Question
I have a Dracaena, I think Janet Craig or something similar (it doesn't have the woody stalks, but has the wide deeep green leaves). It used to live in my wifes classroom with southern exposure and no direct sunlight. It was a deep green, about 5ft tall and beautiful.

I moved it to a corner office with windows facing north and east and it does get direct sun in the morning and evening. Since the move, it slowly developed little yellow spots all over which have grown and in some cases turned brown. Many leaves are brown and dead at the ends and some have died back to the stem.

Some research has indicated that I am likely watering too much and not draining the saucer after a watering and maybe the switch to too much light was bad for it. I was hoping to get your input on what you think is causing the spots and also how I might revive the look of the plant.

The leaves are all quite damaged by now and it would look quite sparse if I removed all affected leaves. Can I cut these plants down to the dirt and have them re-grow in the new light environment (or in indirect light if that is advisable)? Is there any other way to get new growth?

Thanks!

Answer
Matt,

You have mostly answered your own question. You need to cut back on the water. When you water it make sure all the soil in the pot is moist, then do not water it again until it is very dry and feels light weight when tipped. It may take 2 weeks for it to dry out enough to need watered again. Also, do not water it with flouride in the water. Dracaenas hate flouride and that is what is causing the brown spots. Get distilled water or filtered water that has no chlorine or flouride. More plants are killed by too much water than by too little.

If it were mine I would cut it down to the lowest leaf. That will force it to put out new growth. Once it sends out new side shoots you can totally cut off the old shoots. It would be beneficial if you could move it so it does not get direct sun. It likes bright light but not direct sun. Good luck.

Darlene