Question
About 9 months ago, a friend brought me a plant (as a present, when I moved to a new apartment). I don't know what kind it is, and after a lengthy search on the internet the closest I came to identifying it is Nolina  recurvata. It looks similar to the pictures I saw, except that the base is not very thick the way they are in the pictures I saw.
I don't think this plant is doing well in my home. The bottom leaves are going brown and dry (although it continues to put out new leaves at the top). I've tried watering it less, watering it more, watering with filtered water, repotting,  but it just keeps on the way it is going. Do you have any idea what I can do to save this plant?

Answer
Steve,

As long as you have a healthy top it is fine. It is in the nature of this plant for its lower leaves to brown and fall off.  It is a tree, not a shrub.  As long as it is growing it is fine.  More light will help it hold more top leaves. I set mine outdoors in full sun during the summer. Filtered water is best, no chlorine or flouride, once a week is fine, water enough so all the soil in the pot is moist.
Don't worry, it is not dying, just growing.
Good luck.
                                            Darlene