My corn plant’s leaf tips are beginning to turn brown. Why is this taking place, and how can I stop it?
The dracaena, often known as the corn plant, is a great houseplant since it takes minimal maintenance and can withstand the dim lighting that is common in our homes and workplaces.
I enjoy how the plant’s woody trunk is topped with a cluster of strap-like leaves, giving it a tropical appearance.
75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the day and 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night are ideal for corn plants. They only require fertilizer every six months, and the soil should be kept constantly moist but not saturated. Although dracaena may survive in low light, they thrive in direct light that is brilliant. Try to keep them out of direct sunlight as that will scorch the leaves.
Your issue is most likely brought on by irregular watering. The tops of the leaves will turn brown if the soil dries out too much. Naturally, you also don’t want to overwater, particularly in the winter when growth has stalled, since this might result in root rot. Scratch into the soil about an inch deep; if it is dry, it’s time to water, according to a reliable system. Every seven to ten days, check on your plants, and keep in mind that plants may require more frequent watering during the winter months when our houses are frequently hot and dry.
Make sure the water is just warm to the touch when you water, not too hot or too cold. Your plants will thank you and consume more of it as a result. It’s also critical to understand that too much chlorine might be harmful to your plants. By just filling the watering can the day before, you can easily de-chlorinate your water because the chlorine will evaporate over night.
A plant naturally produces a few yellow leaves; there is no cause for concern. If the plant has been relocated, this is particularly true. However, if it suddenly grows a large number of yellow leaves, say five or six, you might be overwatering the plant or it might be lacking in light.
The ease with which maize plants can be multiplied is one of their interesting features. Simply cut off the green top of an existing plant, plant it in a fresh container with clean potting soil, and water it in to make a new plant. When the parent plant is in an active development period, such as in the spring or summer, this should be done. The old plant will produce new growth where you made the incision, I know this sounds extreme.
Should I remove my corn plant’s brown tips?
Yes, you can safely remove the brown tips on your corn plant. The ideal approach to accomplish this is to remove the majority of the brown tip while leaving a little brown border that doesn’t cut into the healthy tissue. If you do cut into healthy tissue, the brown tip will probably return eventually.
Use clean scissors or trimming tools to reduce the possibility of your corn plant contracting a disease.
How frequently do I need to water a maize plant?
Little maintenance is needed for the corn plant. Long leaves on the corn plant grow from a stalk that resembles a wooden cane. The name comes from the way the variegated leaves resemble maize foliage. The foliage being used has a dark green center with a yellow or cream center.
Low light is ideal for the corn plant, making corners and hallways the ideal places for it. Moderate irrigation is required for the corn plant. When the soil is dry or once every 7 to 10 days, water deeply, touching down 1 inch into the ground. The corn plant’s canes and roots are in close proximity to one another. Additionally, the root system is relatively shallow, therefore while watering, water should be applied close to the base of each cane to ensure that the roots can effectively absorb the liquid. Reduce the amount of watering you give the plant if the leaves start to droop or turn yellow. You can be watering it excessively.
The majority of pests that other houseplants are susceptible to are typically not as bad for the corn plant. Spraying the plant with a soapy solution made of water and dish soap should solve the issue if your corn plant does get afflicted with bugs or mites.
There are numerous toxic houseplants, including this one. Keep it away from kids and pets for your own safety.
How much light is necessary for a Dracaena corn plant?
You may effectively develop a dracaena corn plant by following these basic maintenance guidelines.
The ideal temperature range for the dracaena corn plant is 65 to 70 F. (16-24 C.). Although the corn plant can handle full to low light, it thrives in soft shade or filtered or indirect sunshine. The leaves will be scorched by too much light.
When the soil is too dry, the leaf tips dry out and turn brown, so water as necessary to maintain the potting soil equally hydrated. Be careful not to overwater, though. Dryer is preferable to soggy. Winter watering should be less frequent, but never let the soil get completely dry. Use water that isn’t fluoridated to water your corn plant. Before watering, leave the water out overnight to allow the majority of the chemicals to vaporize.
During the spring and summer, fertilize the Dracaena corn plant once a month with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer for indoor plants. During the winter and fall, avoid fertilizing the plant.
How can I cheer up my corn plant?
The maize plant is the ideal low-maintenance exotic addition to your house, regardless of your level of plant expertise or where you are in your green collection.
Mick, Nick, and Rick, our corn plants, are a big family with common requirements. For a drop of sunlight no matter the weather, learn the fundamentals of caring for these houseplants.
- Wait until the soil is fully dry before watering corn plants because they don’t require much water.
- Several times per week, spray the air to increase humidity.
- Most types of lighting are sufficient for corn plants to develop; however, avoid direct sunlight on them to prevent sunburn.
- In the spring and summer, fertilize once a month with liquid fertilizer.
- Repotting your plant every few years will aid in its growth.
