Question

leaf spots   QUESTION: Please help me save this beautiful plant!
I have bought it ~3-4 weeks ago and it was in great shape. I kept it in the original plastic pot it came in, just inserted it inside another ceramic one. It has 4 canes. It is so tall, it almost reaches the ceiling in my apartment.
Then I have noticed that the tips of the leafs started to turn brown, which I guess is due to over watering, since the plant is so big I didn't know how much water I should give and I guess I overdid. So, I don't water it anymore. But after that several brown spots with yellow halo have started to appear on leafs (see the photo attached). I am really worried that my beautiful plant will die. Is that fungi? Is there anything I can do?
P.S.
I also have another smaller dracaena which is 3-4 meters away from the new one and has been thriving for several years. Can it get infected too?
There is almost no natural light in my apartment and therefore I put the plant in the corner next to a lamp, is this OK?

ANSWER: Maria,

Those spots are caused by watering the plant with water that has flouride & chlorine in it. This plant is very sensitive to those chemicals. You need to either water it with distilled water or water from a dehumidifier or allow the water to sit in an open bucket for 48 hours before using it to water this plant. If it sits in an open bucket the flouride and chlorine will disipate into the air and will not hurt the plant.  

Your smaller dracaena is probably a variety that is not as sensitive. The Mass Cane also needs to dry out between each watering and should not sit in a drain tray full of water.

It does not like any direct sun so it would be fine if the room is just bright during the day but not sunny. If it is bright enough that you can sit and read a paperback book without lights on it is bright enough for this plant and the plant does not need extra light. If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene


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


palm   QUESTION: Hello Darlene,

Thank you so much for answering my question. Thanks to you I think that my palm's condition has stabilized, it doesn't get any new spots and the old ones have turned dark brown.  I still have some follow up questions for you.

1) I followed your instructions on letting the water sit in an open bucket for 48 hours. I found out that the city where I live does not add fluoride to the water. Can the leaf spots be caused only by chlorine then? I don't know where to get distilled water. Is bottled water any better for the plant than tap water?

2) My main question is that I don't know how much water I should give to my palm and how often? I bought a moisture meter to help me with that but the arrow kind of always stays in the dry area even when I just watered the plant.
Maybe I don't water it enough? But now I'm afraid to overwater it.
3) Also, what should I do with all the damaged leafs?  Should I cut them off completely or just the damaged parts or leave them alone. I have however already cut off many of the leafs that were very damaged. Ideally I would like to get rid of the damaged ones and make my plant grow beautiful new leafs.
4) Unfortunately the smallest cane dropped off all the leafs and died (see picture). Is there any way I can make it grow leafs again?

Answer
Maria,

You should be giving it about 2 quarts of water when you water it. That should make all the soil in the pot moist. If your moisture meter does not read at least medium then you should give it another pint of water. Then do not water it again until your meter reads dry. As to how often, there is no set number of days it will be every 4-7 days in summer and in winter (shorter days) it will be every 10-20 days. It will vary from that in fall and spring.

You can buy distilled water at Walmart in gallon jugs for less than 90 cents a gallon in Indiana.

I would just trim the damaged leaves for now. In the spring you can remove them and it will replace them when the days are longer. The shorter days of winter are not a growing season so just focus on getting the plant through the winter. It will grow in the spring and summer and replace those damaged leaves.  

Increasing the water may make that smallest cane sprout some new leaves. Get some Miracle Grow fertilizer and give it a dose once a month and be patient. It may sprout leaves by spring. That is one of the purposes of plants, to teach us patience. Also make sure it is in a location that it is getting  bright light. It doesn't like the sun but it does like bright light and will grow new leaves better in a bright room. If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene