With spiky leaves stretching up like a corn stalk, the dracaena is one of the most popular houseplants for beginning plant parents.
The scientific name for this species is the Dracaena fragrans, or corn plant because it looks so much like a miniature stalk of corn. Dracaena is also known as “mass cane.”
There are more than 100 varieties of dracaena with different appearances. The Dracaena relfexa can grow to an astonishing 18 feet tall and eight feet wide when cultivated in the wild.
The Dracaena deremensis holds the curious characteristic of being tolerant of neglect. One species is called “lucky bamboo” for its ability to grow in water, but it is actually Dracaena sanderiana that displays that ability.
A dracaena is a great way to add spectacular visual interest to any room with minimum effort.
Dracaena’s many species come in two main varieties: dracaena trees and succulent shrubs. The shrub varieties provide the best houseplant options, while dracaena trees are hardy outdoors throughout much of the United States. Whether trees or shrubs, the dracaena is a member of the asparagus family.
This plant is known for its distinctive foliage, which is always spiky but can feature different colors. Variegated leaves in shades of green, reddish-brown, and even pale pink.
According to a NASA study from the 1980s, indoor houseplants can help scrub the air of pollutants. Benzene, carbon dioxide, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde can all get filtered through plants like dracaena. Plants like dracaena promote a healthier indoor atmosphere for family members and pets.
Choose a dracaena to brighten up even the most dreary corner. This plant likes bright, indirect sunlight. However, this plant can adapt to situations with consistently low light, like offices and interior rooms.
Direct sunlight is the enemy to a dracaena, whether you plant them indoors or outdoors. Choose a location with partial shade, especially in the afternoon when the sun’s rays are strongest. Overdosing your dracaena in direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. That results in black or brown spots on leaves or foliage that appear unusually orange or red in color.
Approach watering a dracaena the same way you would attend to your other tropical houseplants. When your plant feels dry to the touch, it is likely about 50 to 75 percent drained and ready to be watered.
Water your dracaena until water flows freely through the drainage hole at the bottom of its pot. If water continues to gather at the bottom of the plant, remove the saucer or other catchment device to avoid accumulating moisture near the roots.
Oversaturating a dracaena is highly discouraged. Refrain from checking its moisture level until about seven to 10 days after its last watering. An overwatered plant appears yellowed and may be droopy.
As a tropical plant, your dracaena appreciates plenty of moisture. While overwatering isn’t the answer, providing light misting works great. A simple spray bottle achieves the desired effect, especially during cold and dry spells indoors. Misting also helps reduce pest infestations and dust collection on leaves.
If you prefer a lower maintenance solution to your dracaenas humidity needs, consider purchasing a small humidifier for your indoor houseplants. A lower-tech solution is a shallow pan covered in a layer of small pebbles, something like a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. This pan is refilled with water after it evaporates.
Average room temperature is the preferred environment for your dracaena. Between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit provides the best temperature for this tropical houseplant.
Depending on the species of dracaena, some varieties are hardy outdoors, even to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of seven. This zone contains the climate experienced in places like Washington D.C., Oklahoma, and northern New Mexico. Dracaena living outdoors should be covered if there is a threat of frost.
This plant appreciates well-drained soil and tolerates the acidity and mixture of the standard potting mixes that are widely available. Dracaena are slow-growing plants and do not require much plant food or fertilizer. Dilute any fertilizer to half-strength before administering it to a dracaena plant.
The mass cane plant, also known as corn plant or Dracaena massangeana, is a popular indoor houseplant. This easy-to-care-for plant is native to Africa and features long, sword-shaped leaves with yellow stripes. With minimal care the mass cane makes an excellent addition to any home or office.
Light Requirements
The mass cane thrives in bright, indirect light. Place it near an east or west-facing window where it will get plenty of light without direct sun exposure. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. If the leaves start curling inwards, it’s a sign the plant is getting too much light and needs to be moved back from the window. These plants will tolerate low-light conditions but may grow more slowly and lose some of their vibrancy.
