What Is Wrong if My Anita Plant Is Turning Brown?

The Right Growing Conditions

• The dracaena Anita plant grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b to 11, at 60 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It tolerates low light conditions but prefers bright light and high humidity. Your Anita plant requires a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and little to no perlite in the potting soil to prevent the detrimental effects of fluoride. It prefers moderate moisture, so avoid letting the soil completely dry out as well as overwatering or keeping the soil drenched. In coastal regions, keep the plants away from salt spray.

Effects of Dry Air

• In dry weather or low humidity indoors, dracaena Anita leaves can dry out and turn brown at the edges and leaf tips. To avoid drought conditions, water only when the top inch or so of soil is dry to the touch but still moist in the root zone. Water well but do not soak the soil or allow the water to pool. Costa Farms, a nursery in Miami, Florida, recommends "grouping dracaena Anita with other indoor plants, as they release moisture into the air as they breathe."

No Excessive Fertilizer

• Too much fertilizer can burn the leaf tips and margins of your dracaena Anita plant, causing the leaves to turn yellowish to brownish. Too much fluoride in the soil or fertilizer can kill the leaves. To avoid the eyesore of brown, dead leaves, fertilize the Anita plants every two to four months. Clemson University Extension recommends liquid foliage plant fertilizer or time-release fertilizer pellets that do not contain superphosphate.

Pests and Diseases

• Dracaena Anita does not generally attract many pests but can sometimes host spider mites, which suck the life out of the leaves causing them to stipple and bronze. If the mites are allowed to persist, the leaves will drop. This is more frequently a problem with water-stressed plants, so maintain adequate moisture without allowing soggy or drought conditions. Releasing predatory, beneficial insects such as lady beetles and lacewing larvae can help control the spider mite population. Regularly spray trees with water to wash away any dust buildup that attracts spider mites. Overwatering or poorly drained soil can be the breeding ground for root rot, which discolors the leaves. You can prevent root rot with proper irrigation, letting the soil dry before planting or replanting. Before replanting an area that has suffered from root rot, work the soil well and remove the infected roots.