Moisture
Inadequate soil moisture, particularly overwatering, is the most frequent cause of yellowing leaves in Dracaena plants. Keep in mind that your Dracaena prefers to be maintained damp—not wet or saturated—so maintaining a regular watering regimen is essential.
Make sure to water your Dracaena thoroughly enough for the water to drain into the saucer through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. It’s crucial to empty the saucer of any extra water and to avoid letting your plant stay in any standing water. Wet feet are not good for your plant since they will cause the roots to rot and eventually cause the plant to die. The first indication that root rot might be taking place are yellowing and browning leaves.
In order to properly and consistently care for a Dracaena plant, the soil must be adequately hydrated. Stress and yellowing of your plant can result from the soil changing from bone dry to wet due to improper watering timing. This plant is not resistant of drought.
The yellowing of your Dracaena’s leaves could possibly be a result of the quality of your water. The majority of tap water contains compounds that are toxic to dracaena plants. Use filtered water or let your tap water hang out overnight without cover before watering so that fluoride and chlorine can vaporize.
The edges of leaves begin to droop and brown in low humidity and dry soil, and then the entire leaf begins to yellow, brown, and shrivel. Regular misting, using a humidifier, or using a pebble tray will all increase the humidity in your Dracaena’s environment.
Dracaenas are more vulnerable to insect infestations when they are stressed or weak. Spider mites and other sap-sucking insects can dehydrate your plant. Leaflets and fronds quickly start to yellow as a result of this issue. In an interior environment, scale, mealybugs, and spider mites are usually present. These tiny pests multiply and travel into nooks and crannies along frond portions if they are not eliminated at an early stage. The insects’ piercing jaws fatigue your plant and hasten yellowing, particularly if your Dracaena is already unwell due to inadequate lighting, nutrient inadequacy, or insufficient soil moisture. Find out how to deal with common indoor plant pests here.
Is new growth appearing on your dracaena? This yellowing is normal if your plant is experiencing new development and the yellowing leaves are older, especially near the base of the plant. Old leaves on your plant are shed, and new growth is energized.
Should I trim my Dragon Tree’s yellow leaves?
Pests may be to blame if the yellowing appears as spots on the leaf rather than full leaves at once. Examine your entire plant carefully to find any unwelcome insects because spider mites are the most frequent pests on dragon trees. Since bugs prefer to congregate on the underside of leaves, pay great attention to this area.
Until now, taking a shower with your Dragon Tree has proven to be the most effective method for getting rid of them. Simply give the leaves and stems a quick water rinse before allowing them to air dry. Maintain a reasonable water pressure because a high pressure can harm the foliage. The spider mites should be permanently eliminated after a few baths. To fight the infestation, we also advise using neem oil to your Dragon Tree.
How can I fix my Dracaena’s yellow leaves?
The cultural requirements for dracaena plants are generally the same: bright or filtered sunlight, constant moisture at the roots, monthly feedings during the growing season (March through October), and sufficient humidity in the surroundings.
One of the most frequent causes of issues with dracaena is a lack of humidity. Low humidity is indicated by the browning of leaf tips, leaf loss, and yellowing of the leaf margins. Plant humidity can be increased by setting your plant on top of a dish containing small stones and water. (Avoid letting the water reach the plant pot’s base.) Mist your home with water every day, and in the driest months, think about using a humidifier.
The similar result can be obtained by being exposed to cold air (from an open window or an air conditioner). The chilly nights can be hurting your plant if it is situated next to a window.
Given how your plants look, it is less probable that watering frequency is a problem, but you will be able to tell for sure by closely analyzing the brown patches. Underwatering is characterized by brown stains and sharp edges on the leaves, leaf curl, and stem weakening. Given that your plant’s leaves look to be generally straight and strong, this seems like a less likely cause of the issue. You are overwatering if there are soft areas on the leaves or any rotting, wilting, or bleaching.
If your plant is being affected by overwatering, freezing, or insufficient light, a bacterial disease called leaf spot may also be present. To tell if you have leaf spot, look for wet or blistered spots on the leaves. If so, get rid of the damaged plant material, raise the temperature, add more light, improve ventilation, and cut back on watering.
