Before and after in 1 month😭 was it root rot?
5
@Peacenlovez3 Welcome to Greg, if this is your first time.
Before I can help you, I need to ask a few questions…
What type of plant is it?
What is your watering schedule for the plant?
Do you have any info about how much sun you give your plant? Is it by windows? Direct or partial/indirect sun? How many hours of sunlight does it get?
Before I can help you, I need to ask a few questions…
What type of plant is it?
What is your watering schedule for the plant?
Do you have any info about how much sun you give your plant? Is it by windows? Direct or partial/indirect sun? How many hours of sunlight does it get?
@Peacenlovez3 Hello and welcome to Greg, April!
Moisture
The most common cause of yellowing leaves among Dracaena plants is improper soil moisture–in particular, overwatering. Your Dracaena likes to be kept damp (but not wet or saturated!), so keeping a regular watering schedule is key.
When you water your Dracaena, make sure you provide enough water so that liquid flows from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and into the saucer. It’s extremely important to discard any excess water in the saucer and not to let your plant sit in any standing water. Your plant doesn’t like “wet feet,” which will cause the roots to rot and lead to the eventual death of the plant. Yellow and browning leaves are the first sign that root rot may be occurring.
Providing proper and consistent soil moisture is important in caring for a Dracaena plant. Alternating between bone dry and wet soil from ill-timed waterings can create stress and cause your plant to yellow. This is not a drought-tolerant plant.
Water Quality
The quality of your water could also be causing your Dracaena’s leaves to yellow. Dracaena plants are sensitive to the chemicals found in most tap water. Use filtered water or allow your tap water to sit out uncovered overnight before watering so chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride can evaporate.
Your humidity level
Low humidity and dry soil cause leaves to droop and brown on their edges, later followed by entire yellowing, browning, and shriveling. Your Dracaena will appreciate a boost in humidity from regular misting, a humidifier, or pebble tray.
Pests
A weakened or stressed Dracaena is more susceptible to insect infestations. Sap-sucking bugs like spider mites can drain your plant of moisture. This problem quickly manifests itself by yellowing leaflets and fronds. Scale, mealybugs, and spider mites occur frequently in indoor conditions. If not killed early on, these small pests proliferate and move all along frond parts into nooks and crannies. The piercing mouths of the insects exhaust your plant and accelerate yellowing, especially if your Dracaena is already unhealthy from poor lighting, a nutrient deficiency or improper soil moisture. Learn how to treat common houseplant pests here.
Some yellowing is natural
Is your Dracaena producing new growth? If there is new growth on your plant and the yellowing leaves are older, particularly at the bottom of the plant, this yellowing is natural. Your plant sheds its old leaves and sends energy to new growth.
Another google answer:
The tips of the leaves on my corn plant are turning brown. Why is this happening and how can I prevent it?
Corn plant or dracaena is an excellent houseplant because it requires relatively little care and can take the low light conditions typical of our homes and offices.
Corn plants prefer daytime temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees F and 65 to 70 degrees F during the night. The soil should be kept consistently moist, but not soggy and they only need fertilizer every 6 months. Although dracaena can take low light conditions, they do best when placed in bright but indirect light. Try to avoid placing them in full sun as it will burn the leaves.
The problem you are experiencing is probably due to inconsistent watering. If the soil dries out too much the tips of the leaves will turn brown. Of course, you don’t want to over water either, especially in winter when growth has slowed, because this can lead to root rot. A good system for determining when to water is to scratch into the soil about 1 inch down, if it is dry then it is time to water. Check your plants about every 7 to 10 days and remember that our homes are often hot and dry in the winter so plants may need to be watered more often.
When you water, make sure the water temperature is not too hot or too cold, just pleasant to the touch. Your plants will appreciate you for this and they’ll drink more of it. Also, it’s important to realize that too much chlorine can harm your plants. You can easily de-chlorinate your water by simply filling the watering can the day before and the chlorine will evaporate overnight.
It’s just natural for a plant to produce a few yellow leaves, its nothing to get alarmed about. This is particularly true if the plant has been moved to a new location. However if it produces a lot of yellow leaves all at once, say five or six, you may be over-watering or the plant may be suffering from a lack of light.
One of the fun things about corn plants is that they are easy to propagate. To create a new plant from an existing one simply lop off the green top, plant it in a new container filled with clean potting soil and water it in. This should be done in the spring or summer when the parent plant is in an active growth stage. Now, I know this sounds drastic, but the old plant will put out new growth where you made the cut.
