Question
Hi,  I have several dracaena marginata houseplants, which I have had for 3 - 5 years and which are 4 - 7 feet tall.  I live in Santa Fe NM so the plants get moderate to bright indirect sun and less than 50% humidity.  They are in 12" to 14" pots with well drained soil.  I water every 7 to 10 days when the top soil dries out and give them enough water so a little drains into the saucer.  I feed ever 2 - 3 months.  They all look ok and have new growth BUT for the last 6 months something new and worrisome has happened.  On the underside of the newer leaves, there are tiny droplets of clear sticky substance.  I can't see bugs, even with a magnifying glass.  I have done thorough washing, alchohol swabbing and a pyrethrin spray.  The sticky stuff just comes back.  The plants still look ok, but there is more leaf dropping.  I love these guys and am afraid something bad might be attacking them.  Hope you can help.
Michele
ps,  I took sample leaves to several local nurseries and they were baffled.

Answer
Michele,

There is a quite normal phenomonon that under the right conditions of slightly overwatering and higher than normal humidity along with cooler or warmer temps that some plants weep.  I have had a pothos plant that has weeped for months now.

I suggest that you cut back on waterings. 12-14" pots are very large for ddracaena marginata plants unless there are several in one pot. If you are allowing them to sit with water in the drain trays that is too much water. The soil needs to get very dry between waterings, not stay moist. The light where they sit needs to be bright enough that you could read a newspaper without extra light.  If they are not gettinng that amount of light they need moved to a brighter location. More light and less water should solve your problem. Good luck.

Darlene