Ok, from what I've found online, this is looking like a Dracaena Marginata 'Tarzan'. I've found this website, which was very helpful. If anyone else needs help IDing, I hope this helps.

http://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/dracaena-marginata

Kate, I think this is a regular Dracaena marginata but the downward pointing leaves are due to it being very dry or the roots are in bad shape and can't take up enough moisture to support the leaves.

This is an old plant that has had minimal care, if it wasn't a tough dracaena it would probably be dead. If the roots are okay, it certainly looks like it needs to be potted deeper.

Regarding repotting, what state are you in? It might make a difference in whether to repot now or let it limp through winter with a top-off of potting soil and repotting in spring or early summer. I'm inclined to recommend the latter regardless of your location, safest thing to do since we're so close to winter.

Unless you like the long and lanky look, you'll eventually need to cut the canes down to a height of your choice so new growth can resume lower down. You can root the tips if you wish, in potting mix or water. You can also propagate the sections of stem you cut out by cutting into 3 to 4 inch pieces and laying them on their sides in a shallow pot of mix.

If you're not familiar with these techniques, I can talk you through it. It's not rocket science and is actually a fun experience.

Russ

Thanks for the reply, Russ! I'm in Connecticut, so I agree that repotting should wait until spring. There is a lot in the first photo to the left of the plant. Does that look large enough? Also, your suggestion is to top off the soil to cover the roots? If so, I'll do that asap.

I wasn't sure how propagation worked with these guys! Now I'm considering cutting them 2/3 of the way up, and rooting the tops in the same pot to create four trunks and a more "full" look. That should also wait until spring/summer, correct? A walk through would be nice :) thank you!

Kate, I would put it in a pot only 4 inches or so wider and deeper than the clay pot it's in, certainly no bigger than 6 inches wider. That gives 2 to 3 inches on each side of the original root ball. The big white pot looks quite a bit bigger than that.

Yes, for now get or mix up some potting soil that's similar to what it's in, if that's possible. From your pics it looks like one of the commercial peat type mixes with extra perlite mixed in, so that should be easy to replicate. Top off the mix with it and cover those roots, looks like you have enough room in the top of the pot to do that. The white ring of minerals above the soil line is evidence it's been in that pot a long time. Before you top off, you might take it out in the yard and flush the old soil with a lot of fresh water.

I'll post again with info on how to propagate the tips and cane pieces, but yes, I would wait until spring.

Russ

Was about to top off, and dug a little deeper. Looks like it had/has some root problems. What should I do? Continue uncovering and cut the damage? Some roots were hollow up to a point.

Kate, I wondered if the reason for the droopy leaves was rotted roots and now we know. I'm wondering now if there are any viable roots in the rootball or if it's all rotted, I suspect the latter.

Please do this... take a knife and scrape a little bark off both trunks, a few inches above where the roots emerge from the trunk on the one, a few inches above the soil line on the other. A small 1/4 or 1/2 inch long scrape should be fine, the bark looks pretty gnarly so see if you can get below to some inner tissue. Does that tissue look light colored, firm and healthy, or dark, loose and rotted?

From the look of the bark, I'm thinking the larger plant with roots above the soil is rotted, the more narrow stemmed plant might be okay.

I'll wait to see what your results are.

You should cut most the leaves from the top, leave all the vertical ones and maybe a few of the ones just below which are pointing downward. You'll need to do this regardless of what you find with the rot.

Russ

Eek, ok. I'll make the scrapes. Will this harm the plant if it is not rot after all?

No, it won't hurt anything. It doesn't have to be deep and keep it just big enough to see what it looks like under the bark. If it's not rotted, the area will just dry and be a little 'glitch' in the bark.

Russ

Ok, here's what they look like! I think this looks pretty good...? Although, again this is my first Dracena. Does this look like a healthy trunk? It seems firm. Maybe the rot is still in the roots and hasn't spread, or maybe it had root bugs at one point? Thoughts?

That looks great Kate, good tissue so all is well at those points. So it's likely some of the roots are good, probably some rotted which caused the drooping leaves.

You could unpot and look at roots, but I think you're okay to just cover those exposed roots with a similar type mix and see how it goes over the winter. If you see new leaf growth at the tips or if the leaves at least don't droop, then you'll get to spring in good shape and can deal with stuff next year, cutting the cane down to a reasonable height, propagating tip cuttings and repotting the base.

I seriously doubt this will happen, but if all leaves droop during winter, I would take the tip cuttings and put them in water. The leaves will rehydrate. Leave cuttings in water in a bright but shady place until spring. We'll look at the base and canes at that time too. Be sure not to overwater the plant, let the top inch or two dry before watering. Now that you've removed most of the leaves, moisture needs are pretty minimal but don't let the entire root ball dry completely.

Let me know if you have any more thoughts or questions.

Russ

Awesome, thanks Russ! If I want to keep the plant at this silly height (it fits perfectly in the corner of our staircase next to a window, no direct light) do you think it is still best to wait until spring to check out the roots?

Kate, go ahead and unpot and check the roots if you want, I just suggested waiting as an option since the plant seems to be in better shape than I thought. If you do, let me know what you find. Good to know info is whether it's very root-bound or if soil is loose and falls away, and color of roots.

Russ

Hi Russ! Sorry for the delayed response. Got side tracked with work. I think I'm going to wait it out until Spring, like you suggested. We're getting into winter at this point. Anyway, I'll flush the pot outside and top off the soil. I've also trimmed a few leaves, but I think it could stand a few more. We'll talk again about this guy in the spring! Unless of course anything changes with it. Thanks for all of your help! :)

Wow!! I’m almost embarrassed that this much time has passed without a repot, but look at how well it’s doing!! It just sprouted this baby shoot beginning of spring. I should repot at some point soon, though. I’ll I’ve been doing is removing and mixing in new soil over the last two years. It’s held on! :)