The dracaena dropped leaves. Dracaena diseases: causes, symptoms and treatment. Common types of dracaena

Dracaena has an original look that attracts attention against the background of the overall interior design.

Such a palm tree is quite popular among lovers of indoor plants and due to its simple care.

In numerous photos you can see beautiful trees with a luxurious crown, which have grown to unimaginable sizes. This happened due to the positive qualities of the plant.

At some point, the ends of the leaves of the dracaena dry. This can happen for several reasons.

It is important to determine the source of the problem, as this will help in the process of treatment and recovery.

In order not to lose the plant, immediate recovery measures must be taken.

If we take into account and prevent negative effects on the plant, then there will simply not be problems with the drying of the ends of the leaves.

Reasons why leaves fall and fall

Sometimes it happens that the dracaena drops leaves after they are fully or partially lowered.

There are only three reasons why the green part of the dracaena falls first down, and then completely falls.

Why dracaena throws off leaves:

1. If the plant is more than 3 years old, then the leaves fall off due to old age.
2. If the dracaena has lowered the green part and the leaves have already begun to fall from below, then the flower is poorly watered.
3. Low temperature for the plant is the main reason for leaf falling.

By the way the leaves went down and fell, you can determine the cause of “baldness”. The nature of the fall is pronounced in each of the cases, so it is almost impossible to make a mistake.

Attention! The Marginata dracaena variety most often undergoes “baldness” and leaf dropping.

From old age, the leaves fall off completely, being replaced by new units.

With poor watering, the leaves are in a lowered state for a long time, turn yellow and then fall off. From the cold there is a loss of still green leaves.

Brown spots

Often brown spots appear on the green crown of the dracaena, which catastrophically threaten the life of the flower.

Each problem stains its own brown color, which has particular distinguishing features.

Causes of brown spots:

Why the trunk blackens and dries: plant diseases

The following metamorphoses can occur as a result of the vital activity of such organisms with dracaena: the trunk dries, the leaves change color, the trunk becomes soft or empty.

In the fight against diseases and pests, it is important not to overdo it with treatment, as this can also negatively affect the condition of the flower.

Attention! Sometimes a flower affects several diseases at the same time, so an integrated approach to treatment may be required.

To treat the plant correctly, it is better to consult a specialized store.

How to help Dracaena

In order not to bring the flower to a terrible state, you need to properly care for it. Proper care is the best help for dracaena.

If any malfunctions occur, it is important to decide how to help the plant in any circumstances. There are several options for salvation, each of which corresponds to the situation.

What to do to save dracaena in some situations:

1. For any type of disease, special sprays and “medications” will be needed.
2. You can reanimate dracaena exclusively by transplanting into another container with new soil.
3. To eradicate problems with spots on the greenery of the crown, it is worthwhile to establish a watering regime and find a suitable place in the room.
4. Once every 2-3 years you need to transplant the plant into a new pot with suitable soil.

It is easy to save the plant if you follow the basic rules regarding transplantation and subsequent care. It is worthwhile to carefully monitor the indoor plant, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of the disease.

Useful video

In some cases, unpretentious dracaena leaves fall. The problem does not arise on its own, so the grower needs to understand its causes.

About why the plant takes off leaves and how to reanimate it, read on.

Why Dracaena drops leaves: the main reasons

Dracaena drops leaves due to errors in care or illness. Below are the main reasons for falling leaves.

Did you know? Word« dracaena»   translates as« dragon female» . The birthplace of palm trees is Africa and southeast Asia.

Violation of growing conditions

The first thing you need to look at when falling dracaena leaves is growing conditions. The reasons most often are:

• wrong soil composition;
• low temperature;
• frequent drafts;
• bright direct light;
• strong shadow.

  If the situation is not corrected, the plant withers and dies.

Lack or excess of fertilizer

Fertilizers are needed for plants to grow. Many flower growers admit two extremes: lack or excess of fertilizing. Falling leaves is possible in both cases.

With meager replenishment, dracene has nowhere to take nutrients from. This situation occurs in several cases:

• rare top dressing;
• small doses of drugs;
• the concentration of solutions is lower than specified in the instructions;
• complete lack of fertilizers.

Excess fertilizer is no less harmful. Its negative effect is manifested in the following errors:

• too frequent top dressing;
• the use of more funds;
• intense concentration of the drug;
• feeding during dormancy.

  Revise your palm fertilizer approach. This may be the main reason for dropping leaves.

Did you know? The Aztecs called the dracaena "the tree of happiness" and believed that if you cut a small part of the plant trunk at midnight, it would bring happiness in love.

Wrong watering

A common cause of falling dracaena foliage is improper watering. Scanty and too abundant hydration damages the plant:

• insufficient watering: the leaves dry out;
• excessive watering: the plant becomes a soft trunk, the foliage first withers, and then falls off.

