With approximately 200 tropical species of dracaena, there is a wide variety of colors, foliage patterns and growth habits to choose from. but most dracaena plants One thing remains the same: Improper care or less-than-ideal conditions can cause beautiful leaves to turn brown and unattractive.
Here’s what to do about brown dracaena leaves – including why they happen, how to cut them back, and how to keep them from coming back.
meet the expert
alexandra jones Have been an avid gardener for 13 years. He earned Penn State Master Gardener certification in 2019.
7 Reasons Why Your Dracaena Leaves Are Brown + How to Fix
low humidity
If only the tips of your dracaena’s leaves are brown, there’s a good chance that your plant is suffering from a lack of moisture. Dracaena prefer humidity levels between 50% and 60%, which is significantly less dry than most indoor air.
You can solve the problem by grouping your dracaena plant with other moisture-loving houseplants to create a more humid microclimate. Running a small humidifier near your plant,
too much sunlight
Dracaena grows best in bright, indirect light. If the light source is too bright or direct sunlight is falling on your plant’s leaves, the leaves may get sunburned. It looks like dry, brown spots on leaves, especially if there has been a sudden change in harsh, sunny conditions.
You can’t reverse sunburned leaves, but you can move your plant to a location out of direct sunlight and remove the damaged areas. Consider using a sheer curtain to filter sunlight in very bright, sunny rooms.
cold temperature
Sudden cold winds or exposure to temperatures below 50°F can damage your dracaena plant’s leaves. Keep plants away from cold, drafty windows and doors or air conditioning vents. Leaves damaged by cold cannot be saved, so the best option is to remove them. brown leaves And to protect your plant from sudden environmental changes in the future.
watering under water
Drought conditions can cause dracaena leaves to turn brown, withered and crunchy. Dracaena plants require consistently moist soil, so prolonged neglect can result in leaf damage or even leaf loss.
To save an underwater dracaena plant, dig it deeper watering down To restore soil moisture and cut off any brown leaves. Moving forward, check the soil moisture weekly and water when the soil surface begins to dry out.
formation of salts
Dracaena plants can be sensitive to tap water Additives like fluoride. When you fertilize your plants, salt can also build up in the soil over time. These problems can cause brown tips, edges, or spots on the dracaena plant’s leaves.
you can use one reverse osmosis water filter To remove fluoride from your water supply, or to water your houseplants with rainwater. Rinse the plants each month with three times the volume of water than the plant container to help remove salt deposits in the soil.
leaf spot disease
Excessively wet conditions, especially in the center of dracaena leaves, can cause a plant disease called Fusarium leaf spot. Symptoms include dry, gray or brown spots surrounded by yellow areas. In severe cases, the problem may progress to stem rot. To prevent this, water the soil directly instead of wetting your dracaena leaves. Treat infections with biological fungicides.
natural leaf aging
Keep in mind that all of the leaves on your dracaena will naturally turn brown as the plant ages before falling off. One or two brown leaves on an otherwise healthy plant are nothing to worry about. If you wish, you can prune your plants with sterilized pruners to keep them looking their best.
Should you cut off brown dracaena leaves?
Whatever the reason, it’s a good idea to cut off dracaena leaves that have turned brown. Doing this allows your plant to devote its energy to healthy foliage and helps promote regrowth. Your plant will look healthier and more attractive after removing damaged, brown leaves.
However, if only the tip of your dracaena’s leaf is brown, there is no need to remove the entire leaf. Instead, you can simply cut off the brown part, positioning your cuts so that the tip of the leaf forms a natural V shape. However, if you don’t address the cause behind brown tips, they will keep coming back.
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Dracaena Care Tips
- In cool, dry climates, your dracaena plant will benefit from a humidifier running nearby, especially in winter,
- Save major pruning for spring or summer, when the plant is actively growing and able to regrow more quickly.
- If your plant has grown too long or spindly, you can cut off the tip of the stem, dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder, and plant it in a smaller container to propagate a new, healthy plant. Are.
