Dracaena Fragrans (Corn Plant) — Complete Indoor Care Guide

Dracaena fragrans, the corn plant, is one of the easiest tall houseplants to grow. Learn light, water, and pruning tips for this beginner-friendly foliage plant. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Grows 4-6 feet indoors with broad, arching green leaves. Tolerates low to medium indirect light extremely well. Water when top 2 inches of soil are dry — roughly every 10-14 days. Sensitive to fluoride in tap water — use filtered or distilled water. Fragrant white flowers bloom occasionally on mature indoor plants. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: One of the most popular office and home foliage plants worldwide. NASA clean air study identified it as effective at removing formaldehyde. Native to tropical Africa — naturally adapted to lower light conditions. Brown leaf tips are the most common complaint among growers. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Place in medium indirect light — tolerates low light but grows slower. Water thoroughly when top 2 inches are dry, drain completely. Use filtered water to prevent fluoride-related brown leaf tips. Feed monthly spring through fall with balanced liquid fertilizer. Prune leggy canes by cutting at desired height — new growth sprouts below cut. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Foliage Plants collection on Houseplants Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.