Spraying can also cause leaves to fall.Be sure to remove water from the leaf sinuses. Stagnant fluids can cause decay. Because of this, dracaena will lose some of its leaves.

Important!  TO  s speech-resistant species include palm trees under the names Dragon and Godsef. They should not be excessively moistened.

Transplant root damage

When the roots of the dracaena grow, it is transplanted into a new pot. During the transplant, the grower contacts the rhizome. Careless movements can damage the root system. Such injuries affect the condition of the palm. Transplanting to a new place is already stress, and damage to the root enhances it. In response to trauma, the plant discards leaves.

Pests and diseases

Incorrect care attracts diseases and pests. They often cause foliage to drop.

Of the diseases, the plant most often affects the fungus:

• stem rot;
• root rot;
• fusarium
• alternariosis;
• phylostictosis;
• heterosporosis.

  Leaves in diseases rarely fall off the trunk. Most often, they dry out, rot or become stained. However, if the disease is not treated, dry or rotten foliage will soon fall off the trunk.
  Pests are no less dangerous for dracaenas. Often it is they who become the cause of dropping leaves. The palm may be attacked by:

• spider mite;
• thrips;
• scale shield;
• mealybug;

In most cases, the plant can be cured if the cause is discovered in time.

What to do and how to save the plant

Dracaena, whose leaves have fallen, can be saved in some cases. The reasons are more associated with errors in care, so the first actions of the grower are to adjust the growing conditions. If diseases or pests are found, the plant is additionally treated.

The rules for growing palm trees are as follows:

1. Temperature.Optimum indicators - +20 ... + 25 ° С. The plant will survive if the temperature drops to + 15 ° C. In colder conditions, the palm tree stops development.
2. Humidity.  Most species need at least 60% humidity. To maintain moisture, the plants are sprayed from the spray gun. Twice spraying a day is enough for normal growth. Do not forget to remove excess water from the axils of the leaves.
3. Lighting.  Dracaens love diffused light. The bright rays of the sun or shadow destroy the palm tree. If the leaves fall, change the location of the pot. If it is not possible to provide the plant with natural light, buy a phytolamp.
4. Watering.  Water for irrigation should be soft. Before use, it must be defended. Cold water is not suitable for irrigation. The frequency depends on the drying of the soil. If the top 2 cm of the substrate has dried out, it can be moistened. Drying speed depends on the season. In summer, the plant is watered 1 time in 2 days. In winter, it is optimal to moisten the soil once every 3 days.
5. Fertilizer.  Palm tree needs to be fed only during the period of active growth. Its usual time frame is from March to early September. Dracaena should be fed 1 time in 2 weeks. Manufacturers offer a wide selection of fertilizers for dracaena. Means “Rainbow”, “Dracaena”, “Ideal” are popular.
6. Transfer.  Florists transplant a healthy palm once every 2-3 years. Best plant tolerates transplant in March and April. In case of growing problems, an emergency transplant is possible. Falling foliage due to inappropriate soil or diseases is exactly the case. For a successful procedure, prepare a pot, drainage mixture, substrate for dracaena, water for irrigation. Fill the new pot with drainage, pour some of the soil on it. Pour the dracaena and remove it from the old pot. Carefully clean the root system of an earthen coma. Check the roots for rot; remove the rot, if any. Put the palm in a new container, fill in the rest of the soil. Water the palm and place in a suitable place.
7. Fight against diseases and pests. Florists use such drugs for treatment: pests are destroyed by insecticides, for example, Fitoverm, Aktellik, or Intavir, and fungicides, such as Oksikhom or Topaz, are used against the fungus. If the plant is completely damaged, it rots and the treatment does not help, try replanting the cuttings in a new soil in order to save at least part of it. If it is a viral disease, it is impossible to cure it. The plant must be disposed of.

The most problematic species of dracaena are Marginata and Bamboo of Happiness, but the rest of the species are susceptible to various diseases. The causes of malaise dracaena can be very different.

Moisture

The first reason is rightly considered low humidity in the room. A flower of this species is considered to be a southern plant adapted for a tropical climate, and the humidity in the air for it should be at least 60-70%. In apartments, humidity is usually lower, especially in winter, hot batteries and heaters dry and heat it, humidity usually drops to 20%, and this is bad for plants. Therefore, gardeners are advised to additionally moisten the air, regularly spray the room in which the plants are located, you can also buy a special humidifier or just put a vessel with water near the batteries, the water will evaporate and increase humidity.

However, there are other reasons for such ailments of dracaena. Bad or improper watering can also lead a flower to a bad state. Remember that this flower should be watered only when the earth in its pot becomes dry. However, do not abuse it, water dracaena about once a week, no more, and no less.