If you do cut the foliage make sure to use sterilized scissors before doing so, you can sterilize them by using rubbing alcohol.
Moisture
The most common cause of yellowing leaves among Dracaena plants is improper soil moisture–in particular, overwatering. Your Dracaena likes to be kept damp (but not wet or saturated!), so keeping a regular watering schedule is key.
When you water your Dracaena, make sure you provide enough water so that liquid flows from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and into the saucer. It’s extremely important to discard any excess water in the saucer and not to let your plant sit in any standing water. Your plant doesn’t like “wet feet,” which will cause the roots to rot and lead to the eventual death of the plant. Yellow and browning leaves are the first sign that root rot may be occurring.
Providing proper and consistent soil moisture is important in caring for a Dracaena plant. Alternating between bone dry and wet soil from ill-timed waterings can create stress and cause your plant to yellow. This is not a drought-tolerant plant.
Water Quality
The quality of your water could also be causing your Dracaena’s leaves to yellow. Dracaena plants are sensitive to the chemicals found in most tap water. Use filtered water or allow your tap water to sit out uncovered overnight before watering so chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride can evaporate.
Your humidity level
Low humidity and dry soil cause leaves to droop and brown on their edges, later followed by entire yellowing, browning, and shriveling. Your Dracaena will appreciate a boost in humidity from regular misting, a humidifier, or pebble tray.
Pests
A weakened or stressed Dracaena is more susceptible to insect infestations. Sap-sucking bugs like spider mites can drain your plant of moisture. This problem quickly manifests itself by yellowing leaflets and fronds. Scale, mealybugs, and spider mites occur frequently in indoor conditions. If not killed early on, these small pests proliferate and move all along frond parts into nooks and crannies. The piercing mouths of the insects exhaust your plant and accelerate yellowing, especially if your Dracaena is already unhealthy from poor lighting, a nutrient deficiency or improper soil moisture. Learn how to treat common houseplant pests here.
Some yellowing is natural
Is your Dracaena producing new growth? If there is new growth on your plant and the yellowing leaves are older, particularly at the bottom of the plant, this yellowing is natural. Your plant sheds its old leaves and sends energy to new growth.
Another google answer:
The tips of the leaves on my corn plant are turning brown. Why is this happening and how can I prevent it?
Corn plant or dracaena is an excellent houseplant because it requires relatively little care and can take the low light conditions typical of our homes and offices.
Corn plants prefer daytime temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees F and 65 to 70 degrees F during the night. The soil should be kept consistently moist, but not soggy and they only need fertilizer every 6 months. Although dracaena can take low light conditions, they do best when placed in bright but indirect light. Try to avoid placing them in full sun as it will burn the leaves.
The problem you are experiencing is probably due to inconsistent watering. If the soil dries out too much the tips of the leaves will turn brown. Of course, you don’t want to over water either, especially in winter when growth has slowed, because this can lead to root rot. A good system for determining when to water is to scratch into the soil about 1 inch down, if it is dry then it is time to water. Check your plants about every 7 to 10 days and remember that our homes are often hot and dry in the winter so plants may need to be watered more often.
When you water, make sure the water temperature is not too hot or too cold, just pleasant to the touch. Your plants will appreciate you for this and they’ll drink more of it. Also, it’s important to realize that too much chlorine can harm your plants. You can easily de-chlorinate your water by simply filling the watering can the day before and the chlorine will evaporate overnight.
It’s just natural for a plant to produce a few yellow leaves, its nothing to get alarmed about. This is particularly true if the plant has been moved to a new location. However if it produces a lot of yellow leaves all at once, say five or six, you may be over-watering or the plant may be suffering from a lack of light.
One of the fun things about corn plants is that they are easy to propagate. To create a new plant from an existing one simply lop off the green top, plant it in a new container filled with clean potting soil and water it in. This should be done in the spring or summer when the parent plant is in an active growth stage. Now, I know this sounds drastic, but the old plant will put out new growth where you made the cut.
If you do cut the foliage make sure to use sterilized scissors before doing so, you can sterilize them by using rubbing alcohol.
@L06flower sorry I figured you could see the photos and the name of the plant. It’s a dracaena. I water about once a month although someone in the office watered it twice for me (telling me after the fact!) in a month. So 3x the month it started to go downhill. It’s in the office under a LED light. I move it to a west facing window during the week so about 3-6 hours of actual sun per week (it’s mostly cloudy and rainy here) I’m guessing it’s root rot because of the extra watering.
