Hi Jess, Just let it dry out before you water again. If the plant starts to turn black you have rot. Make sure it's getting adequate light, this plant is pretty easy if allowed to dry out somewhat and given some sun. Only repot if the roots are coming out of the bottom-this will stress it out more. Good luck! Jen

Karla......WOW!!! Your Dracaena marginata is huge. Soon it'll reach the ceiling. Hope you have another spot with higher ceilings. This is how I grow mine. In summer, my marginata is grown like a tropical...during winter, it's cared for as a succulent. Did you mention the material of its container? Clay, plastic? Watering shouldn't be done by schedule. There's two ways to test soil. Insert a long, thin stick deep within soil, to the bottom. If stick comes out clean, without soil/mud, give it a drink. If stick comes out wet/muddy, don't water.. Re-test 4 or so days later. The second way to test soil might be more difficult since your tree is gigantic. Lift the entire pot. lol. I weight 110-119lbs, depending on time of year..when I worked at a plant store, I lifted trees twice my weight. It was a 'x'itch lifting ceramic, self-watering 20" containers. If the container feels light, it's probably dry. The thing is, you'd have to check weight after watering to compare. I wouldn't repot yet. Wait until spring. For one, it'll be less messy if done outside. I don't know your location, but here in IL, Dracaena's slow down growth this time of year. Another reason not to pot. 'Some of the tips turned brown and dry.' Did the previous owners keep marginata in or outdoors? It's possible leaves browned and/or dried because it wasn't used to sun. Even if your tree was in shade, it probably got more light than accustomed. Also, being outside, Dracs need more water. I'd have used at least 1-gallon per drink. More, if roots are tight and water runs through. Which direction is window facing? Anyway, your Drac is beautiful..can't believe you found it on Craigslist. I'm afraid to buy from CL's since the movie came out..lol. Good luck, Toni

That's pretty! Please don't be confused with how this plant (or any Dracaena I've tried so far) can grow in water (as lucky bamboo if D. sanderiana.) That doesn't mean it can tolerate a pot of constantly soggy peat. Dracaenas and parlor palms are sensitive to tap water chemicals. Distilled or caught rain water is good for those if possible. The pot in the upper right corner looks like it's sat in water in a drip tray repeatedly to get those hard water stains. That's not something appreciated by most potted plants, especially during the shorter, cooler days of winter, coming soon...

Hello! This is my first gardenweb post! I live in Toronto, Canada and bought my Song of India abotu 1 and a half years ago. It was about twice as tall as in the picture before some of the top leaves started to brown and drop, while the bottom leaves looked perfectly fine. I think I was overwatering it or it was getting too much sun or something, so I re-potted it, put it further away from my window for a while, and later on I took the plunge and chopped off the top part (i generally don't like cutting my plants although I know it's necessary), completely stopped watering it and basically left it on its own, for I think close to 3 months. To my surprise the remaining leaves neither grew nor dried up, basically dormant. And then a few weeks ago I finally saw some indication of new growth, and slowly started to water it again. As you can see here this new growth is doing quite well. I love this plant and I think it's gorgeous looking. Well, that's my story for now. I also own a myrtle topiary, ponytail palm, a bunch of jades that I propogated with leaves, and a very tall and singular avocado plant I grew from a seed. Hope to hear more about the Song if India here! Cheers.