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Cornstalk Dracaena

4.4 out of 5 (536 experiences)

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

About Cornstalk Dracaena

The protective resins inside cornstalk dracaena are in Dragon’s Blood, a bright red pigment, varnish, medicine, incense, and dye that has been used across ancient cultures for thousands of years. This plant rarely blooms, but when it does, its flower blooms at night and emits smells that attract night pollinators, like moths. 🦇

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Dracaena fragrans

Genus

Dracaena

Family

Asparagaceae

Order

Asparagales

Also known as

Dragon Tree, Corn Plant, Twister Dragon and Dracaena Kristi

How to care for Cornstalk Dracaena

💦 Water

How often to water your Cornstalk Dracaena

Cornstalk Dracaena 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 Cornstalk Dracaena in your home

Cornstalk Dracaena can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Cornstalk Dracaena

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Cornstalk Dracaena: 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 Cornstalk Dracaena after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Dracaena

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Cornstalk Dracaena is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Cornstalk Dracaena →

Benefits of Growing Cornstalk Dracaena →

Indoor Care Guide for Cornstalk Dracaena →

Outdoor Care Guide for Cornstalk Dracaena →

💦 Water Needs

Cornstalk Dracaena thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Cornstalk Dracaena Water Frequency →

Cornstalk Dracaena Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Cornstalk Dracaena can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing 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 🏡.

Cornstalk Dracaena Light Requirements →

Cornstalk Dracaena Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Cornstalk Dracaena is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

💨 Humidity

Cornstalk Dracaena enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Cornstalk Dracaena Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Cornstalk Dracaena is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Cornstalk Dracaena →

Best Pots for Cornstalk Dracaena →

When and How to Successfully Repot Cornstalk Dracaena →

What Are Healthy Cornstalk Dracaena Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Cornstalk Dracaena grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Cornstalk Dracaena →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Cornstalk Dracaena to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Cornstalk Dracaena is native to Africa to Southern Asia and Australia.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Cornstalk Dracaena bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Cornstalk Dracaena Flowers →

Is Cornstalk Dracaena an Annual Plant? →

Is Cornstalk Dracaena a Perennial Plant? →

Cornstalk Dracaena Pollination Guide →

Common Cornstalk Dracaena Flower Problems →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

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

Cornstalk Dracaena Lifecycle →

Cornstalk Dracaena Size Guide →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Cornstalk Dracaena can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Cornstalk Dracaena Temperature Tolerance →

Cornstalk Dracaena Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Cornstalk Dracaena →

When to Plant Cornstalk Dracaena →

How to Plant Cornstalk Dracaena →

Where to Plant Cornstalk Dracaena →

Winter Care for Cornstalk Dracaena →

Best Companion Plants for Cornstalk Dracaena →

Is Cornstalk Dracaena a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Cornstalk Dracaena can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Cornstalk Dracaena →

🍂 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 Cornstalk Dracaena, since they are very 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 Cornstalk Dracaena →

What Eats Cornstalk Dracaena? →

Care Summary for Cornstalk Dracaena

Cornstalk Dracaena

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 6ft 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

Survivor 284

Large, lush leaves 253

Browns easily 151

Fast grower 139

Easy to propagate 40

Blooms easily 23

Pest magnet 14

@Ivory

2 Plants

123 XP

03/25/2022

You do not have to water it often

Easy to propagate

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by Ivory named Harmony on Greg, the plant care app.

@@PoshCidergum

6 Plants

758 XP

Austin, TX

03/18/2022

It needs lots of sun
It’s a long survivor

Survivor

Blooms easily

Large, lush leaves

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @PoshCidergum named Big Ben on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Spoiledrotten

30 Plants

5,976 XP

Grand Forks, ND

03/11/2022

Seems to be easy to keep alive.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @Spoiledrotten named Yellow on Greg, the plant care app.

@@TubularSedum

2 Plants

1,160 XP

02/23/2022

pretty and easy to care for. it can handle kind of a lot and grows pretty easily

@@TubularSedum

2 Plants

1,160 XP

02/23/2022

pretty and easy to care for. it can handle kind of a lot and grows pretty easily

@@FitBeans

3 Plants

48 XP

Willingboro, NJ

02/03/2022

It will last for more than 20 years.