Additionally, you should be aware that when dracaena leaves age, they turn yellow and drop off, so you will notice the bottom leaves deteriorating after a year or so.
Our Guide to Dracaena contains more details on how to care for this plant.
What does a Dracaena look like when it is overwatered?
- The dracaena’s leaves become pallid and lose its green hue.
- They start to feel soft and limp and lose their clear, rather stiff bearing.
- They drop down and droop towards the floor instead of rising for the sky.
- At the center and borders of leaves that wither and dry out, yellow-brown patches appear.
- Compared to older, lower leaves, the highest, younger dracaena leaves are less impacted.
- The roots are swollen, transparent, and mushy or squishy to the touch when you remove the plant out of its pot. This is the beginning of root rot.
- Even the stems of the dracaenas begin to become floppy and pliable if nothing is done.
These alarming symptoms typically appear over the course of a few weeks to a month.
Be aware that plant necrosis caused by fluoride and salts in water is another issue unrelated to overwatering that may be causing the browning of the tips of dracaena leaves.
How frequently should a Dragon Tree be watered?
Between waterings, allow your dragon tree to dry out. Usually once each week, when the topsoil is dry, water well. Avoid overwatering, and remember that wintertime watering may require less frequent visits. To remove the element of surprise from your watering plan, think about utilizing a gadget like a moisture meter.
Can yellow leaves revert to green?
Yellow leaves are beautiful in the autumn on trees like gingko and quaking aspens. However, if you notice a large number of them on your fern, green-leafed pothos, or other indoor plants, it can be a concerning sight. However, it’s not always a terrible thing.
All year long, tropical plants maintain their leaves. But the life cycle of houseplant leaves exists (like all living things). Each leaf ages, gets yellow, and eventually dies. It’s not a problem if one or two leaves are yellow. However, if several leaves start to turn yellow, it’s time to intervene.
The most frequent causes of yellowing leaves are inconsistent watering (either too much or too little) or improper illumination (too much, too little). You must determine the cause of the issue in order to prevent other leaves from becoming yellow. Learn more about additional reasons why leaves could yellow.
Usually, when a leaf on a houseplant turns yellow, it is about to die. A leaf’s green tint is caused by chlorophyll. The plant abandons the leaf after it stops producing chlorophyll and starts utilizing any remaining nutrients in the leaf. Because of this, you usually can’t convert a leaf back to green once it turns yellow. (However, in instances of nutrient deficits, yellow leaf color occasionally becomes green again with therapy.)
There are numerous types of plants that naturally produce leaves with splashes and streaks of yellow. This is called variegation and happens in healthy plants. When plants are exposed to more light, variegation may appear brighter.
Conclusion: It’s not necessary to panic if a few leaves turn yellow. The yellow leaf is like a warning light, therefore you should pay attention to it. It might be a normal shedding process or it might be an indication that something is wrong.
How may an overwatered dragon tree be saved?
You just need to repot your Dragon Tree with new soil and make sure it has correct drainage if you’ve discovered it early enough and determined that it’s just a simple case of overwatering with no rot.
The time to cure your plant is now, though, if there are obvious signs of root rot.
Step 1: Rinse Out Your Roots
You may have already completed this step, but I’m going to go over it again because at this point you want to have complete access to the root system. Now is the moment to thoroughly rinse your roots if you simply removed a small amount of dirt to uncover a few signs of rot. This will help you locate all the rotting areas within the root mass.
This is crucial since any remaining rot can spread quickly, and you’ll need to repeat this process in a few days.
Step 2: Prune Back Rotted Roots
At this stage, you want to get rid of as many of the mushy, brown roots from the root system as you can. A pair of garden shears or sharp, clean scissors is required for this.
It is crucial to emphasize the importance of using clean tools! Ultimately, your goal is to keep your Dracaena healthy, thus using soiled utensils will only make matters worse. I take extra care to prevent fungus or decay by immersing my shears’ blades in a bleach solution that is diluted (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and cleaning them in fresh water after each cut.
Remove any roots from your plant that are obviously rotting or that are discolored. Even though it may seem like you are cutting a lot off, it is vital to give the plant the best shot at regenerating a healthy root system because infected roots will never recover.
