Dracena is a houseplant that can cope with most home conditions, but it also has its winter weaknesses. In the colder months, the tips of its leaves often start to turn black and it looks tired. The problem is usually not a disease, but inappropriate care, especially watering.
Dracena belongs to those that survive almost anything. Nevertheless, she also has her weaknesses, especially in winter. That’s when most owners run into a problem. The ends of the leaves start to turn black and the plant looks tired. The reason is usually not a disease, but inappropriate watering. At the same time, properly managed care during the cold months can keep the dragon fruit fresh and healthy until spring.
On video fromSee Plant House Garden on YouTube about the problems of dragonfly care:
Why do the ends of the leaves turn black?
Blackening of leaf tips is a fairly common problem with dragon fruit. It most often appears during watering, when the roots are standing in water, or when the air is too dry. In winter, the growth of the plant is slowed down and the watering should correspond to it . Overflowing or insufficient evaporation of water from the soil leads to stress, which is manifested precisely by the black ends of the leaves.
“I recommend taking housemaids into the bath once a week, showering them, letting them drain and putting them back in the pot, this will benefit them,” advises florist Simona Görtlerová.
Proper watering in winter
Dracaena needs less water in winter than in summer. The soil should be moist but not wet. It is ideal to water only when the top layer of the substrate has dried. Use lukewarm standing water, water that is too cold or chlorinated stresses the dracaena and promotes blackening of the leaves.
Another trick is watering evenly over the entire surface of the flower pot and draining any excess water. If the plant is standing in a bowl with a saucer, never let the water stand to avoid root rot.
Additional care that helps
In addition to proper watering, it is important to provide the plant with suitable light. Ideally a bright place without direct sunlight. During the winter, the dracaena can be wiped occasionally with a damp cloth so that the leaves breathe and are not dusty. It is also a good idea to control the air humidity, dry air from the heater promotes the drying of the tips of the leaves.
Proper care of dracaena in winter is not difficult. The key is less water, tepid standing water and control of substrate and air humidity. If you follow these simple rules, the plant will remain healthy, the leaves will not fall apart, and blackening of the tips will be minimized. Dracena can thus survive the cold months and will be ready for further lush growth in the spring.
