Well a little backround on this tree. It's been at my uncles for the last 20 years or so. it was kept indoors till it got big, not sure how long that took. Anyway the Roots cracked open the plastic container it was holding it in, as it was definitely to small. I moved it into a 5 gallon bucket with some good dirt from the garden, and some not so great dirt as a filler.
The problem now is what insect or what is causing the tree to start having the problems that you can see in this photo album. https://imgur.com/a/gqAnT?gallery
Thanks for the help, as since I like to carry a knife I am being accused of doing it to the tree myself.
I'm located in SoCal.
What's killing this tree? Help Please.
Last edited by Niblazed on Thu Oct 09, 2014 8:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- rainbowgardener
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Your tree is a dragon tree, dracaena marginata. Why do you say it is being killed? It looks pretty healthy except for the chunk of bark missing. Is it showing any other symptoms? Yellowing? Dropping leaves?
Is the area of bark that is wounded spreading? If not, I would think just some mechanical injury, something bumped in to it, etc. Or a cat or dog or some critter chewed it?
Is the area of bark that is wounded spreading? If not, I would think just some mechanical injury, something bumped in to it, etc. Or a cat or dog or some critter chewed it?
Well there's a bunch of flying bugs around the wound area. I thought it was my dog at first, but then the 2nd wound that's not as bad is higher than she would be able to reach. Plus we would see her doing this she's never out there alone. They're small black bugs that have 1 wing, I caught one yesterday, didn't look like a fly.
Also with the big wound, it didn't start off with that little bump in it, it was just the cut. The second higher up wound did appear after the first. Bottom leaves have been dying lost a couple, you can see what's happening to the others in the pictures. Thanks for you're reply.
Also with the big wound, it didn't start off with that little bump in it, it was just the cut. The second higher up wound did appear after the first. Bottom leaves have been dying lost a couple, you can see what's happening to the others in the pictures. Thanks for you're reply.
- rainbowgardener
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It is a dracena marginata. It is also called money tree. The bark is soft and it does look like mechanical damage, more like it was rubbing against something. The bugs look like there is a look of water around the area and they are around because of that and not because of what is going on with the tree. Dracena are pretty tough and can handle quite a lot of damage. The leaves look good and the bark should scar over time. If you want to shorten the tree you can cut the top and plant it, the base will branch. As long as the injury does not destroy at least an inch of bark all around the circumference of the tree, water and nutrients will still be able to get by.
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- Green Thumb
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- Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 1:41 pm
- Location: USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Sorry I didn't see replies to this until now. The tree is still alive. This did all happen after we transferred it to a 5 gallon bucket as the roots broke the smaller pot it was in. The owners of the tree think I did that with a knife since it is such a perfect square. Here is what it looks like now.
You can see that it developed a little butt crack hole but I have not seen any large bugs or anything chewing on it.
You can see that it developed a little butt crack hole but I have not seen any large bugs or anything chewing on it.