Question
Several years ago I purchased a plant that was called a Hawaiian totem plant .  It was a stalk (or trunk) about 3 inches in diam. and had nubs coming out the stalk which became leaves.  Not a very pretty plant but kind of unusual.  the leaves are long and slender and about 2 " in diam.  It seemed to do quite well in my east facing window but suddenly the tips and then the whole leaf  started turning yellow and then brown.  I'm down to one leaf but I see a "swirl" of new leaves coming up.  A.  Do you have any idea what this plant is and B. how to care for it and /or save it????? As I recall when I purchased it it had a wax coating on the top which I needed to scrape off.

Answer
Hi Cynthia,

I think this must be some sort of Cordyline - maybe a Hawaiian Ti plant, or perhaps some sort of Dracaena, all of which are closely related.  It sounds like a root issue.  These symptoms can happen especially when the plant has received alternating periods of too much/too little water.  Make sure the container has good drainage.  Check the soil below the surface with your finger to see if it is very wet or very dry.  If the plant remains unthrifty, you may have to repot it in new, sterile soil.  Get a mix that is recommended for house plants.  Check the roots when you repot.  Healthy roots are usually white or orange. On dead, rotting roots, the skin will slip when grasped between your thumb and forefinger, and gently pulled downward.  There may even be an odor of decay present.  Sterilize some scissors in alcohol and cut away the diseased parts as much as possible.  If the top turns brown or starts to shrivel above that little spurt of new growth, it may need to be cut off, also.  Pamper it for awhile by watering with a plant hormone tonic like, roottone, root stimulator, superthrive, etc.  Using a search engine like google images might help you find your exact plant (try Hawaiian totem plant, Ti plant,cordyline, dracaena).  You didn't mention if the leaves were green and yellow, purplish, etc.  If you find a picture of your plant, it should give you the botanical name; then you can find more specific, detailed information about it on the net.  Hope this helps.
Susan Tabor