The corn plant (botanical name: dracaena fragrans) is a well-known indoor plant that is grown in many homes. Learn how easy it really is.

I love growing houseplants not only because they bring beauty to my home, but because they boost my mood, increase creativity, reduce stress, and eliminate air pollutants which make for a healthier, happier you. Indoor plants don’t just look good, they make us feel good too!

I also hear this all the time. I don’t have a green thumb. Folks, everyone has a green thumb in one way or another. That’s why I started this series on easy home plants to grow.

I will share my ups and downs with my favorite houseplants with tips and tricks of the trades so that you can grow your own beautiful houseplants. And even more, you can pass this down to others too.

So, let’s get our hands dirty!

history

The corn plant or cane plant is a tropical African evergreen tree popular in Europe as an indoor plant since the mid-1800s and in the U.S. since the early 20th century. They grow fairly slowly, from thick canes or stems that produce long, narrow leaves like stalks of corn, growing upward. This is why the name “corn plant” is common for this plant. They make good houseplants because they are tall and narrow, typically only reaching around 4- to 6 feet tall in containers.

care

Corn plants do best in bright indoor locations protected against direct sunlight, drafts, and air conditioning and heating vents. I’ve normally kept my corn plants next to a window and has always worked well. They do prefer a high-humidity environment, but I have had much success growing them in dry conditions.

I have seen many corn plants growing outdoors in Zone 9 and planted in the ground. They also do well in the summer outdoors in pots, as long as they aren’t in direct sunlight.

Make sure the soil is well drained since the corn plant doesn’t like to have its feet wet for long periods of time. Reduce watering in the late fall to winter and water in warmer weather when the soil is dry.

I use a balanced liquid fertilizer for houseplants sparingly.

pruning

This is a subject that many plant owners have difficulty with. But, the corn plant enjoys being pruned.

When the plant has grown larger than its pot or easily will fall over, as shown in the picture above, it’s time to cut back the leaf stalks. Just take your hand pruners and cut the stalks all the way back to the main stalk.

Over time, new leaf stalks will start to grow back. My plant has been trimmed back now 3 times.

I have never tried to grow a corn plant by seed or by propagation. For me, that’s too much trouble and I can find a new one at any store.

repotting

When is it time to repot? I do this when I’ve pruned the plant because I know the expansive roots have outgrown the pot. I also noticed that roots were growing out of the bottom of the pot.

Lay the planted pot down on an old sheet or blanket, this job does get messy. Pull the plant out of the pot and then cut off about half of the root system at the bottom. Then add new soil and plant as normal. Because of trimming off many roots, you probably won’t see any new growth for some time.

As you can see in the picture above, the new potting soil has made the pruned corn plant grow even better with new leaf branches.

letting the corn plant bloom

Did you know that the corn plant blooms?

When growing conditions are right, and the plant is mature (more than 5 years old), it can bloom one to three times per year. The chances of blooming are reduced when kept as an indoor plant. The flower stalks emerge out of the center of the leaf spiral and can grow up to 3 feet long which happen around Thanksgiving. The flowers look like white spike balls and have a wonderful sweet fragrance when it blooms. The scent can smell like a combination of jasmine, lilac, honey, and freshly cut grass. The fragrance is so strong, that you will be able to smell it throughout your home. 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. I’ve only had my plant bloom one time, but it was wonderful!

common problems

The only problem I’ve had with the corn plant is Brown Leaf Tips. This is due to not watering enough and letting the soil stay dry too long. An easy fix is by just watering when needed. If you have leaves that are all yellow or brown, just cut them off. It’s common for the bottom leaves to turn yellow with age.

I’ve also never had any pest problems with my corn plants. But, I understand that they may get Spider Mites but that’s easy to control by wiping down the leaves well with a damp cloth and keeping them clean.

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