We recently purchased a dracaena that appears, at this time to look healthy. However, when watering it this morning I noticed that the end near to the stalk appears almost as if singed. I pulled it from the stalk and it seperated quite easily. My first thought is that I have overwatered it. In addition, there are now little, tinyblack flies popping up here & there. Any information on how to proceed is greatly appreciated.
About the first problem I have no idea. But the little flies are likely fungus gnats. If you look at the soil there are likely little tiny white "worms" creeping about. Those are larva. The eat the fungus that grows on the organic matter in your pot; however, they also like to eat tender roots! This is a bad thing. I has this problem very badly a while ago before I figured out what it was. The solution is very simple. Let the top inch or so of soil dry out between waterings--this kills the larva. What I do now is water the plants from the bottom by setting them in a half full sink. Then the top stays dry. I'm pretty new to houseplants myself and learned all this the hard way :/ I too overwatered because I liked my plants and wanted to "play with them". DON'T!! overwatering is the single greatest killer of housplants. During summer the soil will dry much faster and it won't be as much of a problem. Look for the worms and get back to me. Michael
Globalist is right about the watering .. most plants can stand to be a lil dry .. if they are wilting then of course water .. just google fungus gnats and how to get rid of them .. i dont think they are a big problem to ..i just couldnt think of hte name of them earlier so i didnt reply . :) also repoting in new soil will help get rid of them to .. Marn
