Question
I just received a beautiful tri-stalk potted Drac. Mass. about 5 feet high as a gift, and while it already has beautiful bright colorful leaves, I am thrilled to have just learned that it may also bloom and be fragrant!
However, my beautiful new plant is getting some brown tips and the newer smaller leaves are getting brown, drying and curling. I've read all the Q&A related to my plant on your site but can't determine if this is a light or watering issue.  I've only had it a week. The soil is moist and I've given it two glasses of water several days apart since I got it.  It is in a corner with a window that receives western exposure light from between buildings (I live in San Francisco). So the room is sunny, but not super strong sunlight.
I will water weekly as you suggest in your other postings going forward.  Can you help me determine if the brown tips could be caused by improper watering or sunlight issue? Or can the plant be stressed from its recent re-location?
Thank you!


Answer
Michelle,

The light needs to be bright enough that your hand will mae a good shadow where the plant is sitting. It just doesn't like strong sun sun shining on it for a long time or it will burn easily. I really suspect the brown leaves are more of a watering problem, more plants are killed by too much water than by too little!

The best technique for watering all your plants is this, water it well then empty the drain trays of all your plants an hour after watering so they are not sitting in water and the roots are less likely to rot. Pick up some bamboo skewers at the grocery and insert
them in the soil of the plants then do not water until the bamboo skewer comes out dry. Plants should not be constantly wet. They need to dry out between waterings so the roots have a chance to breath. Wait to water until the skewer is dry and the plant will be healthier. Your Draceana especially needs to get very dry between waterings or it will get brown leaf tips. It hates wet feet. It also should not be watered with "city water" with chlorine and flouride in it. This plant hates chlorine and flouride and get brown patches on its leaves if there is chlorine and flourid in the water. If you have chlorine and flouride in your water you can allow it to sit in an open bucket for 48 hours before using and the chlorine and flouride will dissipate into the air leaving the water perfectly fine to use. If you have more questions after reading  this feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene