Description
Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’, Corn Plant
The Dracaena Fragrans ‘Massangeana’ is also known as the Corn Plant, because of the unique leaves. Great for outdoor areas in zones 10 and 11, it’s also an ideal plant for those who want something indoors. It can grow all the way up to 8 feet, but can be kept a little smaller when used as a houseplant. The Dracaena Fragrans ‘Massangeana’ also makes a great statement piece by front doors or on patios. All types of Draceana are container friendly. This unique corn plant is a great choice for those who want an easy to grow plant that prefers regular watering and full sun to partial shade. The corn plants foliage is filled with distinct green and yellow stripes throughout each cane(stem) that they are grown from. Though it does have white blooms, they are quite rare in any indoor environment and happen only occasionally in its native habitat. The flowers of the Dracaena Fragrans ‘Massangeana’ are very sweet when they do appear. If you’re looking to grow your own you can actually do it quite easily because all you need are cuttings to do so. When growing the Dracaena Fragrans ‘Massangeana’ from cuttings, make sure to set it up somewhere with bright sun. Dracaena Fragrans ‘Massangeana’ was also tested in Nasa’s Clean Air Study and is considered a plant that can remove a variety of toxins from the air. It’s important to note that the corn plant is highly toxic to cats or dogs.
History
The corn plant is a flowering plant species native to tropical Africa, common in Mozambique and Sudan South. You can find plenty of these plants growing in upland regions of tropical Africa at an altitude of 600 to 2,250m.
The term Dracaena comes from the word Drakaina, which is an Ancient Greek word, meaning female dragon. The plant got its name due to its red stems, as the color looks similar to dragon blood.
Care
Home gardeners grow Dracaena Fragrans as large indoor potted plants. As they are tropical plants, they need climate-controlled conditions.
Light
If you plan to keep them in your drawing room, place them near a window for filtered sunlight. Less light can cause color variation in your plants that can impact the plants’ growth.
On the other hand, exposure to direct sun can scorch its leaves and result in wilting. In the case of outdoors, locate shadier spots to place your plants.
Soil
A loamy, loose soil mix is perfect for growing plants. Check that the soil has excellent drainage, as its roots don’t work well in excessive water.
Water
Make sure that the soil is perfectly moist but not too soggy from spring to fall. Minimize watering when the fall arrives till the winter. But don’t allow the soil to dry completely. Both too dry and too wet soil can cause plant health problems, making the watering process a bit challenging for new gardeners.
Fertilizer
Mass cane plant thrives in organically rich soil. Go for a balanced liquid fertilizer, and use it on your plant every month during the growing months. Also, use fertilizers in smaller amounts in winters.
Common Issues
Unfortunately, corn plants are prone to several problems, and with little negligence, it can ruin your healthy plant.
Pests
Keep an eye on your plant for spider mites, scale, and thrips- the most common problems of the Dracaena Fragrans. These pests can damage your leaves and make them look unhealthy.
You can even notice small insects on the leaves and stems. You can dust the leaves regularly with a damp cloth to prevent pests from colonizing and help them look their bests.
Disease
Light brown or reddish spots surrounded by a yellow color signify leaf spot disease or fungus issues. Dead bands or yellow leaves mean that your plant needs to be kept at a warm temperature. Soft rot is another common issue that you can notice in your plants.
The easiest way to fix the spots on the leaves is to use a fungicide. Make sure to follow its directions. But if your plant has started to smell and look like it’s rotting, you can’t do anything to fix it. So, simply dispose of your plant.
Pruning
You may notice the lower leaves of your corn plant getting yellow in two to three years, which is its leaf’s natural lifespan. Once you notice yellowish leaves, remove them.
If your indoor plant has grown too tall for your living room, hallway, or doorway, cut the top of the crane. Don’t worry about new leaf buds, as they will appear where you cut.
Propagation
For healthy growth, you need to propagate your plants in summer or spring. But if you keep dracaena fragrans in your office or home, which are climate-controlled rooms, you can propagate these plants any time of the year.
Note that you can plant another plant by cutting the top of the mother plant. Stem cutting or top cutting is also the ideal way for rejuvenating leaf growth.
Potting / Repotting
The corm plant requires reporting every year or two. Always use large containers with fresh soil for potting. When you decide to repot the corn plant, remove the loose soil in its surroundings and gradually lift it.
Place fresh soil in the container and place your plant in the center. Fill the space around your plant with fresh potting soil, but avoid filling the container to allow drainage.
Robert Corre (verified owner) –
Lovely plant but smaller than I expected.
Bo P. (verified owner) –
This plant was everything I hoped for. It looks even better than the pictures. The team was awesome enough to hold my plant till weather permitted to send it to me as it was too cold for some time. Showing me how much they care about the plants. That means they got love and I like me some loves. I’ll be coming back for more plants.
Laura H. (verified owner) –
The plant is beautiful. It was packaged well for transit. Highly recommend.
Michele R. (verified owner) –
Stunning!
Brian Ruppert (verified owner) –
Big healthy plant,no broken stems and no brown leaves I reccomend this company for all plant needs
Tim –
Hi, what size pot does the large, 3 stalk need?
Paula (verified owner) –
Beautiful plant delivered. Truly enhances our living area
Paul Nawrocki (verified owner) –
Extremely healthy and burgeoning with new foliage. It was superiority packed for shipping and was a delight to unwrap! Great plant & a winning experience, folks!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
MINH TRAN (verified owner) –
Good
Lauren T –
What size pot does the large stump need?
Matthew (verified owner) –
Great plant! Thank you for taking pictures before you ship, what a GREAT IDEA!!!! Thank you for a wonderful experience!
Dylan –
Does large single cane come full grown (4.5-5ft tall)?
Alexandra M. (verified owner) –
I am very happy with my purchase, I will definitely order something else! The plant came in wonderful condition, very beautiful and healthy!
Michael Thomason (verified owner) –
Cathy Russell (verified owner) –
This one is doing well now but I had to add more dirt and baby it a little to get it to stray straight up. Must have gotten knocked around during transit. I do think it will be fine though. So far it’s still green.
Nicole M. (verified owner) –
Great quality, highly recommend! Quickly took care of minor shipping damage and plant arrived exactly as described and super healthy. Thanks!!
Giana (verified owner) –
The corn plant is gorgeous and so vibrant! So tall. The tips of the leaves are browned but it’s very little, just the very tips, and I don’t think it’ll get worse if I take good care of it.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Beautiful plant. Arrived as ordered
Sandra Bowman (verified owner) –
Wonderful addition to my plant collection from PlantVine.
Meryl P. (verified owner) –
Plantvine’s communication was amazing. I live in MA and it was still too cold to ship when I ordered. I got awesome weekly updates until I could receive my plant. It is in my living room now and looks amazing and is super healthy! LOVE it!
Joshua Lopez (verified owner) –
It was worth the wait due to the weather. It’s beautiful and amazing!!!!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
We received a photo of the plant prior to it being shipped. The plant arrived within a couple business days and was in good shape. Yes a few scoops of soil were knocked out of the planter and sitting at the bottom of the box but no big deal there. The plant was left right side up at the door. Very happy with the process, would order again! Thank you!
Adelina –
About how tall are the medium canes?
Nicholas C. (verified owner) –
Awesome plant at a great price shipped quick and free. What more could I ask for? Thanks!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
The plant arrived in great shape and looks fantastic!
Sherry (verified owner) –
A beautiful plant—exactly as pictured prior to shipment. Only one leaf lost through shipping—amazing given the transit distance. My daughter was thrilled with her plant and asked me where I got it from so she could recommend to her friends. Kudos to you on your customer service too for helping me with my inquiries. Thank you!!
Amanda (verified owner) –
The plant is nice. However, it’s not as small as I thought it would be. It was a gift for a friend. She wanted a plant for her desk in her office.
ANTHONY PRICE (verified owner) –
this is my second one from you guys, both are beautiful
Rasheema M. (verified owner) –
Very satisfied.. looks just like the pictures advertised. The plants were packaged great.. thank you. Delivery was fast. I had to repot upon arrival because the careless carrier service had them upside down.. (box saying “THIS SIDE UP”) the soil was everywhere. A few of the leaves were damaged from being bent. Its roots were exposed. After traveling so far, it still arrived in great condition. After repotting and some TLC, it’s looking stronger by each passing day. I’m nurturing it back to great health. I love my corn plant. It’s just gorgeous! Will be purchasing more plants.
Looks so beautiful in my livingroom!