How to Care for Corn Plants

Corn plants (Dracaena fragrans or fragrans) are from the agave family. The species Dracaena fragrans is green, but cultivars come in other colors. Corn plants are some of the most widely popular indoor plants because of their foliage and their ability to thrive in conditions that other plants would find intolerable.

Often, several canes of varying height are grouped together in the same container to add height and visual interest to the display. Corn plants can reach a maximum height of 20 feet. Though they are hardy, even corn plants need the occasional bit of TLC.

Things You'll Need

• Water (without fluoride)
• Soil
• Fertilizer (also without fluoride)
• Nitrogen

Instructions

Water

1. Keep the soil slightly (but never completely) dry, even more so in winter months. Water up to three times per week in the summer and reduce that frequency to a single watering per week in winter.

2. Water near the canes as the roots do not spread widely. Proper watering helps prevent root rot. Overwatering can cause leaves to lose their luster or wither. Too little water can cause the leaves to dry and drop.

3. Use water without added fluoride. Water is one of the most important influences on the health of corn plants. Fluoridated water can be toxic to corn plants.

4. Misting of the leaves is recommended in dry environments. Try leaving water open to the air to evaporate nearby if the plant develops issues due to misting.

Basic Care

1. Offer the plants bright, but indirect sunlight; full direct sun can burn the leaves. Some cultivars can adapt to low light levels. Corn plants prefer a temperature from 65 to 90 degrees.

2. Use a well drained soil, made to retain moisture and with a high organic matter content. Add sand if needed to help weight heavier plants. The soil composition is particularly important because of the restrictive watering schedule.

3. You can prevent top-heavy plants from tipping over by using a heavier pot, weighting the pot with heavier soil mixtures or using spacers to limit movement and provide additional support. Induce the plant to root higher up the cane (so that it may be planted deeper).

4. Keep the soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Fertilize quarterly, but add nitrogen monthly.

5. Watch for pests. Spider mites and mealy bugs are the usual pests, but even these are not common. Water according to directions to reduce the possibility of other pest infestations.

Tips & Warnings

• Never lift a corn plant by the stalk to move it as this can injure the root.

References

• University of Florida--Dracaena
• Botanical Online--Dracaena Fragrans Corn Plant
• Denver Plants--Corn Stalk Plant

Resources

• Michigan State University-- Agavaceae (Agave Family)