How to Grow and Care for Corn Plant (Dracaena)

Common Names	Corn plant, dracaena, false palm
Botanical Name	Dracaena fragrans
Family	Asparagaceae
Plant Type	Broadleaf, evergreen, shrub/tree
Mature Size	15–50 ft. tall, 3–10 ft. wide outdoors; indoor plants can grow up to 6 ft. tall
Sun Exposure	Partial
Soil Type	Moist, well-draining, loamy
Soil pH	6.1 to 6.5 (Acidic)
Bloom Time	Late fall and then again in late spring; nighttime bloomer
Flower Color	White, yellow
Hardiness Zones	10–12 (USDA)
Native Area	Africa (tropics)
Toxicity	Toxic to dogs and cats

Corn Plant Care

Corn plants are usually grown as large potted plants indoors since they are tropical plants that require climate-controlled conditions. You can put corn plants outdoors during the summer if they are in a sheltered, somewhat shady location. Bring them indoors once the temperatures start to fall into the 60°F range.

• Plant corn plants in a well-draining, rich potting mix.
• Place corn plant in bright, indirect light; avoid direct sunlight.
• Protect corn plants from drafts and heat by moving them away from cold or drafty windows, air conditioners, and heating vents. A humid environment is preferred.

Light

The ideal indoor location for a corn 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 thrive in temperatures from 60°F to 75°F—so avoid exposing them to any temperatures below this range.

The plant’s natural environment is humid, so maintain humidity levels between 40 to 50 percent for optimal growth. To raise the plant’s humidity, you can place this plant in your bathroom if you can provide adequate lighting in there, place a pebble tray underneath your plant’s pot, or place a humidifier nearby.

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.
• ‘Lemon Lime’:Dracaena fragrans 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

Corn plant leaves don’t need a lot of pruning, but you can always cut the tops of the canes if your plant has grown too tall for your space. Otherwise, remove yellow leaves so your corn plant can focus its energy on creating new leaves.

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.

Top cutting or stem cutting is the best method of propagation. Here’s how to do it:

1. Snip the top of the plant just below the leaf line with clean hand pruners. Include one node (round white bump on the stem). For a stem cutting, take an 8-inch piece.
2. Place the cutting in a jar of room temperature water, so half of the cutting is submerged and the other half is uncovered.
3. Place it in a warm, partially sunny spot. Watch for root growth at the leaf nodes underwater and some leaf growth at leaf nodes at the top end.
4. Top off the water every few days as it evaporates. Every other week, change the water entirely to discourage algae or bacterial growth.
5. Once the stem produces roots over 1 inch long, pot the rooted end in moist, peat moss. Place it in a warm, partially sunny spot.

Alternatively, you can plant a fresh-cut stem cutting in moist peat moss and wait for new leaf growth. It will likely root, but you can’t see the root growth, unlike the clear jar of water, so you won’t know if it’s making progress. Propagation is more successful when rooting the stem in water.

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°F to 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 to 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 an inch or two 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 is 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 prevent 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. However, the chances of blooming are lower if your corn plant is kept indoors. 

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 they bloom.

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. If any of these conditions are off, you may see some of the following issues.

Leaves Turning Yellow or Brown

If you find the leaves on your corn plant turn yellow or brown, there may be something wrong beyond basic leaf decay that occurs in the lifecycle of a leaf. The most likely cause is either too much sun exposure (brown), overwatering (yellow then brown), or possibly a nutrient deficiency (yellow). Reassess the plant’s light, soil moisture, and fertilization schedule and adjust accordingly.

Leaves Curling

Curling leaves on your corn plant can be caused overwatering or underwatering, or tap water with an excessive amount of minerals (let water sit for an hour before using to allow things like chlorine to dissipate). It can also be caused by excessive heat or dry air, so check to make sure the plant isn’t near any heat vents or getting too much bright light. 

Leaves Drooping

If you notice your corn plant leaves suddenly drooping more than usual, it might be caused by sudden exposure to extreme heat or cold temperatures, or possibly root rot or underwatering (though that drooping would come on slowly, not suddenly). 

Dry Leaf Tips

Corn plants that get too little water or too much dry air can get dry leaf tips and edges. Add a humidifier 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 corn 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 direct sunlight.

Foul Aroma

If you notice the bottom half of the corn 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, and it should be discarded.