It is not without reason that the dragon tree (Dracaena) is one of the most commonly cultivated houseplants in this country: the plant with evergreen leaves is generally quite easy to care for, but in case of doubt, yellow leaves should definitely be seen as an alarm signal.
Why does my dragon tree have yellow leaves?
Yellow leaves on the dragon tree can be due to natural growth processes or care errors such as too frequent watering, waterlogging, iron deficiency, temperature fluctuations or root injuries. In rare cases, a disease such as soft rot can also be the cause.
Under certain conditions there is no need to panic
Newbie dragon tree gardeners should first be aware that the thin trunk (€82.00 on Amazon) of the dragon tree, like many palm species, gradually deteriorates due to the leaves of the crown dying off extended. Leaves that occasionally turn yellow and then fall off are completely normal if they are the lowest leaves and a sufficient number of green leaves remain at the top of the plants. In this case, you don't have to take any special measures and you can simply pick or cut off the yellow, dead leaves.
Care errors as a reason for yellow leaves
If an excessive number of leaves on a dragon tree turn yellow at the same time, this can indicate care errors. In these cases, the yellowing tends to start from the tip of the plant and yellow spots sometimes form on the leaves. The following reasons may be responsible for this:
- Waterlogging at the roots of the dragon tree
- Iron deficiency or an oversupply of fluorine due to unsuitable fertilizers
- Temperature fluctuations due to direct sunlight, drafts or dry heating air
- Root injuries caused by repotting
In many cases, watering too frequently is the reason for yellowing of the leaves.
Yellow leaves as a sign of illness
Yellow leaves on the dragon tree are not always due to care errors. Sometimes a disease such as so-called soft rot (Erwinia carotovora) can also be the reason for this. Signs of this would be a fishy smell and mushy stem ends. Sometimes offshoots of infected plants can still be rooted successfully, but due to the subsequent outbreak of disease on the offshoots, it is better to dispose of infected specimens straight away.
Tip
In rare cases, yellow leaves appear when there is a lack of water as a sign that the plants are drying out. If the soil in the pot is very compacted, it may make sense to water the plants once a week using the dipping method.