Is it normal for the tips of a dracaena to be brown?

Question

My dracaena seems to be growing ok. It is indoors. I am losing one of the leaves every couple of days. I have a water meter in the soil and usually water about every 4-5 days. I use Miracle-Gro plant food spikes. It is normal for the tips of the plant to be brown? Is it normal to lose leaves every few days?

Answer 1

No

Leaf drop means your watering wrong or something holding water in the root area or somehow the roots got injured. Unpot the pot and check for brown roots and cut it off!

Leaf tip burn is a common sympton of dry air (not likely during summer) , fertilizer salts, or flourine in your water.

I recommend you stop using those plant spikes and switch to a liquid form of fertilizer reccomend for African Violets.

In a year you can expect the older bottom leaves to drop in 3's or 6's every few months not every other day or week as the plants form a trunk with age.

Answer 2

No it is not normal for you to lose leaves at that rate, the tips brown is another matter.

You may be over fertilizing or over watering. Over watering - pale, dwarfed new growth, brown tipping.

I water mine once a week and only if the top of the soil is slightly dry to the touch.

once you get to know your plants you will know how much they need. There are many variety's of dracaena plants and you don't mention which one you have. They all require the same care.

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic1...

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/Foliage/folnote...

Answer 3

it is normal to have a few brown tips, but not normal to lose a leaf once every 4 days. water less and for now dont add plant food.

it might need more sunlight, or it might be under an air conditioner. the air conditioner is keep ing it cold if it is within about 4 feet from an air conditioner or air conditioner vent.

Answer 4

No it is not normal. There is a number of things that can be causing it.  If you are using tap water, it could be caused by the fluoride in the water. You should use bottled water.  Another thing is to make sure it is not getting too much light. They only need low to medium light. Make sure that you let it dry out a bit in between waterings. Low humidity will also cause the leaves to turn brown. To solve this just put a humidifier, on low,  in the room with the plant. And the last thing that i know of is drafts. Make sure the plant is not near a vent or door. good luck with your plant :)