Janet Craig Dracaena: Fluoride Toxicity from Tap Water

Janet Craig Dracaena: Fluoride Toxicity from Tap Water

A reader’s 5-foot Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’) in an 11-inch pot has brown spots and dark burnt tips on leaves. One stalk twists. Watered weekly with 28 oz city tap water; soil dry before watering. New growth appears since moving home.

Diagnosis: Fluoride Sensitivity

All Dracaenas are highly sensitive to fluoride in municipal water. It causes brown/black spots that look like burns.

Fixes

• Switch to distilled water (cheap at grocery stores).
• In winter, water even less—every 2 weeks if cloudy. Let roots breathe (dry out) for a couple days between waterings.
• Empty saucer 1 hour after watering (use turkey baster if pot heavy).
• Move slightly away from east window—Dracaenas don’t like intense sun.