You can use tap water for Dracaena but it often causes brown leaf tips over time. The fluoride in most city water builds up in the leaves and kills the tissue at the tips. If you want clean green leaves you should use a better water source.
I used tap water on my Dracaena for the first year I owned it. The brown tips kept getting worse no matter what else I changed. When I switched to filtered water the new growth came in clean within 4 to 6 weeks. The old brown tips stayed but no new ones formed. That one change made the biggest difference in how my plant looked.
Your plant has a real dracaena fluoride sensitivity issue that causes this damage. Clemson Extension says fluoride moves through the plant and piles up at the leaf tips. Once it reaches a high enough level it kills those cells and you see brown crispy edges. Keeping your soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 helps lock up fluoride in the soil so the roots absorb less of it.
A common trick is to let tap water sit out for 24 hours before you use it on your plants. This does help with chlorine since it evaporates from open water. But fluoride stays in the water no matter how long you let it sit. So this method fixes one issue but not the main one that hurts your Dracaena.
Rainwater is the best water for houseplants like Dracaena because it has no fluoride and no chlorine. Set a bucket outside when it rains and you get free plant water that your Dracaena will love. I keep a 5-gallon bucket on my back porch and one good rain gives me enough water for weeks of plant care.
If you don't want to collect rain a basic carbon filter pitcher does the job well. Most filters remove or reduce fluoride along with chlorine and other stuff you don't want in your water. A pitcher costs around $20 to $30 and each filter lasts about two months. That's a small price for leaves that stay green and clean.
Pick the water source that fits your budget and your routine. Your Dracaena won't die from tap water but it will look better with filtered or rain water. Even small changes in your water quality show up as better leaf health over the next few months. Your plant's tips tell you the truth about what's in your water.
Read the full article: Dracaena Marginata Care Guide