Step 3: Prune Back Any Rotted Stems or Leaves
You must cut back your Dracaena if you’ve seen any rot that has appeared above the soil line. You won’t commonly find rot that high because the stems are a little more resilient than other houseplants, but if you do, it can still spread to other sections of the plant, so trimming it back is your best option.
Although it can be discouraging, keep in mind that by taking such extreme measures, you might just be rescuing your plant.
Step 4: Disinfect or Replace Your Pot
You’re ready to repot your Dragon Tree into fresh soil once you’ve taken out all the suspect root, leaf, and stem material that might be harboring rot. However, you must first check that the container into which you are transplanting is spotless.
The best option is to get a new container for your plant because the old one may still be home to the same bacteria or fungus that first caused the rot. If you decide to transplant to a new pot, pick one that is the same size as the old one and check to see if it has a drainage hole.
To repot your Dracaena, you are free to continue using the old container, but you must sterilise it first. I advise immersing the container in the same diluted bleach solution you dipped your shears in to accomplish this.
Before cleaning the interior and exterior of your pot with your bleach solution, you can scrub it with soap and water first. Or, you could really soak your pot in the bleach solution for approximately 10 minutes, which is what I advise.
Although it could be a little excessive, that is the objective. Make sure any pathogen-causing microorganisms are actually dead! After removing the pot from the solution, thoroughly rinse it with fresh water.
It doesn’t matter if you use an old pot or a new one; now is the time to check that it has good drainage. It could be necessary to increase the size of an existing drainage hole or add additional to the pot’s bottom.
Step 5: Replant Your Dracaena
It’s time to replant once your pot is organized and your Dragon Tree is clear of rot. Put the old soil in the trash first! Simply throw it in the trash because it is rife with sickness.
In order to replant your Dragon Tree, use new potting soil. Increase the amount of pumice or perlite in the soil to maintain it light and airy if you don’t want poor drainage to be a future cause of root rot. You want a mixture that will hold onto moisture but won’t easily compress.
Place the Dracaena in your pot at the same depth as before, fill your pot with the fresh soil, and then pack extra soil around it to cover the remaining roots and support the stems. Making sure the pot has sufficient drainage, thoroughly water the plant.
Step 6: Don’t Forget the Aftercare!
After you’ve replanted your Dracaena and given it its right location inside your house, keep a watch on it. It has just gone through the ringer, and it will need some time to adjust to its new surroundings.
Maintain a consistent habitat for your dragon tree that is free from drafts, has lots of bright, indirect light, and is at a constant temperature. When the top two inches of soil are dry to the touch, only water. Given that the plant’s root system has been seriously damaged, you should be extremely careful with the amount of water you give it.
For the first few months, refrain from providing your plant with any fertilizer. Too much feed may hinder the delicate new roots’ ability to grow, which are now in the process of doing so. Additionally, the fresh soil in which your Dracaena was planted has a lot of nutrients to support the plant’s current needs.
Finally, practice patience. Expect your Dragon Tree to heal over several months, so don’t count on it to develop much during that period. The good news is that you just saved its life!
The best conditions for a dragon plant
Dracaena prefer direct, bright light. Experiencing too much sun can cause leaves to burn. For humidity, it’s a good idea to grow them in a bathroom or kitchen.
Let the top few centimeters of soil dry out before watering again because dragon plants prefer underwatering over overwatering.
For indoor plants, I believe multifunctional compost is inappropriate. It is bulky, retains moisture, and takes a while to dry out. Most indoor plants, including Dracaena, do better with a free-draining potting compost like John Innes No. 2 with additional grit. Just make sure to keep an eye on it and water when it gets dry.
Maintain a temperature of 18–32°C for dragon plants, making sure it doesn’t fall below 15°C in the winter.
In the summer, give your dragon plant a balanced liquid feed every two weeks at half strength.
Dracaena can be easily reproduced by tip cuttings. Tropical plants can be propagated throughout the year, but the seasons with the most light and heat are spring and summer. Cut any stem tip that is around 8 cm long and above a node away from the parent plant if your plant has several branches. One-third of the lowest leaves should be removed and placed in a water-filled jar on a windowsill. Regularly changing the water will cause roots to emerge in a few weeks. Plant it in a pot large enough to fit the roots in a free-draining soil. On the parent plant where the cutting was made, a new shoot will also grow.