Tony O’Neill , expert nurseryman and advantageously - selling author of the famous “ Simplify Vegetable Gardening , ” “ compost Masterclass , ” and “ Your First Vegetable Garden , ” combines lifelong passion and expert noesis to simplify gardening . His missionary work ? Helping you cultivate a roaring garden . More on Tony O’Neill
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Dracaena fragransis a pop houseplant , a slow - mature , broadleaf , evergreen bush native to tropical Africa . The habit is palm - like with age , and the corn plant occasionally produces fragrant flowers that open at nighttime . D. fragransbelongs to the asparagus fellowship .
While the aboriginal plant is not variegated , several loan-blend admit disrobe version where either interior or exterior of the folio has linear white or lighter immature variegation . pop hybrids let in :
Table of content
Caring Overview – Dracaena Fragans
Dracaenas are broadly speaking rugged , carefree houseplants with a robust and tropic appearing and are great additions to homes or office . Many stomach low - light conditions .
Dracaena Fragrans Potting Soil
As mentioned in the tabular array above , Indian corn plants need well - draining soil rich in constitutional subject . Human physiology allows us to go without food for three weeks , without water for three days , and without air for three minutes .
flora roots , like man , necessitate access to piddle and air ; if submerged in water for an protracted time period , roots will swim , and your plant will die .
Balancing Moisture Retention and Aeration
A cautiously grade stain helps pee drain to the bottom of the pot , where it builds up a footling before escaping through the drainage holes . The fractional deviation between added and drained water supply amounts to the piss retained in the soil .
If the soil is healthy , it contains micropores that snare air even when flooded , permit it to retain air , an all important component of plant survival and wellness . These soil attributes are bear on to as field capacity and saturation porosity .
basically what you ’re look for in a healthy soil mix is a equalizer between retaining water while see honest drainage , providing adequate aeration ( stave off anaerobic conditions ) , maintaining the right pH , and ensuring the dirt has sufficient cation exchange capacity ( CEC ) .
If you ’ve had the opportunity to read myComposting Masterclassbook , you ’d sympathize why I ’m so passionate about using compost , even in pot soil . A good potting mix for yourDracaena fragransshould include the follow ingredients :
Each of the above serve a specific role in emulating theEpipremnum aureumnatural habitat .
Compost
Adding compost to potting soil has several welfare ; an crucial one is the soil ’s increase ability to keep nutrients available for plant life access . Cation commutation capacity ( CEC ) can be see as magnetizing the grunge to keep water and some cation - charged nutrients in the soil . dirt with low CEC ( like sand ) can not retain moisture and nutrients ; they flow through the soil .
Coconut Coir
While sphagnum peat moss is often given as the nonremittal potting mix , I have found that coconut coir is a unspoiled alternative . One of the principal reasons I favour coconut coir is its ready magnetic dip to live with watering .
Coconut coirhas outstanding piddle keeping and drainage ability , with most forms of coir hold up to nine time their weight in water . This natural melodic line - to - piss proportion helps nourish works root systems without oversaturating them or putting them at risk of root rot .
Pumice
Unlike perlite , pumice stone pull off pee well while boosting aeration .
Expanded Shale
Expanded shale , like pumice stone , does not fall apart down like organic materials , so the soil stays aerated for years . It helps make potting soils airy , light , and H2O - retentive .
Dracaena Fragrans Watering Needs
Overwatering is one of the primary reasons for indoor plants not doing well or even become flat . When surrounded by water , roots can not soak up oxygen – think back , they command moistureandoxygen .
The general ruler is to only water system when necessary . To decide when to irrigate , one may utilize the following techniques :
When watering is necessary , water deeply . use water until the bottom of the pot is completely deluge . This removes accumulated salts and ensure that most of the roots in the bottom two - thirds of the pot get enough body of water .
Your corn plant life prefers piss innocent of fluoride , so allow pat water to remain firm for a couple of hr before applying it to your plant life .
Dracaena Fragrans Lighting Needs
Corn industrial plant can develop in low - light environs , but the farewell broaden and strengthen with intermediate light . Corn flora care fee-tail feature it grow in a smart environment , bright enough in which to say a account book without strive your centre .
Most low - light plant are uprise for their foliage , not flower . A north window or a shaded corner would be idealistic location for a low - twinkle works , though an East or West facing window will increase leaf width and ringing .
Temperature Needs for Dracaena Fragrans Care
TheD. fragransis an African tropic plant and favour warmer temperatures . Indoor works should be exposed to temperature between 54 to 68⁰ F ( 12 to 20⁰ C ) and daytime temperatures between 68 to 85 ⁰F ( 20 to 30 ⁰C ) .
When circulate , essay to maintain a temperature above 74⁰ F ( 23⁰ degree Celsius )
Dracaena Fragrans Humidity Needs
The essential part of manage humidity for your Dracaena fragrans is keeping it invariant . fluctuate humidity levels will cause your plant to lose leaves . Aim to asseverate a humidness level of above 60 % .
An idealistic indoor humidity storey for humans is between 30 % and 50 % . A 50 % humidity level means that the gentle wind curb half the total amount of wet it can contain at a given temperature ( humidity relative to temperature )
To achieve a 60 % relative humidity ( RH ) storey , you will call for to implement one of the follow three solution :
Dracaena Fragrans Fertilizer Needs
Our firedrake palm is n’t a fiercely athirst dragon . I like to use organic fertilizer ( pedigree meal , bone meal , kelp , guano , etc . ) on my indoor plants .
A unadulterated mix includes nitrogen , phosphate , potassium hydroxide , and Mg . Repeat a quarter - diluted coating every two months for the first twelvemonth , then bit by bit increase the amount of fertiliser to half - dilution every 4 to 6 months as the vine grows .
Once the plant life is established , fertilize in former springiness and in October . Do n’t fecundate during the wintertime when the plant is not actively growing and needs to hole up .
you could combine one of the feeding system below :
Repotting Dracaena Fragrans
The Indian corn flora choose slightly rootbound condition , so do n’t stimulate to repot . Repotting should only be done once you notice roots growing out of the pot ’s drain pickle or the sens ’s body of water - holding content is noticeably limited .
Dracaena fragrans are wide-eyed to repot , but invalidate buying a markedly larger batch than the one the plant is already in . Ideally , the new pot should be one size larger than its current pot .
Propagating Dracaena Fragrans
Taking a clip from the radical is the most straightforward method of propagating corn plant . An ideal time for doing this is prune the plant to a smaller size of it . constitute the cane in damp pot dirt after allowing it to dry . control the cane ’s bottom or cut ending is in contact with the ground ; this will cause rootage to get .
Dracaena Fragrans Maintenance
Cut off the top six inches of the corn plant if it becomes too magniloquent . The pruning wo n’t touch the plant and it will keep to grow .
Over time , the works may topple over due to the weighting of the woody stalks . To lay off this , you might need to stake exceptionally marvellous plants .
Dracaena Fragrans Challenges
Plant diseases are seldom a business concern ; the master issues are too much or deficient water and insects and mites . The leading grounds of base rot are a slow - drain soil miscellany and extravagant irrigation . The most frequent dirt ball pestilence of dracaena are scale insects . mite , and mealybugs .
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a corn plant easy to care for?
The Corn Plant is passing easy to wish for . It thrive in most light-colored levels , including depleted light . It does not have unconstipated watering schedules , and because it is a slow grower , it can be direct in one area without make to prune it on a regular basis . It ’s a consummate star sign plant for someone want an easy life .
How poisonous is the corn plant?
The Dracaena Fragrans , or Corn Plant , contains Saponin , which is very toxic to cats and pawl . If take , it would make the animal puke blood , cause dehydration , and would stop your animal alimentation . protect animals from getting close enough to run through this plant is essential .
Is a corn plant an indoor plant?
The corn plant ( Dracaena Fragrans ) is a perfect houseplant as it is effortless to give care for and ideal for low - light - spirit level home areas where other plants would struggle . It is a tough plant that can be leave out a footling , make up it suitable for most homes .
Why is it called a corn plant?
The Latin name Dracaena Fragrans is used among hobbyists and professionals , but many people utilize the usual name corn flora due to its resemblance to corn whiskey stalk leaves .
How do I get my corn plant to bloom?
The mystery to get a Indian corn plant to flower is to take aback the corn plant by give a period of 2 to 4 weeks at a temperature of 43.5˚F to 45˚F. This can be achieved by set it in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory . The works will bloom within a few weeks once return to the warm .
In Closing
There is a dear reason why the corn plant ( Dracaena fragrans ) is an indoor deary in offices and menage ; it is wanton to maintain and offers great visual value . In accession , the Dracaena fragrans is one of the 11 plants okay for employment in the space station to bring in the air of possible contaminants .
