All varieties of Dracaena crops develop in very comparable circumstances to outlive and thrive.
Dracaenas like:
- Constant, reasonable humidity
- Moist soil (not moist)
- Shiny oblique daylight
- Month-to-month fertilizing from early spring by way of mid-autumn
If any of those circumstances are missing, your Dracaena might undergo.
This text will have a look at the causes of brown or yellow leaves in Dracaena crops. We share 9 ideas that can assist you diagnose and cope with these frequent issues.
Older Leaves Flip Yellow Naturally
One quite simple purpose why leaves flip yellow and fall off is age. As a plant like a Dracaena fragrans matures and grows taller, the decrease leaves naturally mature and drop off.
When this occurs, use sharp scissors to trim them off trim or pull them away. Contemporary new progress replaces the outdated leaves on the prime of the plant.
Dry Air Damages Leaves On A Dracaena Plant
If the air is just too dry, you’ll seemingly see browning leaf ideas and yellowing margins within the new foliage of your Dracaena crops. Lack of leaves is bound to comply with.
You possibly can cope with this drawback by placing your Dracaena or corn plant on a pebble tray crammed with water.
- Set the plant on prime of the pebbles
- Watch out to not let the water contact the underside of the pot
- Because the water evaporates, it will increase the humidity stage surrounding your plant.
Moreover the usage of a pebble tray, you’ll be able to mist your plant each day. Establishing a humidifier within the room may even assist.
Dracaenas Do Not Like Sudden Temperature Adjustments
One other huge reason for leaves turning brown or yellow in Dracaena crops is publicity to chilly drafts. Dracaena likes a constantly heat temperature of 70° to 80° levels Fahrenheit always.
Within the spring and autumn, nighttime temperatures can drop considerably. Your plant could also be comfortable close to an open window by way of {the summertime}.
However chances are you’ll wish to transfer it away or shut the window at night time throughout chilly climate.
Chilly, Soggy Potting Combine Causes Leaves to Die
Chilly temperatures mixed with overwatering are inclined to encourage bacterial and fungal ailments. These circumstances can result in brown leaf ideas or yellow leaves.
Associated: How Usually To Water Dracaena Crops
In case your plant is affected by an an infection, chances are you’ll discover damp, mushy areas on the leaves. In some circumstances, blisters might develop. These are all indicators of a illness generally known as a leaf spot.
You possibly can tackle this by pruning away broken elements of the plant. You might wish to repot in contemporary soil as a final resort. Ensure the container has ample drainage holes.
Transfer your Dracaena marginata plant (dragon tree) to an space with the next:
- Higher lighting
- A better temperature
- Improved air flow
- Hold the potting combine barely moist
- Keep away from permitting the potting medium to turn out to be very dry or soaking moist
Overwatering Causes Fungal Infections
Overwatering is the commonest reason for houseplant issues throughout the board.
Overwatered crops typically:
- Develop into droopy and yellow
- Are likely to have a wilted, comfortable look
These are all indicators of stem and root rot, which is a fungal an infection.
The most typical fungus to have an effect on Dracaena leaves is the Fusarium leaf spot. This fungus likes the identical circumstances that Dracaena likes. It thrives in heat, moist settings.
To forestall this fungus from taking maintain, keep away from getting the leaves moist.
Water your Dracaena from under moderately than pour water over it.
Use of a preventative fungicide could also be wanted infrequently.
In the event you discover your Dracaena contaminated with Fusarium leaf spot:
- Isolate the plant
- Take away the plant from its pot
- Shake all potting combine free from the roots
- Trim away all affected leaves, stems, and roots
- Deal with the whole plant with a fungicide
- Repot into a brand new or sterilized pot with a clear, contemporary potting medium.
- Hold the plant remoted in a heat, well-lit, well-ventilated space. Water sparingly.
Underwatering Causes Crispy Leaves
What does underwatering your Dracaena appear to be?
- Search for Dracaena leaves to show brown spots together with crispy, brown leaf margins.
- One other signal of underwatering issues might seem together with curling stems and leaves. [source]
- To unravel underwatering points, set up a daily watering schedule.
- Many crops like a drench-and-dry schedule. That is the place you water completely and let the soil dry out nearly utterly.
- Dracaena crops just like the soil to be barely moist always.
- Do not forget that low humidity ranges could cause dracaena leaves to show yellow or brown.
Associated: Rising Dracaena Reflexa | Fortunate Bamboo Turning Yellow
Poor Water High quality Causes Yellow/Brown Leaves
When watering, strive to not use faucet water. It’s usually handled with chemical substances corresponding to fluoride and chlorine. Dracaenas are delicate to each of those chemical substances.
It’s greatest to make use of distilled water, rainwater, or bottled water.
You need to use faucet water, however let it sit out within the open air for one or two days earlier than utilizing it. This may permit the chemical substances to dissipate.
Dracaena is very delicate to fluoride.
In case your faucet water is handled with fluoride, it’ll buildup within the soil and start to poison your plant. When this occurs, the leaves will start to show yellow and brown ideas emerge.
If the Dracaena fluoride toxicity drawback isn’t addressed, the leaves will flip brown, and the plant will die.
In the event you suspect your plant has a build-up of fluoride within the soil, it is best to:
- Flush the soil with clear water and permit the surplus water to empty
- Another choice (not one we suggest) is to repot the plant utilizing contemporary soil.
- Water with rainwater, bottled water, or distilled water.
Associated: Is Distilled Water Good For Crops
Salt Buildup Causes Yellow/Brown Leaves
Fertilizer salts might construct up within the potting soil with fertilizers containing superphosphate. Bear in mind that this substance is in potting soils containing perlite. Keep away from utilizing potting soil containing perlite when planting Dracaena.
Select a balanced liquid fertilizer. Use it solely through the crops’ rising season (i.e., early springtime to mid-autumn).
In the event you imagine that fertilizer salts have constructed up within the soil, you’ll be able to strive flushing them out with contemporary, pure water.
Pour the water by way of the soil. Enable the surplus water to expire of the drain holes till it runs clear.
Pest Infestation is Widespread with Yellow/Brown Leaves
Dracaenas usually tend to entice and harbor pests when:
- A poor watering schedule has weakened your Dracaena
- Rising circumstances usually are not useful to good plant well being and well-being
Spider mites, mealybugs, and plant scale can transfer shortly in case your plant weakens. Infestation by these sap-sucking pests is one more reason for yellowing leaves, as they’ll drain the plant’s moisture. Extra on What Pests or Bugs Assault Dracaenas?
In the event you discover your Dracaena attacked by pests:
- Give it a moderately forceful bathe to knock off as lots of the pests as doable
- Prune away broken leaves and stems.
- Deal with with insecticidal cleaning soap, a Neem oil answer, or a weak permethrin answer.
- Isolate your plant in a heat space with good lighting (no direct daylight) and air flow. This prevents pests from transferring to different crops.
- Look at crops completely and infrequently. Cope with any resurgence of pests as wanted.
Associated: Extra on controlling Dracaena Pests
