How to Grow and Care for Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
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Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) grows best in bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth, moderate humidity and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Dracaena fragrans also called Corn Palm, Striped Dracaena, Compact Dracaena or Cornstalk Dracaena is one of the popular Dracaena varieties due to its glossy, large, green leaves with yellow stripes and its ablity to adapt to a wide range of growing conditions.
Corn Palm sheds the lower leaves as it grows, leaving a bare stem with a cluster of leaves at the top which makes it look like a palm and hence the common name.
Botanical name: Dracaena fragrans
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Common names: Corn Palm, Corn Plant, Striped Dracaena, Compact Dracaena, Cornstalk Dracaena
Origin
Dracaena fragrans has its origins throughout tropical Africa, from Sudan south to Mozambique, west to Côte d'Ivoire and southwest to Angola. It is among the best tropical foliage plants that you can grow in any space.
Size
Corn Palm is a slow grower which will grow to a height of 6 feet and a diameter of about 2 feet which makes it one of the best large low-light plants for the living room as it will stand out in any space.
Flowers
Corn Plant may not flower when grown indoors. However, under the right growing conditions, the mature plant (above 5 years old) may bloom up to three times a year. The flowers look-like white, spike balls and have a sweet fragrance. They are borne on a tall flower stalk which emerges from the center of the rosette of leaves.
Varieties
Several varieties of Compact Dracaena are available. Dracaena fragrans massangeana with its corn-color central band outsells all the others. Other common varieties are Dracaena fragrans lindenii and Dracaena fragrans victoria among others.
Air Cleaning
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Dracaena fragrans is among the best air-cleaning plants which removes xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloethylene from indoor air.
Toxicity
Dracaena fragrans is toxic to both humans and pets according to ASPCA. The leaves contain alkyds which if ingested they may cause vomiting and excessive salivation.
Where to Buy
Cornstalk Dracaena is an excellent addition to your plant collection. You may acquire these plants online from Amazon (Link to Amazon).
Corn Plant Care Guide
Caring for Dracaena fragrans is easy when given the right growing essentials. Corn Plant blossoms in bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 16-280C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Corn Palm requires repotting when the roots begin to grow through the drainage holes. Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat, to minimize pests and diseases, to encourage a compact growth and to rejuvenate growth. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.
Watering
Water your Corn Plant thoroughly during the growing season while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moist through out the season.
Decrease watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but never allow the soil to dry out completely as it can lead to wilting.
Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and death of the plant.
Striped Dracaena is a tropical plant, therefore, water it with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking it. Ensure that the water is free of chlorine, flourides and other chemicals to prevent brown leaf tips.
Light Requirements
Corn Palm grows best in bright indirect light (filtered light). Keep it away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching and death of the leaves. It can also grow in shade but the growth will be much slower.
Where natural lighting is not adequate, you may grow Striped Dracaena under a grow light. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and prevent leggy growth. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Temperature and Humidity
The best temperature for Corn Plant is an average warmth of 16-280C. Keep it away from cold drafts to prevent reduced growth and brown leaf tips and edges.
Corn Palm prospers in average humidity of 50-55%. However, if the air is too dry especially where the room temperature is too high, increase humidity for the plant. To elevate humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pest and disease infestations. Ensure that there is good air circulation to minimize occurence of fungal diseases.
Fertilizer (Feeding)
Feed Corn Palm with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing period to encourage a lush growth. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is reduced and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.
Flush out accumulated salts from the soil regularly by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
Potting Mix
The best soil for Corn Plant should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. All purpose potting mixes are ideal for the plant.
Repotting
Repot Corn Palm at the beginning of the growing season when roots begin to grow through the drainage holes as it prefers to be slightly root-bound.
Use a pot at least 2 in. wider than the tree-trunk. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil. Never allow the roots to sit in soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot. Take a look at these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Corn Palm involves removal of dead and yellow leaves to maintain the plant neat and also discourage pest and disease infestations. As it ages, the lower leaves naturally turn yellow.
Compact Dracaena is a slow grower and does not require regular pruning. To encourage bushy growth (branching), cut the stem at the desired height with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors.
A new sprout of stems will emerge below the cut. This will result in the plant producing several stems instead of having just one stem. The foliage emanating from the pruning, can be used to propagate new Corn Plants. Learn more on how to prune houseplants.
Propagation
Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant) can be propagated in three ways: by air layering, from stem cuttings or from the top crown of leaves.
Learn more on how to propagate Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant).
Corn Plant Common Problems and Fixes
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) problems are plant dying, brown leaf tips, yellow leaves, leaf spots, pests and diseases among others. Read on for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Yellowing leaves
Dracaena Plants are easy to grow but may develop yellowing leaves if the growing conditions like lighting, watering, feeding, temperature and humidity are not met.
Read more on these 14 reasons why a Dracaena leaves are yellowing with fixes.
Pests
Common pests in Dracaena fragrans pests are mealy bugs, scale insects and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it for the pests. Learn how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.
Plant dying
Corn Palm is prone to root-rot which is enhanced by soggy soil. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining. Reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Another possible cause of dying in Corn Plant is exposing it too cold temperatures from cold drafts. Keep the plant away from cold drafts to prevent sudden drops in temperature and maintain an average warmth of 16-280C.
Compact Dracaena may also be dying from accumulation of salts in the soil which may be arising from the water and fertilizers used. Regularly flush out accumulated salts in the soil by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole and use only chemical free water.
Brown leaf tips and yellow edges
Brown leaf tips and yellow edges in Corn Plant are caused by four possible reasons. One possible reason is dry air (low humidity) especially where the temperatures are very high. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity. You may also grow the plant in the humid areas in the home. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second possible reason for brown leaf tips and yellow edges in Compact Dracaena is underwatering. Maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season and slighty moist in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
The third possible reason for brown leaf tips and yellow edges in Corn Plant is chemical accumulation in the soil. Use only chemical free water like rainwater and regularly flush out salts from the soil by running a stream of water thorough the soil until the water comes out through the drainage holes.
The fourth possible reason for brown leaf tips and yellow edges in Stripped Dracaena is cold drafts from windy doors and windows. Protect the plant from cold drafts or place it away from cold drafts to maintain an average warmth of 16-280C.
Brown leaf spots
Brown leaf spots in Corn Plant are due to underwatering. Water the plant thoroughly to maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but never let the soil ball dry out completely.
Bleached dry leaf patches
Bleached dry leaf patches in Cornstalk Dracaena are sunscorch marks due to exposure of the plant to hot direct sunlight. Move the plant to a more shadier spot or protect it from hot direct sunlight.
Leaves soft, curled and have brown edges
Soft, curled and brown edges in Compact Dracaena leaves are caused by too low temperature. Maintain an average temperature and protect the plant from cold drafts to prevent sudden drops in temperature.
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