Should I cut the brown tips off my dracaena plant?
Trim dead and browning foliage Give your dracaena a spa day by doing a little leaf nipping and tucking. Start by removing dead leaves with a pair of scissors. Then trim off brown tips to make the plant look fresher. In summary, Dracaena leaves may drop due to overwatering, underwatering, low humidity, low light, pests or diseases, or natural shedding. By identifying the underlying cause and taking appropriate action, you can help your Dracaena plant recover and stay healthy.Light. Light is one of the biggest factors in how quickly your Dracaena grows. These plants do best in bright, indirect sunlight. If yours is tucked away in a dim room or far from a window, it may not be getting enough energy to fuel new growth.Your Dracaena will appreciate spending its spring and summer months outdoors to soak up the fresh air and water, warm temperatures, high humidity, and ample sunlight. Ideally, Dracaena prefers temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees; 60 to 80 percent humidity; and bright indirect sunlight.You can water your Dracaena plant from the top or from the bottom. Watering from the top is better during spring and summer, when your plant is actively growing.
How to tell if Dracaena is healthy?
Since Dracaena is susceptible to root rot, oversaturating soil for extended periods is harmful to this plant’s health. Look for signs of dehydration such as yellow leaves, wrinkled/curled leaves, dead leaves, brown leaf tips, and stunted growth. Water a dry plant well and reduce the time between moisture checks. If your dracaena has started dropping leaves, it may be your plant’s way of saying that you should hold back on watering. If your dracaena’s roots sit in wet soil for a long time, you are essentially drowning your plant.If your plant isn’t receiving enough light, it may drop leaves. Move the plant to a brighter location, but avoid direct sunlight which can cause scorched leaves. Pests or diseases: Pests like spider mites and mealybugs can weaken a Dracaena plant and cause it to drop leaves.The roots of overwatered Dracaena plants cannot absorb water and start to rot. They’ll show the following signs of distress, usually, on the foliage: Yellowing leaves. Mushy stems and leaves.Longevity: With good care, some Dracaena plants can live for decades, even exceeding 15 years. Continued Growth: Even as Dracaena plants age, they can continue to grow, with new growth occurring at the top while the lower leaves may yellow and fall off, which is a natural part of their lifecycle.If you notice any changes in your Dracaena’s growth, take a closer look. Do you spot curling, yellowing, wilting, or deformed foliage? Yellowing leaves are most likely due to too much moisture, either from overwatering or poorly draining soil.
Do dracaena plants need sunlight?
Grow dracaena indoors in bright, indirect light. Most types will tolerate fairly low light conditions, but you’ll notice increased growth if you move plants to sunnier locations. Don’t put them where the sun will shine directly on them, though, as the leaves may scorch. Dracaena trees prefer the soil to dry between waterings, but not completely through the pot. Typically, watering every 10-14 days will keep the soil with a nice even level of moisture.In summary, Dracaena plants can be susceptible to a few common diseases and pests like spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects, root rot, and leaf spot.With a large variety of leaf shapes, colors, and patterns, they offer dramatic, architectural shapes and patterns. Dracaena plants are also low-maintenance and some of the best houseplants at purifying the air.Dracaenas do not require a lot of water and are happiest when their soil is kept slightly moist but never soggy. Water your dracaena about once a week or every other week, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.