

















Cornstalk Dracaena

4.4 out of 5 (542 experiences)


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
Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena
Asparagaceae
Asparagales
Also known as
Dragon Tree, Corn Plant and Twister Dragon

How to care for Cornstalk Dracaena

How often to water your Cornstalk Dracaena

every 12
Cornstalk Dracaena needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 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
12

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Cornstalk Dracaena in your home

a window
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 đź’Ş.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Cornstalk Dracaena in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Cornstalk Dracaena

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.

Cornstalk Dracaena is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!
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.
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 🏡.
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 prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
Soil
Cornstalk Dracaena 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!
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!
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
Cornstalk Dracaena produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.
Growth Pattern
Cornstalk Dracaena will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Cornstalk Dracaena can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11a. Find your local hardiness zone here.
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.
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!
Care Summary for Cornstalk Dracaena
Cornstalk Dracaena
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 6ft from a window

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












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.







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
