These plants aren’t high maintenance once you get their growing conditions right. Springtime is ideal for starting new plants, though you can typically pot nursery plants indoors any time of year. if you have cats or dogs, pass on this plant as dracaena is toxic to both. You can put corn plants outdoors during the summer if they are in a sheltered, somewhat shady location. Protect them against strong winds. Bring the plant indoors once the temperatures start to fall into the 60s F.
Light
The ideal indoor location for this plant is near a window with filtered sunlight. Too little light will result in the leaves losing their color variegation and might stunt the plant’s growth. Exposure to direct sun can burn the plant’s leaves and cause them to wilt. Outdoors, the plant does best in a shadier spot.
Soil
A loose, loamy potting soil mix is the best option for growing corn plants. Make sure the soil has good drainage because its roots don’t do well in standing water.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy during the growing season (spring through fall). Reduce watering in the late fall to winter. However, never let the soil completely dry out. Soil that is too wet or too dry will lead to plant health issues.
Temperature and Humidity
Corn plants do best in temperatures from 60-75 F. Avoid exposing them to temperatures in the 50s F. If you temporarily moved your corn plants outdoors for the summer, make sure to bring them indoors before temperatures reach this point. Maintain humidity levels between 40 to 50 percent, which mimics the plant’s native environment. To raise the plant’s humidity, use a humidifier or place the pot on a tray of water and pebbles. Do not let the bottom of the pot touch the water. You can also mist the leaves regularly.
Fertilizer
Corn plants prefer organically rich soil. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every other month throughout the growing season and feed sparingly, if at all, over the winter.
Types of Corn Plants
Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’: This variety is the most common and features a yellowish lime-green stripe down the center of its leaves.Dracaena fragrans ‘Lindenii’: The leaves of this variety have yellow edges rather than a stripe down the center.Dracaena fragrans ‘Victoria’: This variety is very similar to ‘Massangeana’; a yellow stripe runs down the center of its leaves, but it has smaller, wider, and almost triangular leaves. It is rarely available in garden centers.Dracaena fragrans ‘Lemon Lime’: This variety has leaves with white-yellow stripes around gray-green centers.Dracaena fragrans ‘Limelight’: This cultivar has glossy yellow-green leaves that gradually turn lighter lime-green as they mature.
Pruning
The lower leaves on the corn plant will begin to yellow in approximately two to three years, a leaf’s natural lifespan. Once the yellowing leaves become unsightly, remove them. If the plant grows too tall for your space, cut the tops of the canes; new leaf buds will appear near the cut.
Propagating Corn Plants
It’s best to propagate corn plants in spring or summer, but if you keep your plants indoors in a climate-controlled room, you can propagate these plants any time of year. A great time to propagate this plant is when it starts to grow taller than your room. You can make another plant by cutting the top off the original parent plant. Also, top cutting is a nice way to rejuvenate the leaf growth of the plant. Top cutting or stem cutting is the best method of propagation. Here’s how to do it:
How to Grow Corn Plant From Seed
To enhance germination, soak the seeds in room-temperature water for three to five days. Sprinkle two to three seeds in a small pot of moistened seed starting mix. Cover the seeds lightly with the seed starting mix. Place the pot on a warm, germinating mat and cover with clear plastic wrap. Maintain soil temperature between 68-80 F under a grow light or bright, indirect sunlight. The soil should remain slightly moist. If the soil is too damp, the seeds can rot. Once you notice some growth (it can take as long as four to six weeks), remove the plastic. Transplant once the seedling develops two true leaves into a 3-inch pot using potting soil.
Potting and Repotting Corn Plant
Repot your corn plant every year or two into a slightly larger container (2-3 inches larger and deeper) with fresh potting soil. When you are ready to repot the plant, remove the loose soil around it and carefully lift the plant from its base. Put a couple of inches of fresh soil at the bottom of the new container and center the plant in its new container, making sure not to damage its roots in the process. Fill the space around it with fresh potting soil, but do not pack it too tightly, ensuring the container maintains good drainage.
Overwintering
Bring your dracaena indoors when temperatures start to dip below 60 F. Or, if you have the plant in the ground, you can dig out the root ball (if you have a planter large enough for it) and pot it. If you live in an area cooler than zone 10 and leave the plant in the ground, the plant will die. However, before the first frost, you can take a stem cutting or cut off the plant top, propagate it indoors during winter, and plant it again in spring once the threat of frost is over.
Common Pests
Monitor the plants for spider mites, thrips, and scale, which are a common problem with many houseplants. These plants can cause leaves to look damaged and unhealthy, and you might even notice small insects moving around on the plant. Dust the leaves of the plant regularly with a damp cloth to keep it looking its best and to disrupt pests from colonizing.
How to Get Corn Plant to Bloom
Dracaena fragrans are not reliable bloomers, but when growing conditions are right, and the plant is mature (more than 5 years old), it can bloom one to three times per year. Chances of blooming reduces when kept as an indoor plant. The flower stalks emerge out of the center of the leaf whorl and can grow up to 3 feet long. The flowers look like white spike balls, and as its botanical name suggests, it has a sweet fragrance when it blooms. The scent can smell like a combination of jasmine, lilac, honey, and freshly cut grass. It blooms as the sun sets, each night for about a month. Each bloom drops at daylight, spurring another bloom to open the following evening.
Common Problems With Corn Plant
The corn plant is an easy houseplant to keep once you get the growing conditions correct, namely water, light, and humidity. It also doesn’t like cold temps, high heat, or drafty spots. If any of these conditions are off for a prolonged period, the plant will likely exhibit some health issues.
Dry Leaf Tips
Plants that get too little water or too much dry air can get dry leaf tips and edges. Add a humidifier or mist the plant regularly to increase humidity. Increase the plant’s water, but never let the soil get soggy. Yellowing tips can also be caused by too much plant food or fluoride in the water. Use distilled water to avoid leaf tip burn.
Sudden Loss of Leaves
Too much water and poor drainage can cause a sudden loss of leaves or root rot. Make sure the soil is well-draining and the plant’s pot has several drainage holes.
Dry Patches on Leaves
If you put these plants in direct sun, your dracaena plant may get round dry patches and streaks on the leaves. Move the plant to a spot with less sunlight.
Foul Aroma
If you notice the bottom half of the plant blackening or smelling foul, it has likely developed soft rot, a bacterial infection with no remedy. The plant will start to look and smell like it’s rotting. The plant is not salvageable; discard it.
