hi all, found this sad looking plant abandoned next to my house and wondered if it has any hope? if anyone could give me any tips on what is wrong with it and how to help it recover i would be really grateful. (equally, if you think it's doomed, do let me know!). i don't know how often it got watered or how much light it received, but it looks really overwatered.
by lovelypandaxo
5 Comments
Looks like it was left out in freezing temperatures. Miracles happen. Just depends on how far down the stalk is damaged beyond new growth happening. The tips are going to die though.
Looks to be some kind of dracaena or corn plant. They’re extremely hardy, but like warmer weather
This one looks like it was perhaps left out in the cold, say, below 50°? Low temps can kill many plants, or damage their foliage.
What temperature is it outside where you’re located? It doesn’t look to have been over or under watered. That would lead to yellowing of leaves or brown leaf tips.
Luckily for you, in this case, I would guess that unless it was below freezing outside, this plant will be just fine. It might lose all its leaves but dracaena is hardy enough that it will be fine from that. If it actually froze, it may be dead, however.
Did it get frozen? Very thirsty? I’m a pushover and give everything a chance. Water thoroughly if dry and leave alone for a month.
I accidentally caused a cold stress response on my dracaena a few years ago. It was a gift from my long deceased mother, so it has sentimental value to me. So, the cold stress caused every leaf to drop. Every. One. I was so upset with myself and I couldn’t bear to toss it. I just left it in its window spot, with its naked stems staring at me, judging me. About 2-3 weeks pass and I’m inspecting one of the stems and wouldn’t you know, it was pushing out new growth! It actually put out new stems and leaves and in 6 months or so it looked better than it ever had. The moral of the story is, if the root stock is healthy, no rot, and the stems are solid (no excessive cold damage) they will come back.
Pull it out cut off any mushy bits of the trunk, let it dry for a day and repot it wilh very little water give it a hug a warm su.nny spot but not direct sun. And keep an eye on her