Draft

Strange as it may seem, the third reason for the poor condition of the flower is a simple draft in your room. It can be especially dangerous in winter or late autumn, so you should not keep plants on the window. Dracaena can really get sick from the effects of the cold, in fact, catch a cold.

In order to prevent such unpleasant consequences, simply follow the basic rules for caring for dracaena, and it will always delight your eye. Keep it in a bright, but diffused light, maintain the correct temperature, monitor the humidity in the house, do not water the earth in a pot.

Nutrition

If, with all the efforts, your dracaena still looks lethargic and unviable, try to analyze your departure. Perhaps the reason for the flower's malaise lies in the fact that he lacks vitamins. Consult with experienced gardeners, try various fertilizers, fertilizing for indoor plants.

Sluggish leaves and slow growth are a sign that the flower is closely in the pot, so carefully transplant it into a spacious pot. It is advisable to do this in early spring, and use soilless mixtures as soil.

He will lower the sheets of dracaena and after transplantation, it will hurt for at least a week, if after this period the former elasticity and brightness did not return, you need to use a growth stimulator.

  - Although this is not a very fastidious indoor plant, it nevertheless requires the observance of individual care rules: the appropriate temperature regime, humidity level, and so on. A critical violation of these rules can provoke various plant ailments that are reflected not only in the appearance and which can lead to the death of dracaena. One of the common problems, the causes and solutions of which will be discussed below, is the omission of the leaves of the plant, which usually grow up.

The main reasons why dracaena leaves fall

The most likely include:

1. Excessively cold temperature in the room (in particular, exacerbated by drafts). The optimum temperature for the growth and development of the plant is from 18 to 24 ° C above zero. Lower temperatures can cause the leaves to drop. In order to avoid this or to cope with the problem that has already arisen, it is necessary to remove the plant from the place where it can be purged with drafts, and also to create the optimal above-mentioned temperature regime in the room.
2. Excessive soil moisture. It can be triggered by frequent watering or an excessively wide pot, contributing to stagnation of moisture. This requires two basic rules. The first is to avoid frequent watering and allow the soil to dry between watering, the second - you need to choose a pot that is quite deep, but small in diameter (for a plant up to 15 centimeters tall, the optimal diameter of the pot is 10 to 15 centimeters; the height of the pot is 12-15 centimeters) .
3. Lack of moisture for the outer surface of the leaves. Dracaena  receives part of the nutrition and hydration through the surface of the leaves. In this regard, once every two to three days it is required to spray the leaves from the spray with water at room temperature.
4. Lack of oxygen saturation. First of all, it is important to maintain the saturation of the soil with oxygen. For this, drainage is created when planting / replanting dracaena. And it is also necessary to carry out periodic loosening of the soil.
5. Excessive use of fertilizers. For growth and development dracaena  it is advisable to use organic fertilizers in small quantities - peat, manure, humus and so on. Mineral fertilizers can be completely abandoned and used only if there are symptoms of a particular disease of dracaena, due to a lack of certain nutrients.
6. Exposure to direct sunlight can also cause yellowing and drooping leaves. dracaena. The plant loves light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, which can contribute to the degradation and death of the plant. Dracaena should be in a lit room, but not on the sunny side of the room.

Typical diseases of dracaena and their effective treatment with an explanation from professional flower growers. Photo attached.

Why do dracaena drop leaves? Causes  may be the following: the plant goes through a period of acclimatization after purchase, a transplant was carried out with soil replacement, which violated the integrity of the root system, and the irrigation mode was incorrect.

Only a purchased plant must undergo a period of acclimatization under the new conditions. Dracaena is no exception. The level of illumination in the new room, humidity and air temperature - all this can affect the well-being of the flower. No need to worry if dracaena is only purchased and it has lowered leaves. For prevention, you need to inspect the plant carefully. If there are no pests on it, the root system is in order, the trunk does not rot - there is no need to take drastic measures. Experts recommend not replanting the flower within 1 month after purchase. After this period, transplant by transshipment and strictly follow the rules for caring for dracaena. As practice shows, all dracaena lower the leaves after the purchase. This is a normal occurrence. In a healthy flower, only the crown, that is, young leaves, will look up.

Dracaena dropped leaves immediately after transplantation. This indicates a violation of the root system of the flower, namely, very thin roots that form a spider web at the bottom of the pot. They are involved in plant nutrition and provide the plant with water. It is not recommended to transplant dracaena in a complete replacement of the soil. She is more likely to transship in a larger pot. Thus, the root system will not be injured.

