Question

sick leaves   Please help!  We purchased a dracaena "Janet Craig" (or that's what the label said) last week for the office, and it's developed large brown-gray spots. Leaves are beginning to shrivel. It's under a florescent light; the soil feels slightly moist (not wet). It's in a glazed clay pot over a gravel tray.

Is there anything you can suggest? Does it look diseased?

Answer
Hi Deborah,

Thanks for the photo. The blackened leaves are a result of exposure to cold temperatures. Dracaena 'Janet Craig's' are tropical plants and cannot withstand temperatures much below 60 degrees, even for short times. Probably, the cold exposure occurred during delivery.

The cold damaged leaves will not recover and should be trimmed off. If the cold exposure was brief, then the roots should be okay because they are insulated by the soil and pot. That means new growth will eventually come in and should be healthy.

I have written articles on cold damage and on Janet Craig care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and NOMINATION for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at:
A link to HorticulturalHelp.com

or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com