dracaena marginata (tricolor) - help

Hi,
4 weeks ago I’ve purchased a dracaena marginata (tricolor). The plat is not doing well at all, in fact is dropping so many leaves it looks almost bald. Almost every morning I pick up 3-4 leaves. I do no know what to do! Could be the location? The room is facing north therefore is rather shady and that was the reason I’ve bought it. The advice came from a specialist at the plant store.
Please advice. Many thanks.

Can you post a picture? My first thought would be overwatering, that's the only thing I've ever seen cause leaf drop on various Dracaenas that I've owned over the years, but I'm sure there are other things that can cause it too. If it's directly in the path of hot air from a heating vent that could do it too.

I don't own this one anymore, as it seemed to demand a lot of light, as opposed to the all-green (or red margined) D. marginata.

Did you buy it at a greenhouse where it was receiving ideal lighting?

To sum it up, I'd guess that it's not receiving enough light in that location, though watering could also be playing a part as ecrane mentioned.

I agree, a photo would be helpful:)

I have one that doesn't really get all that much light, but I have noticed that when bringing it in from outside it will get very droopy and drop a lot of leaves. I think I read they do this when adjusting to a new area. I brought mine in over a month ago, and it got droopy and lost a lot of leaves, and just this week i've noticed that it has perked up. Maybe since you just bought it it is just having trouble adjusting?

well, everyone has hit upon the obvious first choices... acclimation, light, water.
I suppose you could have got a bad plant... are the stalks firm, or soft? if soft, that's not good!
I wonder if it could mites. they are impossible to see, and will destroy a marg in no time.

First thing I would do, is check the soil.. if it's wet, let it dry out! Marg's usually do ok in low light, and a north facing window should be just about ideal, but if you can, maybe move it to where it can get a little more sun... this will help dry out the soil a little fast too...If you continue to lose leaves after the soil has dried, you may have a mite issue to deal with.

ady,

Do not fret over this! The plant is simply going through an adjustment period from having been grown in a greenhouse (somewhere--usually Florida) under perfect conditions and it now sits in your house.
Then--it probably spent over a week packaged up in those paper sleeves and jammed in on a truck.

I have worked in MANY greenhouses and garden centers, and when we get a plant shipment in, these Marginatas (especially the tricolor) will just shed and shed. The will stop, eventually and then you will have this tree-like plant with a thin stem and the leaves at he top. That is how we usually see this plant.

Now! DO NOT overwater!!!!! Just keep it moist. Spray it now and then with some kind of a Houseplant spray. Look out for mealy Bugs. many of these are grown in the open fields in Florida. They clean them up for shipment, but you never know what is lurking in all those crevices. Practice "preventative medicine". You can use a weak solution of alcohol and water if you spot any white fuzzies near the leaf axils.

Sometimes one of the 3 or 4 stems will all of a sudden get all slimy and all the leaves will droop. This is a fungus problem. You can pull the stem out and discard it. Hopefully, the others may not be affected. But--once fungus gets in the soil--it is not a great prognosis.

If you bought this plant at a HD or Lowes, they guarantee their plants for a full year with a receipt. Always save all your receipts!!!!

In time--if all goes well, your plant will settle down and live happily in your house. It is those first few weeks after purchase that are the frustrating times.

Gita

Check for spider mite on the undersides of the leaf axils. Dry, warm air is ideal for them to thrive. If all else fails, anytime I've had to cut a dracaena drastically, they came back more beautiful than before. Just wait until spring to do this.