Tricolor Dragon Tree ( Dracaena) not looking good

My new houseplant, a tricolor dracaena plant is not doing as well as when I first got it. some leaves are browning, is it because I over watered (which I did since I learned after I bought it that you must let the soil dry in between waterings and I did not)...or is it browning because of too much sun?

Hi sajwani, you may have watered just a bit too much, also they do need a lot of light, BUT, if indoors, not direct sun light, a bit of shade from drapes etc would be better, too much diect sun through glass will scortch the leaves, the glass acts like a magnifying class, let your soil dry out between watering, dont let the plant sit in water, also from say May/June give a little feed with some houseplant feed, every 2 weeks, it will tell you how much to use on the bottle, If you cant get the plant to dry out quickly enough now that you over watered it, maybe you could repot it in fresh houseplant compost, dont water for a few days till it settles down, use the same size pot as these plants dont like a lot of root space if grown in pots, and if you keep your plant indoors, I would give it a light mist every 2/3 days as maybe the heating system is drying the atmosphere too much.
Hope this helps. WeeNel.

Saj: Here's the link to Plant Files with information on the Dracaena Marginata 'Tricolor':

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/59787/index.html

Sounds like WeeNel gave you good advice! I have grown these plants for years. I have a huge one right now thats looking pretty pitiful because it needs repotting and I need to cut off the top so it will branch out. I have a few smaller ones, one I just repotted today because it was rootbound. You said you overwatered your plant? Do you have good drainage in the bottom of the pot, so the plant isn't sitting in water? How often do you water? What location do you have your tree? If it is in a window that gets direct sun, that may be the cause of the brown leaves ... it could be sunburn from the hot sun reflecting off the glass of the window as WeeNel said above. Good luck with your "Tricolor" ... a beautiful plant, very easy to grow. You can take cuttings from the top and pot them up for new plants. The "mother" plant looks a bit ugly for awhile until new branches begin to form.

I have one of these plants, and I got it from my mom. After moving it to my house, the bottom leaves browned and fell off. I think it was just from shock of being moved. Since its a new houseplant for you, maybe its just adjusting? Just a guess.

An update:
The plant is doing much better. One stem that got broken off is sprouting nice new growths. Some of the leaves have some browning at the end from when I first got the plant and it wasn't doing so well. I am not sure if I should leave it well alone, or trim? But yes, the plant is doing great! Thanks for the advice

This message was edited Jun 29, 2007 8:10 AM

Also I think that browning on the leaves can happen because the leaves are so slender that they dry out easily. Maybe try spritzing it with water?

Kristie

Doesn't this plant loose bottom leaves as it puts out a growth spurt-they turn brown and fall off?

Susan