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gwong1117

yellowing and root bound dracaena marginata

11 years ago

I got this dracaena marginata from home depot about a month ago and recently I found 3 or 4 yellow leaves on the very bottom of the plant. I removed them and they have been fine for two days. I pulled out the plant and noticed the roots seem really condensed.

1. What should I do with the plant at this point? Repot?

2. I water by spraying the top of the soil once a week when the soil is very dry. Should I change the watering routine?

3. Does it like humidity? I live in Southern California and I put it next to my humidifier.

Comments (5)

  • 11 years ago

    Yes, he also needs a much needed repot. No plant likes to be root bound.

    Ditch the spraying method for all your plants. Giving them a good thorough drink is always the best and ensure all parts of the root mass get hydrated.

    Also instead if watering your plants in a schedule, water based on the soil conditions. As each plant likes it's soil a certain way. Soil dryness/wetness can vary between a whole bunch of factors.

    Soil will stay damper on days where it's been overcast and rainy outside and will quickly dry out on a full week of hot weather. So some weeks you might be overwatering, others underwatering and so on.

    So, with certain plants they like to be watered when the soil is dry down to an inch, others 2 inches and some the soil must stay moist. I've never owned Dracaena marginata, so I'm unsure on its needs, but it shoukd be kept on the drier side.


    Gracie thanked MrBlubs
  • 11 years ago

    I agree with Mr.Blubs on all above.

    My two cents here as I have two marginatas, one regular (8ish years old) and one tri-color (6ish years old) both in 8in pots (but moving to 10in very soon). Both grow like no ones business. I do believe they like to be on the drier side. I watch the leaves on mine. When they go from nice and perky and plush to hanging just a little bit limper I water thoroughly until water is significantly coming out the drainage holes. If the leaves get to the point where they are so limp it looks like they're hugging the stem it's gotten too dry. It's happened to me a few times and it hasn't ever killed them but I'm sure it's a bit stressful. My mix drains quit well and I don't water very often at all, usually only every couple of weeks.

    Lower leaves yellow and fall off naturally but I've noticed that more are lost if it's allowed to dry out too much or too often.

    Gracie thanked bunnygurl
  • 11 years ago

    Thanks! I just watered the plant thoroughly. I thought them being dry meant not to over water so I was so afraid to water them too frequently but now I get it!

  • 11 years ago

    Being on the drier side does mean to not over water but there's a difference between a thorough water where water comes out the drainage holes and only repeated when necessary and watering thoroughly too often where the soil is not allowed time to dry thereby suffocating the roots and causing rot. I love my marginatas. They're one of my most 'talkative' plants when it comes to watering. Watch and listen to it and you will do great.

    Oh and I forgot to mention mine really don't seem to care about humidity. It's quite dry where I am and they don't say a peep about it.

    Gracie thanked bunnygurl
  • 11 years ago

    Thanks! I'll move my humidifier to my English Ivy then.