House plant problems

I believe this is Janet Craig Compacta. It was doing great, but last fall the tips started to turn brown abd the bottom leaves are almost black and soft. I do not think I am over watering it. How can I fix it?

It might be a root rot problem. I would remove it from the soil and check the base of the plants and the root. It may need to be re-potted in soil that has more drainage. I have a Janet Craig and the leaf tips turn brown ocassionally, but it is from lack of humidity. I need to mist it. I keep all of my plants on the dry side and only water every week and a half and even less during winter. But, I live in Florida with lots of humidity. Some folks in the North have problems with their plants drying out real quickly in the heat of their homes. Here's a link to a website that talks about this plant:

http://www.dracaena.com/JanetCraig.asp

Here's another link ... scroll down to where it lists Problems: It talks about the soil issue.

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1504.htm



edited to say: You may not be over watering the plant, but if the soil is heavy and doesn't drain well, it can cause stem/root rot.

This message was edited Feb 5, 2007 9:41 PM

Thanks for the tip on my Janet Craig. I have just repotted it. There was some mold in the bottom..maybe it WAS to moist near the bottom. I will see what happens. I cut all the brown tips off, unsure if this will do anyhting to help though.Time will tell I guess. I do have another plant that is doing okay now, but it was not. I am thinking it is a 'corn plant' common name.( it looked just like a corn plant in a field) It was about 5 feet tall and I had to move and it was too big, so I just cut it straight across on the stem and stuck it a new pot. It was about 3.5 feet now. Well over the next few months the bottom leaves ALL died(of course) Now I am left with a half bald plant. It looks pretty funny. People ask it is a Yucca, but it is not. It used to be full of leaves right to the bottom. So now what I need to know, is there a proper way I can cut it or whatever, below the green leaves that are healthy again, and repot , so it will not look so silly? Here is picture. Do not laugh too hard.

Gumbootgal: Yes, it is a Corn Plant, also a Dracaena like your Janet Craig ... same family. If you cut off the top, you can root those branches and where you cut it off the main plant, you will get a new growth of leaves and a fuller plant. I think most Dracaena's like to be on the dry side, so don't overwater. If you click on this link and it gives good information.

http://www.dracaena.com/Massangeana.asp

Hi all - a new kid in town (to DG) - saw you are discussing Dracaenas and thought you would like to see my Janet Craig - adopted to full sun - in my yard - it is about 7-8 years old - has about 20 stalks - the tall stalks are 15'-16' ( cannot be seen - out/over of the top of picture) - i like to trim it and leave only minor "crest".
Do you also "have the habit" to take it out of the house and acclimatize it to full sun ?
The Red-margined Dracaenea 'Tricolor' on the right is trying to compete with the height of the Janet Craig, while the Red-margined Dracaena 'Colorama' (not seen) is already 19' at the top.
i like to plant them in between my palms. hope you like it.
Ronnie

Welcome to DG Ronnie! You will love it here! There are many wonderful, generous people here in the Garden! Your plants are really nice!
I guess the zone where you live is perfect for these plants to grow so big outside! And, they do get much larger when you can plant them in the ground! I have a Dracaena 'Tricolor' in a container on my deck that needs to be divided and repotted. Many years ago I had one in a container on my screened deck that got so tall, it couldn't grow any farther because of the screen roof, so it turned and twisted sideways and grew that way!

Hope you will post more photo's of your area and your plants. Again, Welcome to the Garden!


Lin

Hi Lin, thanks for welcoming. i joined mainly due to my interest in growing (and loving): palms, dracaenas, cactus and black bamboo
i also like making/buliding small water features - small, since my "loaded" garden is small (land is precious in Israel).
if any of the above is interesting - i'll be more then happy to share pictures.
Good night (my time zone)
Ronnie

Ronnie: We Love seeing everyone's photo's here on DG. That is one of the most enjoyable features of this website, being able to see what grows and blooms in different areas! There is a Palms/Cycads Forum you should post your photo's on also. And, a Water Gardens Forum! But, we would love to see some of those pictures here on this forum also, so yes, please do show us any and all the photo's you can!


