1/10

Corn

4.5 out of 5 (4 experiences)

Fast grower

Survivor

About Corn

Corn is a warm weather crop and should not be planted until the soil warms up to 60° F. It is one of the taller home garden crops, so locate it where it will not shade out other crops. Corn is wind pollinated, and to ensure adequate pollination, sow seeds in several rows to form a square or on hills with several plants in a circle. Some sweet corns can be adversely affected by cross pollination from other corn varieties.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Zea mays

Genus

Zea

Family

Poaceae

Order

Poales

Also known as

Maize

How to care for Corn

💦 Water

How often to water your Corn

Corn needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Corn in your home

Corn love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Corn does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Corn in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Corn

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Corn: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Corn after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Corn

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Corn is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Corn →

Benefits of Growing Corn →

Common Corn Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Corn →

💦 Water Needs

Corn prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Corn Water Frequency →

Corn Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Corn requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Corn Light Requirements →

Corn Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Corn is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Corn does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Corn →

Best Pots for Corn →

When and How to Successfully Repot Corn →

What Are Healthy Corn Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Corn is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Corn →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Corn grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Corn Lifecycle →

Corn Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Corn →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Corn can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-11a. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Corn Temperature Tolerance →

Corn Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Corn →

When to Plant Corn →

How to Plant Corn →

Where to Plant Corn →

Winter Care for Corn →

Best Companion Plants for Corn →

Is Corn a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Corn can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Corn →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Corn, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Corn →

What Eats Corn? →

Care Summary for Corn

Corn

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Fast grower 3

Survivor 3

Large, lush leaves 2

Browns easily 1

@@Yalla_israel88

6 Plants

268 XP

Fort Lauderdale, FL

10/24/2021

My wife wanted me to grow corn. Lol

Fast grower

Survivor

Browns easily

Corn plant photo by @Yalla_israel88 named Corn on Greg, the plant care app.

@@GiGiof3inTN

124 Plants

4,322 XP

06/27/2021

Accidental growing of corn from cobs left out for squirrels - we will see how it goes! Shoots up so fast!

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

Survivor

Corn plant photo by @GiGiof3inTN named Maizy on Greg, the plant care app.

@@SFRG

35 Plants

6,443 XP

04/10/2021

I didn’t expect to see these growing when I was putting my plants that didn’t make it (plants-seeds——basically like a plant cemetery lol) last winter. I was shocked that they were growing healthy and happy. I’m still trying to figure out if these are ‘corn’ tho. Cuz there are so many plant / flower seeds that ended up there and corn seed is NOT common in my house. I personally think these might be sunflowers but I’ll love them no matter what.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Survivor