Whats wrong with my corn plant

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
Teriratiu San Jose, CA Sep 20, 2015

They are in a self watering pot that doesn't drain. Is it over or under water and does it look like it may have a pest. What should I do?

Thumbnail by Teriratiu Thumbnail by Teriratiu
Post #10144995
Quote
kittriana Magnolia, TX(Zone 9a) Sep 20, 2015

Looks overwatered, burned, have you been fertilizing it? Stop. Drain the water from the pot, and check the soil if it hasnt been repotted in last few years.

Post #10145000
Quote
tapla Bay City, MI(Zone 6a) Sep 25, 2015

Over-watered. The small spots are from a physiological disorder called oedema. Dracaena probably isn't a good candidate for self watering pots because the soil has to be inherently very water-retentive if wicking is to take place. See my choice for dracaena and all other houseplants:


Al

Thumbnail by tapla
Post #10147174
Quote
MollyBlooms Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Sep 18, 2016

As far as follow-up care, after repotting it and putting it in a non-self-watering pot, you might cut back the stems that are damaged. I once cut a really overgrown (7' tall) corn plants right to the ground, and was surprised to see it come back up. Took a while but the new stems looked much better.

The corn plant also bloomed! The plant was a gift to a co-worker who then left the plant in the office when he went on to another job. For months it stayed very dry, getting water only about once a month or so when someone would notice the poor thing. Then my boss and I, unbeknownst to each other, started watering it regularly and I threw in a few drops of Schultz's Instant from time to time. Lo and behold, one day everyone was commenting about the sweet, gardenia-like fragrance permeating the office, and we traced it back to the corn plant. The tiny flowers were inconspicuous and broke in a cluster that hung down on the window side of the plant, so no one had seen them -- but the fragrance was lovely.

Post #10256223
Quote
kittriana Magnolia, TX(Zone 9a) Sep 19, 2016

MollyBlooms? Orig date posted was 2015...they never came back

Post #10256420
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener Threads

Go to all Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener threads
BACK TO TOP