@Peacenlovez3
Thanks for the information you provided…very helpful!
I have never owned a Dracaena plant. Here is some info I looked up for you..
Dracaenas like:
~Consistent, moderate humidity
~ Moist soil (not wet)
~Bright indirect light
~Monthly fertilizing from early spring through mid-autumn
If any of these conditions are lacking, your Dracaena may suffer.
One very simple reason why leaves turn yellow and fall off is age. As a plant matures and grows taller, the lower leaves naturally mature and drop off.
When this happens, trim them off trim or pull them away. Fresh new growth replaces the old leaves at the top of the plant.
If the air is too dry, you will likely see browning leaf tips and yellowing margins in your Dracaena plants. Loss of leaves is sure to follow.
You can deal with this problem by putting your Dracaena plant on a pebble tray filled with water.
~Set the plant on top of the pebbles
~Be careful not to let the water touch the bottom of the pot
~As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity level surrounding your plant.
Besides the use of a pebble tray, you can mist your plant on a daily basis. Setting up a humidifier in the room will also help.
Another big cause of leaves turning brown or yellow in Dracaena plants is exposure to cold drafts. Dracaena likes a consistently warm temperature of 70° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit at all times.
In the spring and autumn, nighttime temperatures can drop significantly. Your plant may be happy near an open window through the summertime.
But you may want to move it away or close the window at night during cold weather.
Chilly temperatures combined with overwatering tend to encourage bacterial and fungal diseases. These conditions can lead to brown and/or yellow leaves.
If your plant is suffering from an infection, you may notice damp, mushy areas on the leaves. In some cases, blisters may develop. These are all signs of a malady known as leaf spot.
You can address this by pruning away damaged parts of the plant. You may want to repot in fresh soil as a last resort. Be sure the container has ample drainage holes.
Move your Dracaena plant to an area with:
~Better lighting
~A higher temperature
~Improved ventilation
~Keep the potting mix slightly moist
~Avoid allowing potting medium to become very dry or soaking wet.
Overwatering is the most common cause of houseplant problems across the board.
Overwatered plants generally:
Become droopy and yellow
Tend to have a wilted, soft appearance
These are all signs of stem and root rot, which is a fungal infection.
The most common fungus to affect Dracaena leaves is Fusarium leaf spot. This fungus likes the same circumstances that Dracaena likes. It thrives in warm, moist settings.
To prevent this fungus from taking hold, avoid getting the leaves wet.
Water your Dracaena from below rather than pouring water over it.
Use of a preventative fungicide may be needed from time to time.
If you find your Dracaena infected with Fusarium leaf spot:
~ Isolate the plant
~Remove the plant from its pot
~Shake all potting mix loose from the roots
~Trim away all affected leaves, stems and roots
~Treat the entire plant with a fungicide
~Repot into a new or sterilized pot with clean, fresh potting medium.
~Keep the plant isolated in a warm, well lit, well ventilated area. Water sparingly.
When watering, try not to use tap water. It is often treated with chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine. Dracaenas are sensitive to both of these chemicals.
It’s best to use distilled water, rainwater or bottled water.
You can use tap water, but let it sit out in the open air for one or two days before using it. This will allow the chemicals to dissipate.
Dracaena is especially sensitive to fluoride.
If your tap water is treated with fluoride, it will buildup in the soil and begin to poison your plant. When this happens, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and tips to brown.
If the problem is not addressed, the leaves will turn brown and the plant will die.
If you suspect your plant is having a build up of fluoride in the soil, you should:
Flush the soil with clean water and allow the excess water to drain
Another option (not one we recommend) is to repot the plant using fresh soil.
Water with rainwater, bottled water or distilled water henceforth.
Fertilizer salts may build up in the potting soil with fertilizers containing superphosphate. Be aware that this substance is in potting soils containing perlite. Avoid using potting soil containing perlite when planting Dracaena.
Choose a balanced liquid fertilizer. Use it only during the plants’ growing season (i.e. early spring time to mid autumn).
If you believe that fertilizer salts have built up in the soil, you can try flushing them out with fresh, pure water.
Pour the water through the soil. Allow the excess water to run out the drain holes until it runs clear.