Droopy, Yellowing Leaves
The yellowing and sagging of your corn plant’s leaves is a sign of dehydration and may also indicate root rot, which is brought on by keeping the plant in standing water.
As with most house plants, the best way to water corn plants is to use a plant pot with lots of drainage holes, a soil mix that drains well (peat-based works well), and to water the plant only until the water runs out of the drainage holes.
Never let water collect at the bottom of a plant pot since this promotes root rot.
Brown Scorch Marks on Leaves
Brown patches, which are typically accompanied by a yellow outer ring around the brown spot, are a sign of sunburn, which is brought on by exposure to too much direct sunlight.
Moving the plant away from the window and exposing the leaves to direct sunlight is a simple solution. You can also use a curtain or UV-filtering window film to block sunlight.
If you’re not sure if your plant is getting enough direct sunshine, watch how the leaves are growing.
It is preferable to respond quickly to avoid leaf burn if they begin to grow inward, or curl rather than stretch outward.
Brown Tips on the Leaves
Aside from that, it’s also likely that nearby drafts or indoor appliances, such dehumidifiers, are drying up the inside air and altering the plant’s regular growing circumstances.
A maize plant will often grow differently if its growing conditions are altered. Consider recent changes if this has occurred.
Did you relocate the plant to a less-lit location? Maybe close to a heater or an entrance close to a drafty door?
These kinds of modifications typically vary the humidity the plant is accustomed to, which may cause the plant to grow differently.
Low Humidity
When the relative humidity is maintained between 40% and 50%, corn plants thrive inside. Higher or lower can result in growth issues comparable to those brought on by insufficient watering.
Wintertime indoor humidity levels are typically lower, necessitating more frequent watering of the plant.
Moving the plant to a better position, such as far from drafty areas like those near doors or windows or away from heating appliances, would be two potential alternatives.
You can use a humidifier to manage the humidity in a space or an indoor humidity gauge to keep track of the humidity levels.
Additionally, softly mist the leaves periodically rather than giving the plant more frequent waterings.
Fertilizer Use
Like most plants, maize plants benefit from receiving enough nutrients to thrive, and as is frequently the case, water alone isn’t enough.
During the growing season, from April to October, fertilizer should be used once a month; however, it should not be applied during the winter, when the plants are semi-dormant.
Soil and Potting Requirements
To avoid the plant being waterlogged, which can eventually cause root rot, the plant pots used for indoor corn plants should contain at least one drainage hole.
Most indoor plants can benefit from a peat-based potting mix since it has adequate water retention but still drains well enough to keep the soil from getting damp or the plant’s base from being waterlogged.
Should I remove the dracaena’s brown tips?
You have complete discretion over whether to remove the brown tips from your dracaena plant. The worthless tips of these hideous Dracaena leaves are equally as ugly. With a clean, sharp pair of scissors, you may remove brown tips, which are dead plant debris. Take care because doing so could result in uneven and visually unpleasant leaf ends on your Dracaena.
When cutting out brown tips, be careful not to cut into healthy leaf tissue. To prevent overcutting the leaf, which can cause further browning of the leaf, it is better to leave a tiny margin of the brown leaf next to the healthy leaf tissue.
Planting instructions
The most common way to raise corn plants is in pots. You should pick the smallest container that will accommodate the plant because it like to have its roots bound. Make sure the pot has drainage holes since corn plants cannot tolerate soil that is wet. Use lava rock combined with soil or a loose, loamy potting soil mix to guarantee adequate drainage.
Corn plants can tolerate a wide range of lighting conditions, but they thrive in mild, indirect sunshine. Selecting a location that is protected from drafts is also crucial.
Watering and nutrients
Depending on how much light they receive, corn plants need to be watered once every one to two weeks. Water just when the top inch of soil is dry after checking your corn plant. Fluoride and boron, which are frequently present in tap water and can result in discoloration or stunted development, are substances that corn plants are susceptible to. You ought to use distilled water as a result. Fertilizing corn plants is typically not necessary, but if you do decide to, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning
Most of the time, you won’t need to do anything to your corn plant other than aesthetic pruning. After two to three years, leaves usually start to yellow; at this point, they can be removed to make room for new growth. At the nodes where the leaf emerges from the branch, prune the leaves. Since corn plants can get pretty tall, you might also need to prune your plant to keep it from taking up too much room. You can shorten the plant’s height by horizontally cutting off the top section with garden shears.
Pests and diseases
Keep a watch out for typical houseplant pests like mealybugs, thrips, scale, and spider mites. Infestations can be avoided by routinely dusting plant leaves. Dark residue on leaves, slowed development, and discolouration are indications of pest infestation. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can be used to treat the majority of infestations.
Although there are not many diseases that affect corn plants, environmental variables including salt buildup in the soil, temperature changes, and fluoride in the water can cause discolouration.