However, if the transplant has already been carried out and the dracaena has lowered the leaves, while its lower leaves can turn yellow intensively, the following steps need to be performed: spray the flower with a cyclone (4 drops of the drug per 1 liter of water) and place it under the greenhouse or a spacious cap. Leaves should not touch the walls of the greenhouse. At the same time, watering is significantly reduced. Before the next watering, the ground in the pot should completely dry (you can 1 time in 2-3 weeks). On the contrary, it is necessary to spray the flower very often with ordinary water in order to maintain high humidity under the greenhouse. The number of sprayings depends on the room temperature. The colder the less often. Cycron can only be used once a week. At the first watering, the cyclone must be added to the water for irrigation. This stimulates the growth of the root system. After a transplant with a violation of the root system, dracaena lacks moisture. At the same time, intensive watering will lead to decay of the root system. The plant will replenish the lack of moisture through the crown. That is why in a greenhouse they maintain high humidity.

Why did the dracaena drop its leaves? Reason: Wrong watering mode.  In the first case, the amount of moisture is simply not enough for the plant to maintain normal leaf turgor. In the second - there is too much moisture, which led to the decay of the root system. Through damaged roots, the plant also does not receive enough moisture. Increasing the number of irrigations will not solve the problem.

If dracaena lowered leaves due to lack of moisture, what should I do?  It is necessary to place the flower under the greenhouse and conduct regular spraying. It is impossible to sharply increase the amount of watering, as this will harm the roots. Keep the plant under the greenhouse for 3-5 days. Watering the flower should be plentiful, but only after the earth coma is completely dry. Water from the pan must be removed.

Dracaena gets an excess of moisture. As a result, the root system does not cope with an excess of fluid and begins to rot. Damaged roots no longer absorb moisture from the ground, and therefore dracaena lowers the leaves. What to do? First of all, normalize watering. Next, you need to carefully, without violating the integrity of the root system, remove the dracaena from the pot by the trunk. Inspect the roots. If the root system is light yellow or white, but not brown, it is healthy. The plant is returned back to the pot and reduce watering. Watering should be plentiful, but only after the soil has completely dried in a pot.

If the dracaena lowered the leaves and its roots are soaked, flabby and have an unhealthy shade, this indicates rotting. Damaged roots are removed. The plant is transplanted into a new, special, slightly moist soil. Dracaena is placed under a greenhouse. Watering is minimized, and spraying, on the contrary, is speeded up. Can be added to spray water for cyclone. The plant is removed from the greenhouse when it begins to drive out new leaves.

Why do dracaena dry tips of leaves?  Reasons: lack of sunlight, irrigation regime is violated, heavy soil.

Dracaena is a photophilous flower, and therefore its tips of the leaves very often turn yellow due to a lack of light. This is especially noticeable in winter. If dracaena is grown indoors, the ends of its leaves turn yellow, while other care conditions are strictly observed, it is necessary to provide the plant with additional illumination with an energy-saving lamp up to 12 hours. The flower must be placed at the east or west window. If she stands near the south window, then sheltered from direct sunlight. Northern windows do not fit the flower.

You noticed that the dracaena looks bad, the tips of its leaves are drying. What to do in such cases? It is necessary to pay attention to the watering mode. Perhaps the plant is waterlogged. As a result, its root system rots, leaves do not get enough moisture through diseased roots, and therefore their tips dry. Dracaena is watered only after the soil has completely dried in a pot. Watering in this case is carried out abundant, so that the water comes out into the pan through the drainage holes. Water is immediately removed from the pan. Otherwise, the bottom of the pot will not dry out, the roots will rot. You can not put a pot of dracaena on wet expanded clay. To check the condition of the root system, the plant is carefully removed from the pot. Healthy roots will be light. Regular spraying will help the flower. it is possible to add cyclone or epin to water for spraying once a week.

Dracaena dry the tips of the leaves, if the room is low humidity. To do this, frequent spraying of the flower is carried out, a humidifier is placed next to it. During the heating season, do not place the plant next to heating appliances.

Dracaena does not grow, new leaves grow deformed, stems are thinned and extended. Reason: the plant lacks sunlight. Perhaps the flower is in the back of the room where the light does not penetrate, or the daylight hours are shortened due to the onset of autumn-winter. Experts recommend placing dracaena near windows on the south or southeast side of the house, but with mandatory shading from midday heat. To diffuse direct sunlight on the window, just hang a transparent curtain. In autumn and winter, it is recommended to illuminate the dracaena with an artificial light lamp (fluorescent or special phytolamp). In total, the duration of daylight hours for the successful development of leaflets should be 12-14 hours.

With the onset of autumn-winter (from October to March), experts recommend arranging a dracaena dormancy period, upon the attraction of which does not observe the growth of new leaves. To do this, reduce the temperature of the plant (up to +17 ... + 18 degrees), watering is minimized, spraying and feeding are not carried out. During the resting period, the dracaena slows its growth, and therefore, in conditions of insufficient illumination, it does not drive out new, deformed leaves, its branches do not thin out.