Easy to Grow Plants Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans): Plant Care and Growing Guide – House Plants Expert by Elyssa Goins 8 months ago by Elyssa Goins Elyssa Goins is an experienced house plant hobbyist who maintains over a hundred plants. She is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mother of four. She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has a published study in the National Social Science Association, and loves to talk about her love of plants. For the past twenty years, she's been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you. Published: August 25, 2023Last Updated on December 8, 2023 This article was fact checked. Helpful: 100% Share 0FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail 603 Table of Contents Toggle Corn Plant CareDescriptionFoliageFactsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Conclusion ✔ This article was fact checked by Nadia Saleh MS Botany The Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) is a well-known indoor plant that is grown in many homes and offices within the US, UK, and Europe. There are a few D. fragrans varieties that display different types of leaves such as the D. fragrans ‘Massangeana’, D. fragrant ‘Lindenii’, and D. fragrans ‘Victoria’. The one with the common name corn plant or cornstalk is the D. fragrans ’Massangeana’. https://youtu.be/tGb9QZs8YzA?si=S4G5tzuedhyYnsge Corn Plant Care Temperature:Temperatures from 60°F – 75°F are ideal. Under 50°F is going to harm the plant which may become noticeable if the leaves begin curling. Try and avoid the plant being near cold drafts, which will also cause harm.Light:A good mix of sunshine and shade is ideal for this Dracaena, but hardly any direct sunlight. Although it grows quicker and better in bright light you’ll also find it survives and grows well enough in low-light conditions.Watering:I would advise a grower to keep the soil slightly damp to the touch and in the winter slightly dry. Don’t use cold water as it will shock the plant.Soil:Most good drainage potting soil mix types are fine to use as long as it has good drainage.Fertilizer:From April until September use a balanced liquid fertilizer that’s diluted – once every 2 – 3 weeks, whilst it’s growing.RePotting:I would suggest repotting once every 2 -3 years and a pot one size bigger if it’s becoming terribly pot-bound. Slightly pot-bound is fine. A new container is ideal with drainage holes in the bottom. The corn plant thrives well in the standard commercial pot mix.Humidity:Normal room humidity levels are fine.Propagation:These are quite easy to propagate from tip or stem cuttings that include a node in a jar of water, best done in spring or late summer. You can also cut a new or old rosette and re-plant it. After replanting keep the soil moist and mist the leaves which will encourage the plant to grow. A tall plant can be propagated using the air layering method.Pruning:You will find the lower leaves on this plant turn yellow after a period of time which is normal, and the leaves on this plant only have a life span of 2 – 3 years anyway.Remove the lower leaves when they begin to yellow. You can also cut the top of a cane (stem) when it has reached the height you wish it to grow up to and re-plant the cutting.Pests:Corn Plant Problems include scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, and thrips are the most common pests for the corn plant.The leaves are attacked by these pests causing discoloration and eventually death of the leaf. To treat these pests, wash the leaves and wipe them down using an insecticidal soap or Neem Oil. Description If you’re a grower needing a houseplant for a centerpiece in a room or a focal point, this is one of those types of species that looks the part. Once it begins to mature and grows over 4 feet in height, it makes D. fragrans, an ideal office or hotel plant. It also looks perfect in large living rooms and hallways. What’s great about growing a corn plant as well as how attractive they look is, they’re fairly easy to care for and maintain – like many other Dracaena plants. How it looks D. fragrans is a slow-growing, perennial shrub, consisting of tall, unbranched, woody stems or canes with rosettes of leaves. This houseplant grows with one or more canes (stems) and then produces new stems and a crown of leaves near the top of the cane. These canes can grow 4 to 6 ft or more as indoor plants or they can be cut at the top as soon as they reach a suitable height. Foliage The most popular types of leaves on the Dracaena fragrans can be green on the outer edge and yellow in the center (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’), or yellow and green striped edges with green in the center (Dracaena fragrans ‘Lindenni’). The broad, glossy green, lanceolate leaves of D. fragrans arch over and sit nicely within a rosette. The evergreen leaves of corn plant grow about 2 ft long and 3 inches wide inside a container as a houseplant. Ann Minner Flowering The corn plant produce tiny white flowers and orang-red berries in its natural habitat, but it’s not likely to bloom indoors. The round headed flowers appear at terminal panicles. One of our Facebook group members shared this picture of her blooming Corn Plant! The flowers open in the evening and have a pleasant aroma. It’s the foliage that’s the real attraction for this plant but all the better if yours flowers! Removing toxins The Dracaena fragrans was a houseplant used in NASA’s clean air study which proved to remove a considerable amount of toxins from the environment. Easy to grow The corn plant is fairly easy to grow and quite tolerant of neglect (i.e., low light levels and lack of water), although it will start looking unattractive when neglected. The worst thing