Question
Hi Darlene,
I believe I have a Dracaena Janet Craig plant, actually 3 in all. They all came from the same pot that my girlfriend was given by another friend. In the last month, I have noticed that all 3 plants have dry, brown-yellow leaves that are slowly getting worse. The damabed leaves have become withered, and they shrink. I don't want to over water the plant, or underwater them in the dry air. I live in Wisconsin, so right now the winter is such that I can't have the plants outside. I try to keep the apartment at about 70 - 75 degrees. I don't get a lot of direct sun light due to the way my apartment windows are placed. I recently bought a humidifier thinking that the dry air is slowly killing the tropical plants. I'm not sure what to do at this point since it seems that the plants are not getting better, and I'm at a loss of what to do - I don't want to lose them!

If you need pictures, let me know, and I'll do what I can.

Please reply when possible.

thank you for your time.

Steve


Answer
Steve,

Dracaena Janet Craig plants do not like water with fluoride and chlorine in it. Many cities put that in their water. Either start watering your plants with distilled water or allow the water to sit in an open bucket for 24 hours before using it to water your plant and the fluoride and chlorine will dissipate into the air and not damage the plants.

Dracaena Janet Craig plants also like to be alternating wet and dry. They do not like to be constantly moist. That is like sitting in a swamp and they are not swamp plants. When you water you need to water enough that all the soil in the pot is moist. An hour later you need to empty the excess water out of the drain tray under the pot. (If it is in a pot without a drainage hole and drain tray you need to repot it, it is sitting in a swamp!)  Then get some bamboo skewers like you would use for shish kabobs at the grocery store and insert 1 in the soil of each pot. When you think it needs watered pull the skewer out and do not water until the top 3/4ths of the skewer is dry even if i it takes 2-3 weeks for that to happen. It must be dry for a period between watering so the roots can breath and I am only saying the top 3/4ths has to be dry the bottom 1/4th can still be moist and you can water again. Then the plant will get healthy. Just remember it needs those moist and dry cycles. Good luck.

Darlene