How to Propagate a Corn House Plant
The corn plant (Dracaena Fragrans) grows happily outdoors within USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, where the winter temperatures remain above 30 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in colder regions, a corn plant grows just as happily indoors as a houseplant. The corn plant is a slow grower but can become overgrown if not trimmed occasionally. Aside from making the plant look tidier, regular trimmings (cane cuttings) also serve as a productive way to propagate the corn houseplant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut a stem from your corn plant that measures at least 3 inches in length. The stem should contain at least two leaves. Select any stem and cut it on a 45-degree angle, 1 inch from the main stem, using a pair of pruning shears.
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Fill a 2 ½-inch starter pot with damp peat moss. Dip the lower 1 ½ inches of corn plant stem into rooting hormone powder. Press the lower half of the stem into the peat moss, making sure that any foliage is above the soil line.
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Set the pot in an area that receives at least eight hours of indirect, bright sunlight. Check the peat moss every few days for moisture by pressing your fingers into the soil. If the soil feels dry at a 1-inch depth, add just enough water to moisten it.
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Tips & Warnings
Roots and new growth should begin to develop within six to eight weeks of inserting the cuttings into the peat moss. Transplant the corn plant cutting into a larger pot once it outgrows the starter pot. You will know it needs repotting when you notice roots growing out of the bottom drainage holes of the pot or when the soil in the pot is drying out quicker than normal.
Do not overwater the corn houseplant cutting. Too much water will cause the cutting to rot before it even has a chance to root. Damp soil is all that is necessary.
