The leaves are drooping and a lot of them are yellow. I also noticed the roots are exposed. The place we got it from did not really give us proper instructions on how to take care of this plant!
Only if it is very root bound as dracaena are sensitive to wet soil.
diphenhydranautical
it depends entirely on what the full root system looks like. did you just get it? how often are you watering? and is that window behind it drafty at all? it’s been getting chilly where I live and my plants by the drafty window are unhappy about the weather.
Mychgjyggle
I think they like a tight pot.
aurora_rosealis
It would be best to wait until spring if it’s cold where you are, but yes, it looks like time for a repot. I see a lot of roots there on the surface, and the canes are right at the edge of the container (hopefully there are roots all the way down in the pot, and not just at the surface). If you want to repot now, use a well draining potting mix that has a nice amount of pumice or other similar gritty additive. Only go up to the next size pot; if this one is 10” wide, go up to 12”. Don’t put soil on top of the roots that are exposed. If you want to cover them, use some fine mulch (I use one called “mini mulch” for my container plants).
If it’s the lower leaves that are yellowing, that’s not too bad. They normally shed their lower leaves anyway; that’s how they form their trunk. Any yellowing leaves can be removed, or you can let them drop off naturally. I would really only worry if the top leaves are drooping or wilting. Sometimes drooping can also be from lack of enough light. Dracaena marginata likes more sun than broader leafed varieties. Mine gets at least a couple of hours of direct morning sun, and very bright light the rest of the day. There are some Dracaena marginata that have slightly stiffer, shorter leaves that don’t droop as much, like the bi-color variety.
If you get brown tips on the ends of the leaves, consider using distilled water or rain water, especially if you have hard water. They can be a little sensitive to the minerals in tap water.
stellabarktois
Bottom leaves falling off is normal, if the upper leaves are yellowing, that’s a sign something needs to change. These guys are very hardy and like to be a touch root bound, in my experience.
Upper_belt_smash
I have a nearly identical situation at home and they have never complained. They continue to grow and look healthy
6 Comments
Only if it is very root bound as dracaena are sensitive to wet soil.
it depends entirely on what the full root system looks like. did you just get it? how often are you watering? and is that window behind it drafty at all? it’s been getting chilly where I live and my plants by the drafty window are unhappy about the weather.
I think they like a tight pot.
It would be best to wait until spring if it’s cold where you are, but yes, it looks like time for a repot. I see a lot of roots there on the surface, and the canes are right at the edge of the container (hopefully there are roots all the way down in the pot, and not just at the surface). If you want to repot now, use a well draining potting mix that has a nice amount of pumice or other similar gritty additive. Only go up to the next size pot; if this one is 10” wide, go up to 12”. Don’t put soil on top of the roots that are exposed. If you want to cover them, use some fine mulch (I use one called “mini mulch” for my container plants).
If it’s the lower leaves that are yellowing, that’s not too bad. They normally shed their lower leaves anyway; that’s how they form their trunk. Any yellowing leaves can be removed, or you can let them drop off naturally. I would really only worry if the top leaves are drooping or wilting. Sometimes drooping can also be from lack of enough light. Dracaena marginata likes more sun than broader leafed varieties. Mine gets at least a couple of hours of direct morning sun, and very bright light the rest of the day. There are some Dracaena marginata that have slightly stiffer, shorter leaves that don’t droop as much, like the bi-color variety.
If you get brown tips on the ends of the leaves, consider using distilled water or rain water, especially if you have hard water. They can be a little sensitive to the minerals in tap water.
Bottom leaves falling off is normal, if the upper leaves are yellowing, that’s a sign something needs to change. These guys are very hardy and like to be a touch root bound, in my experience.
I have a nearly identical situation at home and they have never complained. They continue to grow and look healthy