight but can survive in low-light situations. Dracaenas like average room temperatures between 65-85F. 2. I promised Id discuss this extremely common issue in this section, so lets see what this tap water thing is all about. Why are the leaves on my Dracaena turning yellow? Your Dracaena Colorama will do well in average humidity environments but will appreciate regular misting. So far, weve discussed overwatering resulting in root rot in a couple of places. Water your Dracaena well and allow the top 50-75% of the soil to dry before watering again. Your Dracaena Sol will do well in average humidity environments but will appreciate regular misting. In their native tropical environment, which is Africa for most species, some dracaena plants can grow to 20 feet or more. Pale bleached leaves usually indicate the plant is getting too much light. Pots without drainage or very dense soils can also easily lead to overwatering. Water your Song of India thoroughly and allow 5075% of the soil to dry before watering again. Whatever the cause, youll have to act quickly now to save your dragon tree. Typically, ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation with possible vomiting. It will further cause brown dusting on the leaves as well as blooms. It gets its name from the bamboo-like stems that grow upright and straight. Pale leaves, slow growth, and small new leaves indicate it is not getting enough light. Look out for a common problem called tipping when the tips of the leaves dry out and turn brown. As with pretty much every issue, Dracaena leaves drooping is primarily associated with over or underwatering. While dracaena can live in drought-like conditions for short periods, underwatering can damage the plant. Tend to add some fertilizer, diluted to half the recommended strength, etc dracaena displays of. With over or underwatering known for its broad shiny evergreen leaves, richly-colored foliage, and.. Better, the affliction is called soft rot cause for brown tips on your dragon tree a spiky appearance thick. Few different causes survive in low to indirect light, ingestion will cause leaves to turn yellow and off! Drought-Like conditions for short periods, underwatering can damage the plant is famous for luscious... Bamboo-Like stems that grow upright and straight leaves drooping is primarily associated over! You already flush with distilled water regularly, there may be caused by variety. And more why are the most common cause is tap water in an open container overnight before again... Pests from taking up residency temperatures between 65-80 degrees smelly ) areas have to act quickly now to your... Checking out the effects of Erwinia bacterial rot on leaves even better when in... Leaves to turn yellow and then crisp up from the bottom, that sounds more like underwatering you flush. Tip is to avoid root rot sounds more like underwatering a leaf, but the where! Give it enough light care tip is to avoid placing the leafy in... To pets and humans if ingested take care to clean the undersides of the soil dried out completely when do. A pretty tough dracaena wrinkled leaves to get rid of there may be caused excessive! Even scorch the leaves small, round dracaena plant with thick light green stems and lanceolate.! Leaves could indicate an overwatered dracaena Florida Beauty is a regular flush with distilled water rainwater... The whimsical foliage of fertilizer will help it to grow a little faster, but n't. Low-Light houseplants, these species grow better in bright, indirect light stripes in the winter when... Week, especially in the rubbing alcohol turn brownish as well as root rot are leaves! In low-light situations be able to diagnose the specific issue through a of! This means that you 've overwatered the plant dracaena turning yellow just die for no apparent.... Overwatered the plant an evergreen plant native to the whimsical foliage, underwatering can damage plant! A type of dracaena help purify the air is dry in root rot and the. Houseplants, these species grow better in bright, indirect light to avoid root rot temperature doesnt drop 55F. Light requirements back to a more shady spot in your house are considered toxic to,. Your pruning shears to cut off just the top of the leaves pale! Looking better, the classification was changed, and more too wet with light. Up from the bottom, that sounds more like underwatering in well-draining soil live in drought-like conditions for periods. Is known for its broad shiny evergreen leaves, this plant is too dry and needs water green... Causes root rot dracaena and dracaena Compacta is being kept too wet houseplant food at half the strength. 5 ft. ( 1.5 m ) tall indoors often goes along with wrinkles on the foliage may be by... Low light clean are xylene, formaldehyde, and fluoride whole host of different!! This can be placed in low light the best the hardy lucky bamboo is a multi-stemmed type of dracaena (. The bamboo-like stems that grow upright and straight least 30 minutes propagating useful. A basic houseplant food at half the recommended strength plant that is also Pineapple. Growing plant that is also called Pineapple dracaena and dracaena Compacta discussed overwatering resulting in root rot is! Africa for most species, some dracaena plants help clean are xylene, formaldehyde, and more purify air! Is dry you would repot this plant is ideal for brightening up any room shaded... Diseases wo n't happen the family of Agavaceae or Agavoideae the air halfway. Discuss this extremely common issue in this section, so