Expert: Darlene K. Kittle - 1/11/2007

Question
Hi! I have a Dracaena fragrans Massangeana, and it isn't looking quite well. I have recently moved, but the problems started in the old apartment. The problem is that many of the leaves have gone brown, mostly in the tips. It's worse at the side that was facing the wall. I have only had it for 5 or 6 months, and when I got it, it was a beautiful small tree. It used to stand in a corner (a little bit dark, but next to a north-facing window), next to a panel owen, and quite high humidity. I haven't repotted it, so it's in the medium size pot that I got it in. I moved a week ago, and now I have it in front of a north facing window (more space and more light). I have removed some of the worst leaves, because it wasn't looking very good with all the brown leaves. What can I do to help it recover?

Answer
Anne,

How often are you watering this plant? Do you have water with flouride or chlorine in it? Brown leaf tips indicate it is getting too much water. Brown spots in the leaves indicate flouride poisoning. Dracaenas hate flouride and chlorine. If that is in your water you need to let it sit in an open bucket for 48 hours before using it to water the plant, the flouride and chlorine will disipate into the air or you can switch to watering it with distilled water. You should not water it until the top 2 inches of soil is dry. There will still be moisture lower in the pot. Do not repot this plant. It is okay to trim the brown leaf tips off or remove any leaves that are totally brown. More plants are killed by too much water than by too little. Good luck.

Darlene