Why do dracaena leaf tips dry - what to do

Dracaena is a popular houseplant brought to Russia from Africa. The popularity of the flower is due not only to its attractive appearance, but also to the peculiarities of care, which do not require special knowledge and effort. An unpretentious plant pleases with a spreading green crown with proper care. But that's why the tips of the leaves dry in dracaena, it is worthwhile to figure it out, because this phenomenon occurs quite often.

Dracaena leaves dry: what could be the reasons

The bright green color of the dracaena leaves indicates that the flower is healthy. But, if the tips of the plant gradually begin to dry out, it is worth sounding the alarm. Before starting treatment, it is important to correctly determine why the leaves of the dracaena are drying. Sometimes, it is worth eliminating the cause, and the plant is healthy again.

Drying of the tips of the leaves in dracaena is a sign of plant disease

Common causes of drying dracaena leaves:

• irrational watering. Many housewives believe that the more water the plant is, the better for it. But dracaena should not be constantly in moist soil, this only harms the plant. Watering should be moderate, the soil in the pot should be completely dry (but not dry!). In summer, it is necessary to water the dracaena twice a week, and in winter, once is enough. In this case, spraying is carried out in the same way with watering: in the summer - twice a week, in the winter - once. Spray water is used at room temperature;
• the presence of drafts. Dracaena categorically does not tolerate the effects of a cold air stream. Therefore, in the winter season, you should not put the plant on the windowsill, where the window often opens. Sharp changes in temperature have a detrimental effect on the life of an indoor flower;
• dry air. Considering that dracaena is a tropical plant, it loves high air humidity. In summer, the flower feels more comfortable than in winter. During the period when the heating season begins in the apartment, the air humidity in the room drops sharply, in turn, the dracaena reacts sharply to this factor. In such a situation, a sharp drying of the tips of the leaves begins. During this period, you need to spray the plant daily with warm water, and cover the batteries with a damp towel. Many growers use air humidifiers in winter;
• sunny side. Dracaena does not like direct sunlight, its place is on the windowsill, which is protected from direct sunlight. In the bright sun, you can see how each leaf gradually begins to dry;
• wrong soil. The soil for dracaena is an important component. In order for the plant to develop correctly and not hurt, you should choose the soil designed specifically for dracaena. It is worth monitoring in the future so that the soil in the pot does not compact and has a sufficient amount of mineral components.

Diseases

Plants, like humans, can get sick, and just like they need treatment. To understand exactly how to save dracaena, you need to know what diseases are inherent in it.

Signs of illness

• Bacterial infections. These diseases are considered the most dangerous for the flower, since they are practically not amenable to treatment. It is possible to determine the presence of a bacterial infection in dracaena by the presence of large ulcers on the leaves, while there is a simultaneous drying of the tips of the leaves.
• Heterosporosis. This type of disease is fungal in nature.The leaves of the flower gradually dry, starting from the tips, turn yellow and eventually fall off altogether. Timely treatment with fungicides saves dracaena.
• Phylostictosis. With this disease, fungicides will also come to the rescue. The disease can be recognized by the drying tips of the leaves (they begin to turn white) and the appearance of dark spots on them with a yellow edging.

Pests

If proper care of dracaena is carried out at home, but the ends of the leaves dry out, this is a common problem. The reason may lie in the appearance of pests, in particular, scale insects. The most effective method of dealing with this parasite is by hand picking the insects while they are still in the larval stage. If the scabbard has managed to become covered with a hard shell, it is necessary to take more radical control measures using special preparations for pest control.

On the dracaena, in addition to the scale insect, aphids, mealybugs or spider mites may appear. In this case, spraying with a special solution - an insecticide according to the instructions - will be an effective method.

Soil moisture

Dracaena loves watering, but there should be no stagnation of water. Too wet soil is detrimental to the health of the flower. But long-term drying of the soil leads to the fact that the leaves of the dracaena dry out. The plant at the initial stage can lower the leaves, then drying begins.

To maintain soil moisture at the desired level, you can use a special water pan, which will be located under the pot. But it is impossible to allow the bottom to touch the water.

Excessive soil moisture is the reason for dropping dracaena leaves

Air temperature

The microclimate for dracaena plays an important role. In summer, the plant grows most intensively, and the temperature regime should be in the range from 25 ° С to 32 ° С. In winter, the air temperature must not be allowed to drop below 18 ° C. Compliance with these standards is very important for the correct growth of the flower.

Decay of roots

Decay of the dracaena root system is observed with excessive watering. The decay process starts from the roots, gradually affects the trunk and leaves. As a result, the plant dies.

How the roots rot

You can save the plant if the trunk and leaves have not yet had time to dry, but this is extremely difficult to do. To do this, you need to cut the trunk with leaves, which are still healthy, and leave it for a couple of hours in the fresh air. The cut should dry out a little. Next, the cutting is placed in a container with clean water at room temperature. A root formation stimulant should be added to the water, but the dosage should be halved.

The surviving part of the dracaena is placed on the windowsill, which is well lit. The water needs to be changed periodically. When the roots appear, it remains to transplant the plant into the ground.

Other possible problems

In addition to the main reasons for the drying of the tips of the leaves in dracaena, there may be other situations in which the plant feels uncomfortable.

• Incorrectly selected growing area. If the flower dries up before our eyes, but at the same time all the rules of care are observed, there are no diseases and pests, you can try to transfer the dracaena to another place. Often, a change of scenery changes the situation and the flower comes to life.
• Wrong soil selection. Florists often use soil for transplanting dracaena, which is intended for a completely different flower.This approach can negatively affect the growth of the plant and its appearance. The land must be special. The use of soil from the garden is not allowed.
• Lack or excess of feeding. Potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus are important components for the development of dracaena. The lack of these components leads to disease, the flower eventually begins to dry out. But too much nutrient can have the same effect. It is important to apply fertilizers on time and in moderation. The frequency of feeding depends on the season. In summer - twice a month, in winter once is enough.

Proper care is a guarantee of the beauty and health of the flower

In most cases, novice gardeners, purchasing a flower such as dracaena, are not interested in the peculiarities of caring for it. As a result, this leads to illness and death of the flower. Dracaena leaves tips dry, what should I do? This question is often asked after the plant is sick. In order not to harm an exotic flower, you need to familiarize yourself in advance with the rules of care and possible diseases and pests, methods of dealing with them. Only compliance with all recommendations allows the plant to be healthy and beautiful.