Overwatering
Wet soil plus yellowing lower leaves points squarely at overwatering — the fastest way to lose a Dragon Tree.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
Dracaena marginata is drought-tolerant and wants its soil to dry well between waterings. When roots sit in soggy mix they can't take up oxygen and begin to suffocate and rot, so the plant drops its oldest, lowest leaves first — they turn soft and yellow before falling, and the whole plant can decline if it isn't caught.
How to fix it
Stop watering and let the soil dry out well. Slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots — healthy ones are firm and pale, so trim any brown, mushy roots with clean scissors and repot into fresh, fast-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. From now on, water only when the top 2–3 inches feel dry; a Dragon Tree is far happier slightly dry than wet.
What fixes it
- A soil moisture meter — A moisture meter removes the guesswork — only water when it reads dry a few inches down.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Dragon Tree care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this