Identification: Need help with identifying and caring for a very sentimental plant!!

I recently acquired a plant from my boyfriend that he has had since 1999. He purchased it in San Francisco but has no idea what kind it is! He moved away and I inherited the plant, but its dying!
Its got long dark leaves, and its attached to a wood like stalk that used to have leaves but doesn't anymore.
He told me it doesn't need much water and to keep it by a window, but 2 of the 7 leaves have turned brown completely! Please help :(

 

Sounds like some sort of epiphyte but that could be any of thousands of plants. If you post a photo I'm sure someone can offer good advice. The right advice will depend on the species.

 

I hope this is an alright picture, I took it using my computer camera. the wooden stalk is about 1 foot tall.

 

Didn't post. Click on the Go Advanced at the bottom of each post and upload the photo there. If you have difficulty send it to me and I'll post it for you. Steve@ExoticRainforest.com

 

it's a draceana. probably d. lemon lime.

when was it last repotted????? what kind of soil is it in? how much water are you giving and how frequently? does the container have drainage holes in it? is there any white fluffy stuff down at the ends of the leaves where they attach to the trunk? how warm is it where it's being kept? is it getting heat blown directly on it from a heating vent?

 

I would say Joclyn is correct.

Sorry I didn't see your photo since I was looking at the second post, not the original. I also misunderstood the part about the "attached" and was expecting to see a plant attached to a log which would be an epiphyte.

 

When you water it, take the plant out of that outer pot, set it in your sink, and give it a good, soaking, tepid drink. Be sure that the inner pot (the one the plant is actually living in) is draining well. Let water drain completely before placing it back in outer pot.

What size is the inner pot? I suspect your plant may be potbound---roots fill the pot (have they grown out the drainage holes?)to the point where there IS no soil, and therefore no retained moisture. Not good for a Dracaena. When a plant is potbound and in a outer pot like this one (I'm assuming it is decorative and has no drainage holes) the water will rush through and then form a stagnant puddle at its bottom. Also not good.---Did you ever witness your boyfriend water this plant? How did he do it? And what did he mean by 'not much water'?


If you can, post another photo of the Dracaena in just its inner pot so that we can see what size it is. Please give us info in answer to joclyn's questions: levels of light, heat, and are there any insect pests present?



Agree with joclyn on all counts.

 

Looks like Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana', Corn Plant.

 

Your dracaena shouldn't need to be staked, especially if it's getting the right amount of light/water. These plants can grow quite large and can eventually flower too!

 

the plant was re potted a few days ago because the soil was bad, according to my brother. The leaves are connected to the stalk below the soil line. The roots were growing out of the holes in the bottom of the inner pot but after re potting are not. The temperatue in my house is about 68-70 degrees.
My boyfriend would water it whenever he remembered (maybe once a month? or every 2 weeks)by placing it in the sink and spraying it with that spraying sink attachment.
For the last few days my brother has had it under an artificial sun lamp in his room, which i figured was too intense for it.

 

Also, no white fluffy stuff, theres stuff that looks like tree bark a little it though. No insects. Not sure what size the pot is, no direct heat being blown on it, I can find out what kind of soil.

 

Agree about the heat lamp. Too much!!! Dracaenas enjoy bright indirect light, not being roasted.

 

The water isnt draining even though there are holes in the inner pot. here are more pictures of my baby!!

 

if the roots were out-growing the pot, then it was root bound and not taking in enough water - which will turn the tips of the leaves brown and eventually they will die.

since it's been repotted, it should now be getting proper nutrition from the water that you give it. those leaves may die - doesn't matter as new ones will grow and replace them.

i'd have left the area where the leaves are coming out of the trunk above the soil line. not all that big a deal, tho, i don't think.

you may see more leaves sprouting from various spots on the trunk.

water thoroughly when the soil is dry down an inch or two. looks to be an 8 inch container; maybe 10. so, that should need water every 3 weeks or so. maybe a little longer with that heat range in the house. check the soil and if it's still too moist, hold off a few days and check again. if still too moist, wait again and then recheck.

 

Do you think it needs a bigger pot?

 

what's it in now? i was taking a guess on size.

you gauge size of container by the root ball - there should be at least an inch of space (and no more than two inches of space) between the roots and the sides of the container.