With almost 200 tropical species of dracaena, there’s all kinds of colours, foliage patterns, and development habits to select from. However most dracaena crops have one factor in widespread: improper care or less-than-ideal circumstances could cause that stunning foliage to show brown and unattractive.
Here is what to do about brown dracaena leaves—plus why they occur, how you can reduce them off, and how you can maintain them from coming again.
Meet the Knowledgeable
Alexandra Jones has been an avid gardener for 13 years. She earned her Penn State Grasp Gardener certification in 2019.
7 Causes Why Your Dracaena Leaves Are Brown + How one can Repair
Low Humidity
If solely the guidelines of your dracaena’s leaves are brown, there is a good probability your plant is struggling on account of lack of humidity. Dracaenas want humidity ranges between 50% and 60%, which is significantly much less dry than most indoor air.
You possibly can tackle the difficulty by grouping your dracaena plant along with different humidity-loving houseplants to create a extra humid microclimate or by working a small humidifier close to your plant.
Too A lot Daylight
Dracaenas develop finest with vibrant, oblique mild. If the sunshine supply is simply too sturdy or direct daylight is hitting your plant’s leaves, the foliage might turn into sunburned. This seems to be like dry, brown patches on leaves, particularly if there was a sudden shift to harsh, sunny circumstances.
You possibly can’t reverse sunburned leaves, however you possibly can transfer your plant to a spot out of direct daylight and take away the broken areas. Think about using a sheer curtain to filter daylight in very vibrant, sunny rooms.
Chilly Temperatures
Sudden chilly drafts or publicity to temperatures beneath 50°F or so can harm the leaves of your dracaena plant. Hold crops away from chilly, drafty home windows and doorways or air con vents. Foliage that is been broken on account of chilly cannot be saved, so your finest guess is eradicating the brown leaves and defending your plant from sudden environmental shifts going ahead.
Underwatering
Drought circumstances could cause dracaena leaves to show brown, wilted, and crispy. Dracaena crops require persistently moist soil, so an extended interval of neglect can lead to leaf harm and even leaf loss.
To rescue an underwatered dracaena plant, give it a deep backside watering to revive soil moisture and trim away any brown leaves. Going ahead, test the soil moisture weekly and water when the soil floor has simply begun to dry out.
Buildup of Salts
Dracaena crops might be delicate to faucet water components like fluoride. Salts can even construct up within the soil over time as you fertilize your plant. These points could cause brown suggestions, margins, or spots on dracaena plant leaves.
You should use a reverse osmosis water filter to take away fluoride out of your water provide, or water your houseplants with rainwater. Flush crops with water every month with 3 times the amount of the plant’s container to assist take away salts constructed up within the soil.
Leaf Spot Illness
Overly moist circumstances, particularly within the middle of a dracaena’s foliage, could cause a plant illness known as fusarium leaf spot. Signs embrace dry, brown or tan patches surrounded by yellow areas. In extreme instances, the difficulty can progress into stem rot. To stop this, water the soil instantly quite than getting your dracaena’s foliage moist. Deal with infections with an natural fungicide.
Pure Leaf Getting older
Needless to say your whole dracaena’s leaves will naturally flip brown as they age earlier than dropping off the plant. One or two brown leaves on an in any other case wholesome plant is nothing to fret about. If you would like, you possibly can snip them off with sterilized pruners to maintain your plant wanting its finest.
Ought to You Lower Off Brown Dracaena Leaves?
Whatever the trigger, it is a good suggestion to trim away dracaena leaves which have turned brown. Doing this permits your plant to dedicate its power to wholesome foliage and helps to advertise regrowth. Your plant may even look more healthy and extra engaging after you’ve got eliminated broken, brown leaves.
If solely your dracaena’s leaf suggestions are brown, nonetheless, there is not any have to take away your complete leaf. As an alternative, you possibly can merely snip away the brown portion, positioning your cuts in order that the tip of the leaf has a pure V form. Nonetheless, for those who do not tackle the rationale behind the brown suggestions, they are going to maintain coming again.
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Dracaena Care Ideas
- In chilly, dry climates, your dracaena plant will profit from a humidifier working close by, significantly in winter.
- Save main pruning for spring or summer time, when the plant is actively rising and can be capable of regrow extra rapidly.
- In case your plant has turn into very leggy or spindly, you possibly can reduce off the stem tip, dip the reduce finish in rooting hormone powder, and plant it in a small container to propagate a brand new, wholesome plant.