Light
Although it thrives in moderate and indirect light, the maize plant is remarkably tolerant of most lighting conditions. A plant that is exposed to bright direct sunshine will develop more quickly, but its leaves may also turn pale or burnt. If you place this plant in a bright room, try to cover the windows with curtains or blinds to filter the light and give your plant the greatest chance for a healthy growth. To avoid chlorosis and bleached-looking leaves, a specialist fertilizer might be helpful if this wasn’t possible and the plant was exposed to a lot of direct, strong light.
Low light conditions cause corn plants to grow more slowly and their leaves’ hues to fade, sometimes to the point where the yellow stripe is hardly noticeable.
Place your corn plant in moderate natural sunlight, ideally in a north-facing window, to help it thrive.
Humidity
The maize plant benefits from excessive humidity as a result of its tropical habitat. It will, however, function flawlessly in homes with moderate humidity. This plant is quite gregarious because it thrives when placed close to other plants, which raise humidity levels. You can spray the plant with a fine water mist to counteract any effects of low humidity on the plant, which may manifest as browning leaves.
Temperature
The ideal temperature range for maize plants is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The leaves droop and turn a light gray or brown tint when the temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the plant away from open windows in an effort to protect it from the chilly breeze.
Keep the plant away from windows that receive direct sunshine during the warmer months because it could get too hot there. As an alternative, use a curtain to help cool the room down and filter the light. The leaves of a maize plant may curl inward on themselves or begin to point in the direction of locations with greater shade when the climate is too hot for it. If you see this, your plant is trying to protect itself from the sun and you should transfer it to a position where it will be more protected.
Propagation
Because it is typically simple and trouble-free to produce viable shoots, the corn plant is an excellent plant for propagation.
Wait till spring to take your cuttings if you want to multiply your corn plant. This is because the cutting will keep growing as the original plant will still be in its growing season. Use a sharp knife or pair of shears to trim between two and five inches from a healthy stem that has buds. Make sure the buds stay above the soil line when planting the cutting in a fresh pot with fresh soil. Water the cutting right away, and take further care of it as required. You might also use rooting hormone on the cutting to improve your chances of success, although it’s not necessary.
Repotting
To keep the corn plant healthy, it should be repotted every year. Lift the plant out of its existing container, taking special care not to harm the roots, and remove the surrounding soil. After that, put the plant in a larger pot to give it more room to grow during the following year and cover the base with fresh potting soil. The fresh soil shouldn’t be compacted too firmly because this will prevent proper drainage.
Care through winter
Although low humidity is common in homes during the winter because of indoor heating or naturally low temperatures, the maize plant prefers high humidity levels. By lightly spraying the leaves with a water spray to enhance humidity or setting the plant pot on a tray with stones and water, you may easily maintain a healthy plant. Around the plant, humidity will be produced when the water evaporates.
Remember to maintain a constant temperature throughout the winter, preferably above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and definitely not below 55. Even within the optimal range, if temperatures vary too much, the plant will exhibit symptoms of distress.
How often should I repot a corn plant?
When repotting your corn plant, you only need to go up one size because these plants grow slowly and prefer to be root-bound. Every two to three years, once the roots of your corn plant fill the container, you should repot it. Lift the plant from its existing container and carefully remove the surrounding soil, being careful not to harm the roots. With care, add dirt to the new pot without packing it down too firmly.
How do I propagate a corn plant?
Spring is the ideal season for maize plant propagation. Cut 2 to 5 inches from a healthy stem with buds using a sharp knife or shears. Make sure the buds stay above the soil line when planting the cutting in a fresh pot with fresh soil. Water the cut as soon as possible. You might also use rooting hormone on the cut end to improve your chances of success, but it’s not necessary.
Are there different varieties of corn plants?
Yes. Corn plants come in a few different types. Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana,’ which has dark green leaves with a yellow-lime stripe in the centre, and Dracaena fragrans ‘Lindenii,’ which has yellowish leaves and a dark green stripe, are the two most popular types seen in garden centers. White stripes run in the middle of the leaves of Dracaena fragrans ‘Victoria’ maize plants, which are less prevalent at garden centers.
Should I mist my corn plant?
Corn plants require a reasonable quantity of humidity to flourish because they are native to tropical climates. Your corn plant can benefit from a regular water spray to stay healthy. Another way to maintain ideal humidity levels for your corn plant is to set the pot on top of a drip tray that has been filled with stones and water. The humidity levels around the plant will increase as the water evaporates.
Are corn plants toxic?
Although corn plants are not thought to be hazardous to people, if children consume their leaves, the alkaloids they contain may irritate their stomachs. Cats and dogs, as well as other common domestic pets, are poisoned by these plants. Their leaves contain saponins, which are poisonous substances that, if consumed by animals, can result in vomiting, increased salivation, depression, and dilated pupils. To prevent all of these problems, keep maize plants out of the reach of youngsters and pets.