Here is the article I got this information from…
https://plantcaretoday.com/dracaena-leaves-turning-yellow.html
I hope this information helps you! Good Luck!
Thanks for the information you provided…very helpful!
I have never owned a Dracaena plant. Here is some info I looked up for you..
Dracaenas like:
~Consistent, moderate humidity
~ Moist soil (not wet)
~Bright indirect light
~Monthly fertilizing from early spring through mid-autumn
If any of these conditions are lacking, your Dracaena may suffer.
One very simple reason why leaves turn yellow and fall off is age. As a plant matures and grows taller, the lower leaves naturally mature and drop off.
When this happens, trim them off trim or pull them away. Fresh new growth replaces the old leaves at the top of the plant.
If the air is too dry, you will likely see browning leaf tips and yellowing margins in your Dracaena plants. Loss of leaves is sure to follow.
You can deal with this problem by putting your Dracaena plant on a pebble tray filled with water.
~Set the plant on top of the pebbles
~Be careful not to let the water touch the bottom of the pot
~As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity level surrounding your plant.
Besides the use of a pebble tray, you can mist your plant on a daily basis. Setting up a humidifier in the room will also help.
Another big cause of leaves turning brown or yellow in Dracaena plants is exposure to cold drafts. Dracaena likes a consistently warm temperature of 70° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit at all times.
In the spring and autumn, nighttime temperatures can drop significantly. Your plant may be happy near an open window through the summertime.
But you may want to move it away or close the window at night during cold weather.
Chilly temperatures combined with overwatering tend to encourage bacterial and fungal diseases. These conditions can lead to brown and/or yellow leaves.
If your plant is suffering from an infection, you may notice damp, mushy areas on the leaves. In some cases, blisters may develop. These are all signs of a malady known as leaf spot.
You can address this by pruning away damaged parts of the plant. You may want to repot in fresh soil as a last resort. Be sure the container has ample drainage holes.
Move your Dracaena plant to an area with:
~Better lighting
~A higher temperature
~Improved ventilation
~Keep the potting mix slightly moist
~Avoid allowing potting medium to become very dry or soaking wet.
Overwatering is the most common cause of houseplant problems across the board.
Overwatered plants generally:
Become droopy and yellow
Tend to have a wilted, soft appearance
These are all signs of stem and root rot, which is a fungal infection.
The most common fungus to affect Dracaena leaves is Fusarium leaf spot. This fungus likes the same circumstances that Dracaena likes. It thrives in warm, moist settings.
To prevent this fungus from taking hold, avoid getting the leaves wet.
Water your Dracaena from below rather than pouring water over it.
Use of a preventative fungicide may be needed from time to time.
If you find your Dracaena infected with Fusarium leaf spot:
~ Isolate the plant
~Remove the plant from its pot
~Shake all potting mix loose from the roots
~Trim away all affected leaves, stems and roots
~Treat the entire plant with a fungicide
~Repot into a new or sterilized pot with clean, fresh potting medium.
~Keep the plant isolated in a warm, well lit, well ventilated area. Water sparingly.
When watering, try not to use tap water. It is often treated with chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine. Dracaenas are sensitive to both of these chemicals.
It’s best to use distilled water, rainwater or bottled water.
You can use tap water, but let it sit out in the open air for one or two days before using it. This will allow the chemicals to dissipate.
Dracaena is especially sensitive to fluoride.
If your tap water is treated with fluoride, it will buildup in the soil and begin to poison your plant. When this happens, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and tips to brown.
If the problem is not addressed, the leaves will turn brown and the plant will die.
If you suspect your plant is having a build up of fluoride in the soil, you should:
Flush the soil with clean water and allow the excess water to drain
Another option (not one we recommend) is to repot the plant using fresh soil.
Water with rainwater, bottled water or distilled water henceforth.
Fertilizer salts may build up in the potting soil with fertilizers containing superphosphate. Be aware that this substance is in potting soils containing perlite. Avoid using potting soil containing perlite when planting Dracaena.
Choose a balanced liquid fertilizer. Use it only during the plants’ growing season (i.e. early spring time to mid autumn).
If you believe that fertilizer salts have built up in the soil, you can try flushing them out with fresh, pure water.
Pour the water through the soil. Allow the excess water to run out the drain holes until it runs clear.
Here is the article I got this information from…
https://plantcaretoday.com/dracaena-leaves-turning-yellow.html
I hope this information helps you! Good Luck!