Hello! I'm new to the gardening world, for the past year I've just been excited I've kept things alive! LOL I've had this dragon tree about a year and about 6 months ago the leaves dropped and now I feel like its not growing quite like it should. I'm hoping someone can perhaps tell me what I might be doing wrong, if anything. I just haven't seen another look so bare and droopy like this. Also, the leaves seem really thin.
The plant's normal environment is hot, dry and sunny. It adapts well to indoor conditions but may get root rot from over-watering. That's the most common cause of death. By the time all the leaves have fallen off the roots are dead.
Yours looks like Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor.' It looks OK to me from here. I agree, be careful to only water when soil is dried out so you do not over water. Never let it stand in a saucer full of water.
I have grown this plant too. I used to get some brown tips too though I didn't know why. I think it normally drops its lower leaves in a house. As it gets taller, you can cut off the top below the foliage and you will get at least 2 new shoots to make it fuller. I seem to recall air layering mine then putting the rooted top in the same pot so I had 3 heads. I would do anything drastic in spring when the plant wants to naturally surge in growth. Never in winter when plants slow down.
I find a fast draining soil really helps growing healthier plants in general.
This thread might be of interest to you.
https://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/849118/#b
These articles may be helpful to you.
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/indoor-care-dracaena-marginata-42795.html
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/dracaena-marginata-plant-propagation-31531.html
Good luck!
Thanks so much for the links! Finally a tall, skinny, bare looking one like mine. Except mine just isn't as big lol. I looked it up, and I definitely do have tricolor. Thanks for that! Also seen some awesome ideas of twisting the stems I might try. Any browning you see is prior to me stopping using tap water. Its definitely made a HUGE difference for all my plants! Also no leaves have fallen off in months and if anything, I have a bad habit of underwatering lol. Maybe I'll give it a little more time to do its thing, I know the roots are going strong and it's not rootbound. I repotted it about 2 months ago and it did immediately started new leaves.
