What is this? How do I care for it?

Hi,
My friend gave me this plant and I'm completely at a loss for how to care for it. It's not in a particularly sunny window and the tips of the leaves are turning brown. Any advice would be most appreciated!

Looks like a corn plant, Dracaena fragrans
http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=dracaena&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=fragrans&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
I think they can be sensitive to certain minerals in the water, so that could be turning the edges brown, or else it could be low humidity in the house, that will make the edges of many houseplant's leaves turn brown.

Thanks for that info ecrane3. I have hundreds of plants and for some reason never have a lot of luck with some Dracaena's in the house. We have more humidity than I can stand down here ... maybe my plants would like me to shut off the air conditioner and open the windows ... it's very steamy outside! I only use purified water on them, but still the leaves turn brown. Guess I should get out my spritzer bottle and spray, spray, spray .... I really couldn't survive without air conditioning in mid 90's heat with all this humidity we have! The plants and cats seem to love it, but not me! I gotta have the cool air!

Well ... I'm off to find my large spray bottle to fill it with water!

Thanks again,

Lin

When you say purified water, what does that mean? If it's tap water that's been filtered then there are some things that could still be in there. I want to say that it's fluoride in water that these are sensitive to, but that could have been another houseplant instead and I'm remembering wrong. A filter won't get the fluoride out, so it would still be in there when you're watering. Out here we have the problem with low humidity making the leaf tips brown but I don't think you would have that problem in FL.

No flouride in our water. We have well water with a high lime content and I think Iron if I'm remembering correctly. I use our well water that runs through two separate purifier's ... don't have a clue as to what chemicals may be left in the water but all of my plants do really well with the exception of some Dracaena's. Is there anything other than lack of humidity that will cause brown leaf tips?

If they're sensitive to fluoride they might be sensitive to other minerals as well, you might try as an experiment getting bottled water and using that on them exclusively for a couple of months. Existing brown tips won't go away, but you can see if new growth starts to brown or if it stays green.

Great idea .... think I will try that suggestion! Thanks for your great advice ecrane3 .... you always have great advice!

Anyone? Will a corn plant live if planted outdoors? I know someone who received one while in the hospital and now that he is well and at home he planted it outdoors. (Men!) I didnt think that was a good idea cuz I've always thought it was an indoor or patio plant. Gimmie the answer Im looking for so I can really lay into him :)

All depends on what zone you're in, if you're in zone 10 or 11 then it's fine to plant it outside. I don't know what zone San Antonio is, but I don't think there are any parts of TX that are warmer than zone 9a/b, so assuming this is someone who lives near you, I don't think its chances are very good.

If Im not mistaken San Antonio is in zone 8. Thanks for the response......

We're zone 9a and I have mine in a pot outdoors. As long as they don't get too much sun they like it, so far. IWe do bring them in under the patio in the winter and zip up the canvas, then put them back outside in the spring.

If he were to mulch around them and cover them during a freeze they might make it. I think they'd be better off in a pot that you could overwinter in the garage.