to do with this plant is overwater it or let it stay in direct sunlight for too long, otherwise, it’s a tough cookie. Facts Origin:Tropical Africa.Names:Corn plant or cornstalk plant (common). — D. fragrans (botanical/scientific).Max Growth (approx):4 to 6ft or more as indoors.Poisonous for pets:Toxic to cats and dogs. View on AMAZON Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How much sunlight do Dracaena Corn Plants need? Be sure not to expose this plant to too much direct sunlight, it can damage the leaves. Any area of light shade or indirect sunlight is great. How often should I water it? Once every one to two weeks is recommended, but this varies depending on the size of your plant. Just make sure that the top layer of soil is moist during the summer months and slightly dry during the winter. Why does my corn plant have brown tips and edges? This is caused by inconsistent watering – it means your plant needs more water. Should I cut off the brown tips of my Corn Plant? If you have any completely dead leaves, start by cutting these at their base. Then, trim off the brown tips and make sure you follow the watering recommendations to prevent this in the future! What are the main things to look out for when growing a Corn Plant? Overwatering and exposure to both cold temperatures and high heat. If you let your plant live in any of these conditions for an extended amount of time, you will notice a decline in your plant’s health. How fast does the corn plant grow? Fairly slow, so don’t worry about it taking over your house at any point. Fertilizer and the correct watering and sunlight conditions will ensure maximum growth speed. How can I tell if I’m overwatering my Dracaena Corn Plant? The leaves will start to yellow and droop. You may also notice root rot or molding soil. Conclusion This tropical African evergreen is aesthetic and bright, making for a great decorative piece. Once they have matured and grown, their care requirements reduce significantly and their tall, narrow stature means they make great house/office plants, allowing you to pop them in corners and take up minimal amounts of space. Their canes can grow over 6 ft indoors, but you can cut them if they get too tall for your space. While these plants bloom in the wild, they are unlikely to flower inside. Although it’s still a possibility that your corn plant will grow the odd flower, its gorgeous foliage is the main thing that makes these plants so attractive. The Dracaena Corn houseplant is aesthetic, easy to care for, and air purifying, the only downside is that they are toxic to pets, so if your furry friends are allowed to roam free, this plant may not be the best plant suited to your house. This plant is super laid back: it only needs fertilizer every 2-3 weeks from April to September; it has no fussy humidity requirements unlike a lot of plants; it’s not picky about soil types and you don’t need to re-pot for a matter of years! So, if you have a busy lifestyle, but still want the benefits of keeping plants in your home, the Dracaena Corn Plant is a great choice for you! References Dracaena fragrans, North Carolina Extension Gardener, Plant Box. NC State Extension. Dracaena fragrans, Missouri Botanical Garden. Eckret, S., Dracaena. Harvey County Extension Agent. Horticulture News. Dracaena, 1999. Factsheet, Home and Garden Information Center. Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans), Gernal Plant Information. Plant Database. Was this helpful? Submit Cancel Thanks for your feedback! Elyssa GoinsElyssa Goins is an experienced house plant hobbyist who maintains over a hundred plants. She is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mother of four. She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has a published study in the National Social Science Association, and loves to talk about her love of plants. For the past twenty years, she’s been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you. Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail previous post Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema): Plant Care and Growing Guide – House Plants Expert next post Peperomia House Plants (Peperomia): Plant Care and Growing Guide – House Plants Expert 0 0 votes Article Rating Subscribe Login Notify of new follow-up comments new replies to my comments Label Name* Email* Website Δ Label Name* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 20 Comments Oldest Newest Most Voted Inline Feedbacks View all comments Mark 1 year ago I received one when my mother passed. It is gangly and tall. So I wanted to learn if I can revive it. Your site has been a wonderful start on our journey (corn plant and me). I will repot in larger pot to start. Ak 1 year ago Help my corn plant just droops not brown or yellow just looks old and tried Well it is old about 8 or 10 years old I only give it filter water just replanted it still looks sad Mary Lloyster Reply to Ak 1 year ago Hi, Ak! You don’t need to worry about your Dracaena corn plant; it is the same as mine. I thought it would die, but thankfully those brownish-yellowish leaves are a sign that the old leaves will fall off and new ones will bloom. Their leaves look sad, but they are not, and they live a hundred years. Actually, they will be living longer than us hahaha! Allyson Costello Reply to Ak 10 months ago Also, now that spring is here, I’ve been adding 3 drops of liquid miracle gro plant food drops w/chelated iron (which is just liquid house plant food) to the water in a 1.5qt watering container. I give this to my houseplants each time I water them & the leaves have become very green & strong. I’m not sure you still have yours but in case you do lol. Mary Ann jarmulowicz 1 year ago I have two corn plants which flowered this year. I