Easy Tropical Toxic to pets

Corn Plant

Dracaena fragrans

A tall upright shrub with strap-like leaves often edged in yellow or lime green, the corn plant is a timeless indoor classic.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 10 days
Light

Medium light
Humidity

40–50 %
Temperature

16–27 °C

How to care for your Corn Plant

Everything you need to keep your Corn Plant healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Dracaena fragrans is native to the tropical forests of Africa, from Ethiopia to Mozambique. Its long arching leaves, reaching up to 60 cm in length, grow in rosettes atop woody canes, evoking the silhouette of a small palm tree. The 'Massangeana' cultivar, with its central yellow stripe, has been one of the most popular interior decoration plants since the 1970s. Remarkably tolerant of low light and missed waterings, it is a perfect plant for offices and dimly lit spaces.

Watering your Corn Plant

Every 10 days

Allow the top half of the soil to dry before watering. Water thoroughly but infrequently. Very sensitive to fluoride — use filtered or distilled water if possible.

How to know it needs water

Top half of the soil feels dry
Leaf tips turn brown (often from fluoride in tap water)
Leaves droop slightly when thirsty

How much light a Corn Plant needs

Medium light

Medium to bright indirect light. Tolerates low light well but growth slows. Variegated types need more light. Avoid direct sun which scorches leaves.

Direct sun tolerated: No direct sun
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, North-west, West, South-east, South-west

Humidity and misting

40–50 %

40–50% Tolerates average household humidity. Occasional misting or wiping leaves helps keep them glossy. Avoid excessive moisture on the cane/trunk.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 30 days

Feed monthly in spring and summer at half strength. Do not over-fertilize as this can cause leaf tip burn. Avoid fluoride-containing fertilizers.

Recommended feed: Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10), low in fluoride and superphosphate · 2-1-2

Repotting your Corn Plant

Every 24 months

Use a well-draining potting mix. Increase pot size by 3–5 cm. Handle the heavy cane carefully. Dracaenas can be kept in the same pot longer by top-dressing with fresh soil.

When: Spring
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre, pine bark

The tell-tale signs

Roots circling the bottom of the pot
Growth stops or slows significantly
Water runs straight through without absorbing

Pruning your Corn Plant

When the plant becomes too tall or looks bare at the bottom. Cut the cane at any height — new growth will sprout just below the cut. The cut top section can be rooted in water or soil to create a new plant. Old cane sections also propagate.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 12 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 8 in the growing season.

12 J
11 F
9 M
8 A
8 M
8 J
8 J
8 A
9 S
10 O
11 N
12 D

Active growth · Days between waterings

Toxicity

Toxic to cats and dogs. Ingestion causes vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, anorexia, and excessive salivation. Not toxic to humans.

Good to know

The corn plant gets its scientific name 'fragrans' from its intensely fragrant flowers, though it very rarely blooms indoors — an event considered exceptional.
Some Dracaena fragrans specimens can live over 100 years in their native tropical African habitat.

Frequently asked questions about the Corn Plant

How do you care for a Corn Plant?

Water it every 10 days. Give it medium light. Ideal humidity: 40–50 %. Ideal temperature: 16–27 °C. Allow the top half of the soil to dry before watering. Water thoroughly but infrequently. Very sensitive to fluoride — use filtered or distilled water if possible.

How often should you water a Corn Plant?

Every 10 days Allow the top half of the soil to dry before watering. Water thoroughly but infrequently. Very sensitive to fluoride — use filtered or distilled water if possible. How to know it needs water : Top half of the soil feels dry ; Leaf tips turn brown (often from fluoride in tap water) ; Leaves droop slightly when thirsty.

How much light does a Corn Plant need?

Medium light Medium to bright indirect light. Tolerates low light well but growth slows. Variegated types need more light. Avoid direct sun which scorches leaves. No direct sun

Is the Corn Plant toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Toxic to cats and dogs. Ingestion causes vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, anorexia, and excessive salivation. Not toxic to humans. Keep it out of reach of your pets and call a vet if any is swallowed.

Why are my Corn Plant leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Corn Plant?

Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Use a well-draining potting mix. Increase pot size by 3–5 cm. Handle the heavy cane carefully. Dracaenas can be kept in the same pot longer by top-dressing with fresh soil.