So this thread will be about reviving some of my plants..sometimes got to rescue them from myself too
So starting with my Dracaena sanderiana.
I have had this plant, Dracaena sanderiana since Feb 2008, just growing in a glass container with water gel beads: photo not too centered..I was trying to find any old photo I had, glad I took one in this frame
Then we moved to our new home in Oct 2008, and it has stayed in that fireplace area for the next 6 years. There were two of them, one has just kept growing taller, while the other one did not really grow good, which was my mistake, I think I may have added something some light fertilizer, and that is how I realized it does not need it at all, and is more harmful even.
June 2011 photo - the one with a curlier stem is the oldest one...the other one with just a straight stem was newer
March 2012 photo: both still doing good, nice upright growth, thriving leaves
In 2014 though, both plants are not doing good..started with the one with the straighter stem. Have tried changing the water and beads, but still continues to decline. Yellowing creeping from below and leaves are just struggling or unable to grow. Roots are there but for some reason so sick: tried to leave it alone and see maybe it was just doing some seasonal adjusting.
Mar 2014 photos
Eventually the other Dracaena with curly stem also started to exhibit that yellowing stem too:
The growing leaf part is still okay, just exhibits typical brown tips which often happens, but I am getting antsy about the creeping yellow, I am left with just a very small part of green on the upper stem.
After watching several videos and reading other online articles..I did some chopping, cleaned the containers, got a new set of water gel beads and stuck there the cut off growing leaf part: I am not sure if my timing to do this is right since it is Fall going into winter soon. I would have loved to wait for Spring, but I do not think the plant can wait that long anymore, so just went on to chop the leafy part and the green part of the stem: I also tried to do the same to the other plant, but that one is more far gone..so just got to throw it out and just concentrate on this remaining one.
October 2014
Now left with the yellowing stem and some upper green part, I chopped off the green part and got some melted candle wax to seal the part of the green stem where the leaves were growing from before, then I took a smaller container with water gel beads again and stuck the remaining green cutting there.
I was trying to see where to best place this little vase with the stem cutting while waiting for roots to form..knowing like most plants trying to form roots need to be away from direct light:
I think too dark here:
So ended up here, under my lamp which is only open at night, very diffused and during daytime there is just diffused light from the windows and sliding doors since it is not facing those: and you can see in this photo the tip with the white candle wax. The green wax was an old cut the plant had when I first obtained the plant.
Update this Nov 2014
09Nov2014 - I see there are some new growth on the side..I think those are little roots trying to form...interesting seems way up higher and not at the wet line level. But it is not pushing out yet..just there trying to poke out.
30Nov2014:
Finally saw a new root has grown at the lower tip..my hope is rekindled..this little plant cutting is fighting for its life! I would really be reassured if it manages to grow a new leaf soon. It is rather cool inside my home now..temps at 65F. But I am glad there is some positive growth...so will just continue to wait and observe.
The green leaf cutting is still okay so far..as expected it is dropping the older yellow leaves, but the existing new leaves are doing okay from the center, though no new growth yet. But it is still alive.
When I was researching how to help this plant, a video I saw mentioned only the leafy part can be saved or propagated, and the remaining stem will not do anything. I did not agree with that, and as I have seen, the stem will still try to grow new roots..however, I just do not know if it has enough energy to push any new leaves, since my remaining stem cutting is very small. But I am keeping my fingers crossed. This would be my own experiment again..and learning as I go. I should have done the cutting the first indication that the stem is yellowing..but I waited too long. Just got to be patient now....this plant is like a favorite friend in need of my attention now.
