Why Do The Leaves Of My Dracaena Plant Have Brown Tips?

Is the air in the room where you are growing the plant dry?

Did your dracaena go through a long period without watering?

Have you been watering your dracaena excessively?

Do you water your dracaena with tap water?

Have you been fertilizing your plant excessively?

The Most common reason for brown tips on dracaena leaves is dry air. Dracaena is a tropical plant and it loves moisture in the air. This is a recurring problem during the winter months when home heating reduces the air’s relative humidity. Increase humidity around your dracaena by misting it once or twice in a week.

If you don't water often enough the leaves will be stressed due to lack of fluids. The leaf tip, being furthest from sap transport vessels, suffers the most, leading to tip dieback. Water your plant enough to moisten the entire root ball, and repeat when the soil is dry to the touch. If the soil dries out again only 4 or 5 days after watering, it would be wise to repot in a larger pot.

If the soil in the pot is constantly wet, the roots begin to die. And if the roots die, less water will make to the foliage. The leaf tip, being furthest from sap transport vessels, suffers the most, leading to tip dieback. Wait until the soil is dry before watering again. To see if watering is necessary, stick a finger into the growing mix up to the second joint. If it feels moist, don’t water. Wait until it feels dry, then water until you soak the entire root ball.

Tap water almost always contains chlorine. Dracaenas are susceptible to the accumulation of chlorine in the soil. When caring for plants that are sensitive to chlorine, the best thing to do is to avoid watering with water that contains chlorine. Instead, use rainwater or distilled water.

Overfertilization often leads to a contamination of the soil with minerals. Excess minerals tend to concentrate on the leaf tips and cause them to die. You should fertilize your dracaena only during the growing season (typically March through September) using a low dose, balanced plant food.

Minerals tend to accumulate over time in the soil due to fertilization and watering. Excess minerals concentrate on the leaf tips and cause them to die. Leach the soil of your houseplants at least 2 or 3 times a year or put them outside for the summer so the rain can leach them. Repot dracaenas regularly and change the soil when you do so.