Question

Plant #2  
Plant Photo #1   QUESTION: Hi Will,

Thanks in advance for your help and advice. The attached plant was doing GREAT at our old home. We moved on the 4th and it has begun to lose leaves like crazy. It's moist. (It used to lose a few leaves every time it was watered, about once a week.)

Now I am getting very concerned it is going to die and hope you have a suggestion. It was outside on our patio for a day or so at the new home. It was cool the day we moved. 9We are in the CA Bay Area) and then the next day was pretty warm. I brought it inside on the 5th I believe.

In the old home it got a lot of light. It's been getting light in the new home but not as much. I just moved it this morning to a sunnier spot hoping that maybe that was the issue.

Any thoughts on what to do for him? Thanks again!

ANSWER: Hi Fern,

Your plant is a Dracaena marginata. Like many houseplants, it does not like changes in light. Your particular plant is adapted to the brighter light you provided in its old location. You should try to duplicate that as best you can. In general, this plant does best close to a window where it gets mostly indirect sunlight all day long. Outdoor sun is much too intense, so keep it inside at all times.

Allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering. Plants in lower light use less water, so you may have been overwatering.

Long, leaning stems can be pruned back to any length and new growth will emerge just below the pruning cut. Pruning will help keep your plant manageable.

I have written an article on pruning 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.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com

Regards,
Will Creed
Horticultural Help, NYC
Cell: 917-887-8601

Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Will! Although the soil is moist many of the leaves still look pretty limp and droopy. Is this part of the light issue?

Answer
Hi Fern,

Excessive light usually causes leaf yellowing, but the heat may cause wilting.

Of greater concern is that wilted leaves are often a sign of roots that have rotted and are no longer able to absorb water properly. Marginatas are very susceptible to root rot when the soil is not allowed to dry out properly. I don't know if this has happened with yours, but it is possible. All you can do is make sure the plant gets proper light and watering. Don't try to fix anything with new soil, a larger pot or fertilizer.

~Will