Large, lush leaves

Easy to propagate

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @FitBeans named Naomi on Greg, the plant care app.

@@samuelwines

63 Plants

1,406 XP

Brunswick, Victoria

02/02/2022

It's like your very own mini palm tree of joy.

Large, lush leaves

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @samuelwines named Sherlock on Greg, the plant care app.

@@MariansOasis

84 Plants

35,412 XP

01/23/2022

Careful to not give too much direct sun. Leaves get bleached out/yellow looking.

Survivor

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @MariansOasis named Lemon Lime on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Skyann

0 Plants

51 XP

01/23/2022

Hasn’t died yet and I forget to water it quite a lot. Have had it about a year now and it does brown at the tips very easily (for me). But it’s definitely a survivor, I am very surprised it has lasted as long as it has For my aunt to have taken it out one of our neighbors trash and given it to me cause it was already dying. I need to repot it and put it in new soil but haven’t yet so we’ll see if it can live threw that too. Other than that very easy and good plant to have.

Survivor

Browns easily

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @Skyann named Greg on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Grammy08

25 Plants

779 XP

Milaca, MN

01/18/2022

Large variegated leaves

Large, lush leaves

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @Grammy08 named Anne on Greg, the plant care app.

@@SharonOasis

16 Plants

4,601 XP

New York

01/12/2022

Not sure what to do with this. I had it in a dark space and it seemed to grow. But Greg said it needed more light. Now it is not growing.

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @SharonOasis named Drac on Greg, the plant care app.

@@BoozyBillsBabe

46 Plants

9,015 XP

Baltimore, MD

01/11/2022

Idk this one is just not doing it for me. It feels like it has never grown but also doesn’t die. Meh.

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @BoozyBillsBabe named Candace on Greg, the plant care app.

@@PlantyAmes

19 Plants

8,467 XP

01/03/2022

This plant get very big and looks nice, but browns super easily! I’ve changed the lighting and locations so many times trying to figure out what it wants, but I’m constantly finding browned tips 1-3 inches long. Hard to figure this one out.

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Browns easily

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @PlantyAmes named C-3PO on Greg, the plant care app.

@Saundra

72 Plants

4,389 XP

Cleveland, OH

01/01/2022

Shiny leaves;easy carr

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by Saundra named Mr.Warneky on Greg, the plant care app.

@@tango

37 Plants

6,385 XP

12/31/2021

Beautiful plant!! Has some problems with brown spots but very hardy and survives no matter what! Awesome guy, just about to grow his first stalk and looking great. Def recommend.

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Browns easily

Fast grower

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @tango named Maverick on Greg, the plant care app.

@@BJoyce

57 Plants

10,343 XP

Orlando, FL

12/21/2021

It’s not really growing but I’m sure it would if I tried. I’ve got it a few feet from the window in a spot that needed to be filled - it has just remained neutral which is fine by me. I don’t need all my plants growing super fast sometimes you just want a plant that will coast at a C average

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @BJoyce named Lola on Greg, the plant care app.

@@rwags

55 Plants

5,391 XP

12/12/2021

These have been tough for me. Can’t figure out their water or light requirements and their leaves are browning all the time.

Browns easily

@@rwags

55 Plants

5,391 XP

12/12/2021

Have moved this guy more times than I can count. Just repotted and didn’t realize how big their roots will get!

Survivor

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @rwags named Pineapple 🤍 on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Theplantkiller

4 Plants

86 XP

12/05/2021

Tho the plant is beautiful it brown very easy

Large, lush leaves

Browns easily

Pest magnet

Cornstalk Dracaena plant photo by @Theplantkiller named Cornelious on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Melaninpapiii

6 Plants

374 XP

Chicago, IL

12/01/2021

This plant has been through hell and a hand basket and she has grown so darn much! She is a pandemic baby and has blossomed despite constantly being moved and dropped and rocked! Looking for a plant to inspire confidence? Pick her!

Survivor

Browns easily

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves