Dying Dracaena Marginata, please help!

8 years ago

I bought a Dracaena Marginata about 1.5 weeks ago from Ikea. In Ikea, all the leaves were sticking up, and the plant looked healthy.

I brought it home on the bus, and to get to the bus I had to walk outside where it was very cold, about 5F/ -15C. When I was about to get off the bus, I realized that 4-5 of the LOWER leaves had bent, kind of creased, and were now looking wilted.

I then walked home from the bus stop, in the same very cold weather, to my apartment, about a 20 minute walk, holding the plant.

When I got home, I watered it. Enough so that some drips came out of the holes on the bottom of the pot, but not tooo much.

I then noticed that even more leaves, again the bottom ones, were bending over and becoming creased. It is about 64F/18C in my apartment. It sits on the windowsill, where it gets light and occasional direct sunlight.

Now today, I looked at it again. Nearly all of the leaves are folded over and bent, and of the lower ones fell off. It has also lost a lot of its color, the leaves feel soft and less bristly then they did in the store, and even the top leaves, which are still standing, look sick.

What am I doing wrong? Did the cold walk home kill it? Did I water it too much? Is it too cold in my apartment for it? Is there anyway to save it?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (3)

Gisele Blaker
8 years ago
Just went through the same deal with my philo. Cold damage! Chicago weather. Just wait and see if new leaves come...I cut the damaged leaves on mine. We’re terirbke looking. More experienced people here might give you in debt suggestions. Good luck.
tropicbreezent
8 years ago
It's a waiting game now. Leaves are thin so the cold would have gone right through them. It might have also penetrated the stems in that time. For a tropical plant a constant 18C isn't really warm, it's more of a cold temperature. Well wrapped in paper it would have stood a better chance during that trip.

That said, soil is a good insulator as well. Chances are the stem of the plant and roots below ground level may have been protected enough so the plant will regrow, you should only lose what's above the soil. Don't over water, that will rot whatever's left of it. Good luck with it.
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mcsooey
8 years ago
Give it some time and hold off watering until the top of the pot is dry. If it's in shock there is nothing else you can do but wait. My experience comes from having many Dracaena over the years. Your plant may not look good for a while but I'll bet that it will perk up and keep on growing. These pants can take some cold but they do not do well in freezing temps. If individual leaves fall off that is fine, but if clumps get limp and soggy at the stem, that could be an indication of a total loss. However, even if every leaf drops off, give it more time. They have been known to regenerate when you think nothing is left. Do your best and love your plant. On the upside, IKEA is only a bus ride and a 20-minute walk away...but wait for a day that is at least 45*F. Good luck.