Beginner Gardening: Dracaena Warneckii Brown Leaf Spots, 0 by tapla

tapla wrote:
A picture would be helpful, but dry air/low humidity is generally only a contributing factor to spoiled foliage. The underlying cause is usually compromised root function due to over-watering or a high level of accumulating salts (from tap water &/or fertilizer solutions) in the soil. Misting only raises humidity surrounding the plants for a matter of a few minutes until the mist has dried. Humidity levels almost immediately return to what they were, making misting very ineffective. Humidity trays can me marginally effective. (You can make very good humidity trays from large cake covers you can buy at bulk food stores - the kind where you buy supplies for large parties, large families, restaurants ..... They can be filled with stones, then water. The stones increase the surface area from which water can evaporate. A humidifier is the best way to raise humidity so the roots can keep up with transpiration rates.

One of the most important influences on whether or not your soil will remain unspolied is your choice of soil. Choosing a soil that remains well-aerated, even after you saturate it, allows you to flush out accumulating salts every time you water. Heavy soils demand that you water in sips to reduce the chance of root rot, and the practice of watering in sips ensures the build-up of the solubles that make it difficult for plants to take up water.

Here is what I grow all my houseplants in. It is very fast draining and remains well-aerated ALWAYS. It allows me to water as often as I want or need without risking root rot, and it makes fertilizing simple. Lots of people are using it with wonderful success.

Al