Have a good Night,

Lin

hi lin - do you know of anybody who can assist me in finding a way to fight/exterminate this Oxalis Corniculata - a "club" shaped leaf grass, which intrudes & invades my lawn :-(
Thanks
Ronnie

Ronnie: I don't have any idea what would be good to get rid of that plant. We have a lot of different weeds that invade our lawn here and my husband just today sprayed with something he bought at a local garden center. You might want to click on the link below and post your photo and question there, the invasives forum, where people talk about all kinds of weeds and invasive plants. I think you would get some good advice there!

LIn


http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/invasives/all/

I have a question. I planted some seeds. They came up, when two big leaves showed, I transplanted. They were doing find, were about 2 or 3 ins tall.....then fell over....soil is moist, in sunny place. What might be wrong?

pjank46: What kinds of seeds did you plant?

Something from a wild flower mix. Don't know which one it was They were little round and black.

I don't really know what the problem could be then. I don't do a lot of seed planting. Did they die, or they still alive, just laying over? I'm wondering if it's just some type of flower that needs a stake to hold it upright? Or, if it could be a problem with over watering? Hopefully someone else will see this post and have some suggestions!

Yesterday they just lay down. Today, :-( they are dead..I think the soil soured. It must have been too hot where I had them (in the window). These windows get sunlite all day, morning and afternoon.

Oh Yes ... having plants in direct sunlight in a window will kill them. Sorry that had to happen. If you try seeds again, a window would be great if the light were filtered with blinds. You want bright light, but no direct sun. And, the glass from the window will really generate more heat with that direct sun shining on the glass! Morning sunlight would probably not be too bad, but hot afternoon sun probably scorched them.

So Sorry. :(

Thanks... You are probably right on it. Thanks for the comments.
Have you run over all the racer down there this week? LOL A friend on a quilting group said that the other day she almost run over one..he pulled into her blind side..his wife said it was his fault.

LOL ... I have been trying to stay off the roads this week. Bike Week Daytona! They've estimated 500,000 .... Yep, Half a Million Motorcycles in town this week! We had Nascar traffic and tourists a couple of weeks ago, now it's the Motorcycle tourists. Spring Break for a lot of Colleges around the U.S. and Canada has begun, so we are gearing up for another Month and a Half of College kids in town! That's life in this city! I would much rather live in a little country town, but my husband is a Professor at a University here in town, he's been teaching there 31 years and dearly loves his job. So, we will be in Daytona until he retires in another 7 or 8 years! We've been in Daytona for almost 34 years and have seen it grow with more and more traffic .... like a lot of other places. I know progress and change are supposed to be good, but I would prefer living in a quiet little community. As long as I have a little space for my plants!

Last year during Bike Week it was the deadliest yet, 21 Motorcycle related deaths that week. This year may be close or even top that. I think there were 4 deaths the first couple of days! Dangerous with all the traffic. A lot of partying going on and that doesn't mix well with Cars and Motorcycles.

Thank goodness your friend didn't hit the person who pulled out in front of her. I am doubly and triply more watchful and careful when all these Motorcycles are in town!

Well, I hope you don't give up on planting seeds ..... you have to just try again.

Have a great day and "Happy Gardening"!

Lin

Thanks for the help..Lin..Hope you have a good week end.

Hi all, I am the new kid on the block..lol..was wondering how to get Aloe veras to multiply and how often to water and how much light they need.
Thanks

Hi Tweeker! Welcome to the Garden! I have Aloe Vera and it's in a large pot sitting out behind my shed! At one time we had them in the ground and they spread everywhere so we dug them all up and gave them away. I saved just one. I think they will start multiplying once they get rootbound but I'm not sure, mine just do their thing. Mine gets watered by the irrigation/sprinkler system twice a week. I'm not sure of the exact care they would need as a house plant, inside. Here's a link to information in Plant Files for Aloe Vera:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1367/

Thanks Lin. Do you have any advice on how to develop a green thumb up here in Canada?

Hey Tweeker .... with this Global Warming it may not be too long before Canada is the Tropics.

That's true..lol..how often should indoor plants...spider plants and ivys be watered?

I can't really give advice on that. It depends on the conditions and location of the plants and how quickly they dry out. I stick my finger down an inch or so into the soil. If the soil is moist I don't water, if it's dry then I give it a little water. Many years ago I used to kill my plants by overwatering. With indoor plants you'd probably need to water once a week since the heat from the furnace will dry them out.

Remember, I live way down south in Florida where most of my plants can stay outside year round and we have a lot of moisture in the air ... very high humidity, which most plants love!