have a photo and would be happy to share but did not know how to upload to this message box. Mary Lloyster Reply to Mary Ann jarmulowicz 1 year ago The House Plant Experts are glad to hear about your corn plants that flowered. Enjoy growing with your plants. Matthew Olson 1 year ago Hi. I have a Dracaena Corn Plant that is 30 years old. I’ve had it for 15 years. And the previous owner had it for almost 16 years. It stands just a bit over 5′, and is still growing. I water it every two weeks, and haven’t transplanted it in ten years. I love this plant! What’s the oldest that you have heard of? I’d love to send pics, but I couldn’t find the click for it. Thank you for reading. Mary Lloyster Reply to Matthew Olson 1 year ago Hello, Matthew Olson! Thank you for taking the time to read the House Plant Experts page. We hope that in this way we can help you know your beloved plants better. It is such an honor that you will share the update on your Dracaena corn plant with us. It is advised to keep the soil slightly moist to the touch in the summer and slightly dry in the winter to continue the good condition and healthy growth of your 30-year-old Dracaena corn plant. The House Plants Experts look forward to hearing about your plant updates. Grow more! pat 1 year ago how do I take slip off plant Mary Lloyster Reply to pat 1 year ago Hi Pat! Thank you for giving some of your time to read the House Plants Experts page. Early in the day, when the plant stems are still wet, take cuttings. Use cuttings as soon as possible after placing them in a plastic bag to prevent them from drying out. If you want to take a cutting, pick a strong side stem that has no flowers and cut a portion that is 5 to 10 cm (2-4 in) long, just below the leaf gap. Thanks for the time, Pat. Lor 1 year ago Hi Jessie, I have a dark green corn plant (almost 30 years old), I have cut half of it down a few times to make new plants (as the original already grew up to 8 ft tall). But now my 2 foot tall re-plant has a baby shoot of leaves growing from underneath the earth at the stem and its leaves are growing up straight about half a foot already. It has been growing for 2 months now – it is Jan 2023 and I live in Montreal, Quebec. I don’t know if I should just leave it until summer or cut that side stemming leaves shoot now and re-plant that one too. Also, the top middle of the 2 foot re-plant has stopped growing green leaves and it is looking like it is changing into the stem beige colors. Thanks so much for your help. Elyssa Goins Admin Reply to Lor 8 months ago Definitely wait until spring and it starts growing again, sounds like a thriving plant, congrats! Michael Silva 1 year ago Hi, I have a corn plant that must be about 5 to 6 years old and it stands about 6ft. with 3 trunks all the sudden the lower part of the plan the leafs are turning brown and hanging it’s been a real nice looking plant I love it I have in doors not much light in between doors and get some wind draft the only thing that has change is that we had a cold front and have use the furnace more the vent are high on the wall, I’m not able to check wetness of soil for it’s in lava rock don’t know if is all rock or soil on the bottom and it’s planted in small pot,. so when I water I do it slow and see when it comes out in bottom, can you help I sure love this plant, I love reading you column. take care. Michael Mary Lloyster Reply to Michael Silva 1 year ago Hi, Michael Silva! If the leaf of your corn plant is turning brown, it is probably due to inconsistent watering. If the soil dries out too much, the tips of the leaves will turn brown. Of course, you don’t want to overwater either, especially in winter when growth has slowed, because this can lead to root rot. You can safely remove or cut off most of the brown tip, but leave a thin margin of brown without cutting into the healthy tissue. If you do cut into healthy tissue, it is likely that the brown tip will recur in time. Do not worry because your corn plant will surely recover from the brown tips. Once they turn brown, those dead tip cells can’t be revived, but quick corrections can help restore the rest of your plant to health. Marybeth tobon 9 months ago I need some help….my corn plant is believe it or not ….47 years old it’s huge and it really needs to be cut down as it’s hitting my ceiling,but I’m not sure how to do it….any suggestions thank you. Elyssa Goins Author Reply to Marybeth tobon 9 months ago Now that’s incredible! Well believe it not, you can cut the main stalk wherever you like. It will generate a couple starts at the tip and even get fuller. The cuttings can then be propagated to make another plant if you are that ambitious. Congrats and such an accomplishment, you must be a great Plant Mom. joan langston Reply to Elyssa Goins 7 months ago Elyssa, should I start the new cutting in water or soil? Thanks again joan langston 7 months ago Mary, I sort of have the same problem as Marybeth. albeit my plant is not that old. We have 10 foot ceilings and the plant is touching the ceiling. When I cut it off, do I root in water or soil? And how far up do I cut it? I am guessing above the hard stem but just at the leaves and softer stem. Thank you. Joni Langston Elyssa Goins Author Reply to joan langston 7 months ago Joan, You can plant to cutting directly in soil and it will root. The cut spot is wherever you choose, it will send off a couple new shoots at the cut point, even in the hard stem area. Ann 7 months ago I’ve had my corn plant for almost 3 years and wow was I surprised when I went to look at it a month ago. There were all these crazy pods on a stem and I didn’t know what they were. Last night I went down to see and I could smell before I got there. It’s sooo unique!!! I can’t wait to see tonight!
