Dracaena arborea Troubleshooting: Watering, Light, and Meter Reliability

Common Issues

• Water meters are unreliable. Use finger test: water when top ⅓ of soil feels dry.
• Tip burn and terminal leaf death indicate root stress—usually from over/under watering or hard water.
• Low light (6 ft from north window) slows growth and reduces water uptake.

Corrections

1. Move plant directly in front of the north window (unobstructed).
2. Switch to distilled/filtered water if tap water is hard.
3. Water only when top third of soil is dry to touch.
4. Do not repot—current 13″ pot is likely fine.

Recovery Signs

New healthy growth at the top within 4–6 weeks indicates success.