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Step 1
LOCATION. Place the plant in a location where it gets light, just not direct sunlight. Best location is to the side of a south or east window. The plant can be directly in front of the window only if the window is covered by a shear curtain. The leaves may start to turn very light green if the plant is getting too much direct sunlight. Also, the plant should not be in a draft, and that includes a breeze from an open window.
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Step 2
WATERING. Fill your watering container and allow the water to set for at least 48 hours before using (this is good advice for any plant). Water the corn plant when the top half of the soil is dry. That may mean watering only every two to four weeks. Because the roots are short and close to the stalk, pour the water close to the stalk to ensure the moist gets to the roots. You may want to use a water gauge to check the soil. Insert the gauge at least two inches below the soil top and close to a stalk. The gauge should read DRY before you add water. Add the water slowly, watching the gauge until it reads “moist.” If you want to use a fertilizer on a healthy corn plant, use a liquid fertilizer and only every other month, applying when watering. Brown tips can frequently be an indication that the water has chemicals in it, like fluoride (but that is not the only cause of brown tips). If allowing the water to set for two days before using does not stop the occurrence of brown trips, then switch to distilled water. Too much water can change the leaf color to yellow.
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Step 3
POT SIZE. The root system of a corn plant is so minimal, that it can live well in a small pot. It actually prefers to be a little root bound. The only reason you should need to upgrade to a larger pot is if the plant is so tall that it will topple over because the pot base is too small. For example, a 9 foot corn plant can do well in a 16 inch pot.
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Step 4
CONTROL HEIGHT. If you like the height of your corn plant, to keep it from growing more, you can pull out the center of new growth on the plant.
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Step 5
CLEANING. Dust on the leaves can be wiped off with a damp cloth. You can also place the plant outdoors in the summer rain or in a bathroom shower to give it a quick rinse off with tepid water. That cleansing event would become a watering session, so perform when the plant is dry.
Comments
dananicole76 said
on 7/11/2009 Goodness! I am so grateful for your guidance! I was doing all the opposite of what this beautiful plant needs! That's why I looked this up. It was clearly unhealthy!
Now I know there is still hope yet!
Although I don't know what you mean on how to control the height by pulling out the center of new growth. Maybe I will know what that means when it gets bigger. It is approximately 2 feet tall right now.
Thanks again!!
JPinHavasu said
on 1/9/2009 My corn plant is 20 ys. old. It had two trunks in the beginning. Only two branches have survived on one truck. The have gotten so big and twisted that they both broke off. Is there anything I can do with the branch leaves. I have them in water. The original trucks are now standing bare but they are still alive. Can I do anything to get the trucks to sprout branches (leaves)?
showpup said
on 7/11/2008 Thanks for this care guide. It's a beautiful plant. 5 stars
AutumnLeavz said
on 7/9/2008 I am so bad with indoor plants. I can do outdoors ones easily but for some reason any that I have inside always die! So thank you so very much for your tips! They are greatly needed! :)