So I got a mass cane to put inside a few weeks ago and it's fine but clearly isn't doing great. However my research into why has not yielded a concrete course of action on how to better it's life. In the pictures I included you can see the ends of the leaves are getting brown. When I first got the tree it had a few brown ends, but the people at the store (lowes) said that meant it just needed some more water (and a google search confirmed this). I trimmed the ends, put it in a pot with drainage, watered it and put it under my grow light (the only place in the apartment to put the tree was far enough from the nearest window that I feared not enough indirect light would reach the tree, so it is under a grow light. I know mass canes don't like direct sun, but the light is only on for 45 minutes [mechanical outlet timer] at it's lowest intensity). The brown ends returned though and the top soil became very dry so I figured that clearly I wasn't watering enough. In an effort to ensure the soil throughout was moist enough, I gave it enough water to leach a potted plant of this size and when the water finished coming out of the catch at the bottom I returned the tree to it's sport. I decided as well (being paranoid about it drying out) to leave the water in the catch so as to also promote some bottom watering in the soil. There was still no change, brown ends returned after clipping them so with some more research I figured that the water could be suffocating the roots (which didn't make complete sense to me since I new the roots didn't reach all the way down to the bottom) and I got rid of all the water at the bottom hoping that could aerate things and let the roots breathe. No change, brown ends returned so maybe I'm overwatering I think. So I leave the tree alone, see if tings will improves with soil that is still moist when you stick your finger in. After 4 or 5 days now, things have not improved. My research into the problem isn't yielding any other good options of what it could be, so I turn to the community.

to the forums mvecchione!
It's only been a few weeks so it hasn't had a chance to respond to your care. Leave the light on for 6-8 hours a day if possible. It won't burn it since it's so dim. Check the moisture of the soil once a week, no more. Give it a good soak and remove the excess water. The brown tips aren't that unusual, especially on new plants. They're adjusting to non-greenhouse conditions of lower light and humidity.

CalPolygardener said: to the forums mvecchione!
It's only been a few weeks so it hasn't had a chance to respond to your care. Leave the light on for 6-8 hours a day if possible. It won't burn it since it's so dim. Check the moisture of the soil once a week, no more. Give it a good soak and remove the excess water. The brown tips aren't that unusual, especially on new plants. They're adjusting to non-greenhouse conditions of lower light and humidity.

More light? Everything I've looked up says they don't like direct light. They get some indirect light from the nearest window.

Direct sun is too intense, but grow lights are okay. They can handle very bright light from a window too. 3' is far enough away to prevent burning.

The care for this plant is not accurately conveyed by the commercial growers. If given adequate soil mass in an adequately sized pot, this plant absolutely can thrive in 6-8 hours of full South Florida sun, which is pretty intense. That means, it will certainly enjoy your grow light for 6-8 hours a day.

Interesting, Okay. Well I'll crank the time on the mechanical timer for the light. Is there any issue though possibly with elements in the water? or the transferring into a new pot to begin with?

As long as you don't use a water softener tap water is okay. Transplanting is no biggie as long as you use a decent potting soil.

DItto all advice so far
Sometimes with plants you have to 'stay the course' of what you know is right and give the plant time to adapt.

A few weeks probably isn't long enough yet to see what changes you made are/aren't working.
Whatever's causing the browning took a while to develop and will likely take longer to go away.

Agree, great advice so far.

First impression was that's an awesome looking plant!

Only thing I'd suggest is cutting the brown tips off, when needed, at a more natural leaf angle.

Cutting parallel to the main stem or removing damaged tissue and cutting back to healthy tissue catches the eye, a spear point doesn't to most.

They'll both die back and need further cutting regardless, but I think they look much better if you just assume the leaf will be gone soon and shape it accordingly in the meantime.

Second nursery job, tip from the owner 30 years ago.