If you want an impressive houseplant that doesn’t require a ton of maintenance, look no further than the Dracaena plant. Not only does this plant help to clean the air, but it also brings interest and texture to a room. Despite its simple requirements, things can still go wrong if its basic needs are not met.
How to fix leaves problems with the Dracaena plant will depend solely on what is causing the issue. If the leaves are discolored, the problem could be with improper care or watering, diseases, or even soil with the wrong pH level. Leaves that are damaged could single an insect infestation.
Dracaena Leaves Drooping
Dracaenas have long, stunning foliage that will start to droop when something isn’t right with the plant.
When the Dracaena leaves are drooping, the issue is typically caused by overwatering. This can also be caused by poor soil drainage, which results in the same problems as if you were overwatering the plant. If the soil feels soggy, then you know you’ve overwatered it.
You can usually correct this problem by simply not watering the Dracaena until the top 2 to 3 inches of soil feels dry. Dracaenas thrive when their soil is allowed to dry out a little between waterings. A good general rule of thumb is to water the plant every 10 to 14 days.
Dracaena Leaves Turning Black
Dracaenas are stunning plants that are rather easy to care for. That doesn’t mean, however, that they can handle anything you can throw at them.
Dracaena leaves turning black are a sure sign that rot has set in. Rot can be caused by several different issues. The most common culprit, however, is overwatering. When you overwater the plant, its roots stay soggy, which makes the plant vulnerable to fungal diseases, such as root rot.
Dracaena Leaves Turning Yellow Brown
Leaf discoloration is not an uncommon problem with plants, but that doesn’t mean it is something that you simply have to deal with.
When your Dracaena leaves start turning brown, there could be an issue with the type of water used to hydrate the plant. Dracaenas are known to be sensitive to an overabundance of fluoride, which is a common additive that some municipalities add to tap water.
To correct this problem, start using distilled, spring, or filtered water.
Dracaena Leaves Tips Turning Brown
The tips of Dracaena leaves turning brown is a sure sign that you’re not providing the plant with the right amount of water.
Dracaena leaves tips turning brown is caused by underwatering the plant. If you don’t water the plant enough, it will cause the tips of the foliage to turn brown and possibly curl upward. It may also feel dry and crispy.
Underwatering a Dracaena is not nearly as harmful as overwatering, since you can typically save an underwatered plant. If the plant has been underwatered for a long period of time, you will need to soak the Dracaena pot in water. Make sure the water doesn’t go over the top of the soil. Let the plant soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
Dracaena Leaves Tips Turning Yellow
The tips of Dracaena leaves can start yellowing when they are not provided with the right type of care.
When your Dracaena leaves tips are turning yellow, it could be caused by overwatering. Overwatering can lead to a wide array of issues, including turning the tips of the Dracaena yellow. You can prevent this from occurring by simply allowing the soil to dry out a little between waterings.
Only water the plant when about 75-percent of the plant’s soil is dry. This will go a long way to prevent overwatering. You will also need to ensure that the soil the Dracaena is growing in drains well.
Dracaena Leaves Turning White
Seeing your Dracaena leaves start to turn white can be a little disheartening. Especially when you don’t know why the foliage is starting to discolor.
Dracaena leaves turning white could be caused by them not getting enough light. While there are some varieties of Dracaena that can tolerate lower light conditions, such as ‘Janet Craig’, most Dracaenas need indirect, bright light.
Brown Spots On Dracaena Leaves
Brown spots are a common problem that can occur due to a few different issues. Let’s take a look at what issues can cause brown spots to appear on the Dracaena leaves.
Light brown spots on Dracaena leaves are generally a sign of leaf spot disease, but could also be caused by insects. If the brown spots have a yellow halo, however, that is a sure symptom of leaf spot disease. Leaf spot disease is caused by fungal, viral, or bacterial pathogens.
The first thing to check is to look for insects, such as spider mites and scales. Check the underside of the leaves, as well as the stems, and then treat the plant with insecticidal soap if insects are found. If the issue is caused by leaf spot disease, remove infected leaves and then water at the base of the plant. Leaf spot disease is caused when the plant is watered overhead, which splashes pathogens in the soil on the foliage, causing leaf spot disease.
Black Spots On Dracaena Leaves
While black spots are not nearly as common on Dracaena leaves as brown spots, they can still occur. But what causes them?
Black spots on Dracaena leaves are caused by rot, which occurs when the plant’s roots are soggy. Soggy roots occur because the plant has either been overwatered or the soil doesn’t drain properly. This excessive amount of water will increase the chance of fungal diseases, such as rot.
The good news is that you can prevent these spots and rot from occurring by simply not overwatering the plant. Additionally, ensure the Dracaena is growing in soil that drains well. Compact and poor draining soil will also increase the chance of the plant’s roots staying soggy.
White Spots On Dracaena Leaves
If you see white spots on your Dracaena leaves that look fuzzy, like a tiny piece of cotton, your plant could be infested with a bug.
White spots on Dracaena leaves are mealybugs. Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects that pierce the leaves with their sharp mouth parts and suck out the plant’s juices. These bugs are small, fuzzy, and white. They generally congregate near the branches or stems, but can also be seen on the leaves.
Applying insecticidal soap will get rid of mealybugs, as well as other sap-sucking insects. Insecticidal soap is a relatively safe pesticide that can be used indoors. Apply the liquid to the top of the leaves, as well as the undersides, liberally and then repeat the treatment a second time 10 to 14 days later.
Dracaena Leaves Drying Up/Wilting
A plant drying up and wilting is not a sight any Dracaena grower wants to see. But what could cause the problem and how can it be fixed?
We at Plants To Trees first published this article on November 4, 2022. Copyright protected.
When the Dracaena leaves start drying up or wilting, the problem is typically caused by underwatering. Not giving the plant the amount of water it needs will lead to the foliage feeling dry and cause the entire plant to wilt. Giving the plant water is the first step to correcting the problem.
However, this is easier said than done. When the soil is extremely dry, water won’t absorb into it and instead just rolls off. Instead, the Dracaena will need to soak in water.
Fill a container with water that is large enough to hold the potted plant. Set the Dracaena’s pot into the water, making sure that the water covers the top of the soil. Let soak for 25 to 30 minutes and then lift the Dracaena out of the container. Allow the water to drain out of the pot before setting the Dracaena back at its location.
Dracaena Leaves Falling Off
Leaves falling off the Dracaena is not always a sign that something is wrong. In fact, it could be a normal process that shouldn’t worry you.
Dracaena plants will start dropping older leaves as the plant matures. This is completely natural and nothing to be considered about. This is a healthy plant’s way of “self-cleaning”. If, however, the leaf dropping is excessive, it could be a sign that the plant is being overwatered.
The article owner is Plants To Trees dot Com and this article was first published on November 4, 2022.
Overwatering a Dracaena is a completely preventable action. Unfortunately, it happens far too often and can lead to serious problems for your plant. The best thing you can do is to always make sure the soil is dry before watering.
Related Articles
PlantsToTrees.com is the owner of this article and we first published this on November 4, 2022.