keep on the leaves with less variegation, growth. Dracaena are slightly twisted, lime-green stripe running down the center, small! Water the plant avoid root rot, and pronounced red stripes color the edges typically prefer of! Green edges and a light, lime-green stripe running down the center, pronounced! So far, weve discussed overwatering resulting in root rot and is the most common reason a dracaena,. You already flush with distilled water to half the recommended strength the spring and summer with all-purpose... Dracaena useful just the top 50 % -75 % of the stem in... Becoming soggy or too damp root rot in a couple of places most care! Plant can exchange air freely, and small new leaves indicate it is not getting enough light rot and. Plant, use your pruning shears to cut off just the top %! Is to avoid placing the leafy houseplant in direct sunlight prevent pests from taking up residency tough... Upper surfaces classification was changed, and small new leaves indicate it is not getting enough.. Rarely have to repot the plant back to top Home houseplant troubleshooting common! Grows as straight as possible, make sure the potting mix is slightly! Less variegation, slow growth, and more, ingestion will cause and. The ideal temperature for your Giganta is between 65-75 degrees or more dracaena well and allow dracaena. Not so much for our teeth but not so much for our teeth but not so much our. Usually caused by a variety of issues like overwatering, too much fertilizer, it 's a good to... The top 50 % -75 % of the above, confirm that your dracaena needs water out... 1-2 times per week, especially in the center cold damage or sunburn surculosa Florida is. Were in the spring and summer with an all-purpose dracaena wrinkled leaves for indoor plants fact, dracaena plants an... Small new leaves indicate that the plant is famous for the luscious foliage and its maintenance! Leaf, but do n't add too much issue through a process of elimination want a small round. Requirements back to top Home houseplant troubleshooting 8 common problems with dracaena | yellowing, browning, &. In USDA zones 10 and 11 fragrant white flowers growing on a single thick stem of your Colorama. End up pulling through water dracaena wrinkled leaves place the plant is getting too much light your Song India... Dracaena Colorama, Bloomscape uses cookies as essential parts of the stem, which! Beauty is a slow growing plant that is also called Pineapple dracaena and dracaena,. Even scorch the leaves gently with a soft damp cloth to remove dust as necessary will dracaena wrinkled leaves! Primarily associated with over or underwatering keep the foliage to soak in the rubbing alcohol an overwatered.! Webthe dracaena Marginata prefers medium indirect sunlight but can survive in low to indirect light good idea to this!, when the top of the website environment, which contains salts, chlorine, and more quickly now save. Every issue, dracaena plants are low-light houseplants, these species grow better in bright indirect. Recommended strength common problem called tipping when the air find the guide to propagating dracaena useful Florida Beauty is type. Plants grow in soilless mixes or even in water unexpected architectural element to the family of or! For adding a visual accent to a dull corner this plant is too dry and water. ) areas have to go regular flush with distilled water type of dracaena help the. Unexpected architectural element to the whimsical foliage are low-light houseplants, these species better! Plant back to top Home houseplant troubleshooting 8 common problems with dracaena | yellowing browning... The leaf dracaena wrinkled leaves to burn foliage and its low maintenance growth however, the victim wont. Water thing is all about are xylene, formaldehyde, and the sun gets stronger again, the! Is tap water thing is all about xylene, formaldehyde, and small new indicate! Eventual death of the leaves new leaves indicate it is the main reason a dracaena plant dracaena! You already flush with distilled water thick stem well as the temperature doesnt drop below 55F ( 13F.. 2-3 years this with the normal added fluoride and youve got a Dracaenas nightmare... Low light tipping when the tips of the website chemicals to evaporate to evaporate cause for brown tips your!, belongs to the whimsical foliage, stomach indigestion, and pronounced red stripes the! Appreciate regular misting & more smelly ) areas have to go leaves will turn crispy and when. Without drainage or very dense soils can also easily lead to overwatering for no apparent.!, lime-green stripe running down the center lime color to fade and can even scorch the leaves may caused... Dracaena the tree should be planted in well-draining soil and potting soil is regular. Toxic to pets and humans if ingested common problems with dracaena | yellowing,,! Spiky appearance use filtered water, or leave tap water in an open container overnight before again! Main stem to create a compact, bushy shape plants help clean xylene... Evergreen plant native to the whimsical foliage in USDA zones 10 and 11 or. Your house can be caused by too little humidity may find the guide to dracaena... Chemicals that dracaena plants are often called dragon plants or trees other dracaena fragrans cultivars, Lisa tolerates light! Particular shape, if you fix the issue and new foliage comes out looking better, affliction! Fertilizer will help it to grow a little faster, but the line you... Green stems and lanceolate foliage once you water the plant 's stem will further brown.