Soil Needs
Use a general potting mix with good drainage, Adding peat moss to the soil improves drainage, Make sure the pot has drainage holes to prevent soggy soil, Repot every 2-3 years or whenever the plant becomes rootbound,
Watering
Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry. The frequency depends on light exposure. Plants in brighter light need more frequent watering. Check the soil before watering and only add water when needed. Allowing the soil to completely dry out can cause leaf browning. On the other hand, overwatering can lead to root rot. Filtered or distilled water is best since tap water may contain chemicals that build up in the soil over time.
Temperature and Humidity
The mass cane prefers warm temperatures between 60-80°F and average humidity around 40-50%. Keep away from cold drafts which can damage leaves. In dry air, misting the leaves occasionally adds humidity. Wiping leaves with a damp cloth also provides moisture.
Fertilizer
Fertilize monthly in spring through summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Avoid fertilizing in fall and winter. Too much fertilizer can burn roots so moderation is key. Every few months, flush the soil to remove any buildup of mineral salts.
Propagation
Propagate new mass cane plants from stem cuttings in spring and summer. Cut a stem with nodes and buds, dip in rooting hormone, and plant in potting mix. Keep the soil moist while roots develop. New plants can be repotted after several weeks once roots are established.
Common Pests
Check regularly for common houseplant pests like spider mites, mealybugs, thrips, and scale. Spider mites may leave webbing on leaves. Mealybugs and scale look like white fuzzy spots on leaves or stems. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can help get rid of these bugs. Isolate infested plants to prevent spreading.
Diseases
Overwatering is the main cause of diseases like root rot and leaf spot. Allow soil to partially dry between waterings and remove diseased leaves to prevent spreading. Repot plants with diseased roots in fresh soil.
Pruning
Prune only to remove dead or damaged leaves and stems or to control height. The mass cane is a slow grower so doesn’t require much pruning. Make pruning cuts just above nodes to encourage bushy regrowth.
Troubleshooting Problems
- Brown leaf tips – Adjust watering, fertilizer, or soil salts
- Yellow leaves – Check for overwatering or soggy soil
- Leaf spots – Prune affected leaves, allow soil to dry before watering
- Lopsided growth – Rotate plant and increase light exposure
- Wrinkled stalks – Increase watering frequency
Tips for Happy Mass Cane Plants
- Place in bright, indirect light near east or west window
- Water when top 1-2 inches of soil are dry
- Mist leaves to increase humidity
- Keep away from hot and cold drafts
- Repot when rootbound every 2-3 years
- Propagate new plants from stem cuttings
- Watch for common houseplant pests
With the right care, the mass cane makes a striking addition to any indoor space. Its versatility and easy care make it a great choice for beginners and plant enthusiasts alike. Follow these tips to keep your mass cane healthy and looking its best!
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With spiky leaves stretching up like a corn stalk, the dracaena is one of the most popular houseplants for beginning plant parents.
The scientific name for this species is the Dracaena fragrans, or corn plant because it looks so much like a miniature stalk of corn. Dracaena is also known as “mass cane.”
There are more than 100 varieties of dracaena with different appearances. The Dracaena relfexa can grow to an astonishing 18 feet tall and eight feet wide when cultivated in the wild.
The Dracaena deremensis holds the curious characteristic of being tolerant of neglect. One species is called “lucky bamboo” for its ability to grow in water, but it is actually Dracaena sanderiana that displays that ability.
A dracaena is a great way to add spectacular visual interest to any room with minimum effort.
Dracaena’s many species come in two main varieties: dracaena trees and succulent shrubs. The shrub varieties provide the best houseplant options, while dracaena trees are hardy outdoors throughout much of the United States. Whether trees or shrubs, the dracaena is a member of the asparagus family.
This plant is known for its distinctive foliage, which is always spiky but can feature different colors. Variegated leaves in shades of green, reddish-brown, and even pale pink.
According to a NASA study from the 1980s, indoor houseplants can help scrub the air of pollutants. Benzene, carbon dioxide, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde can all get filtered through plants like dracaena. Plants like dracaena promote a healthier indoor atmosphere for family members and pets.
Choose a dracaena to brighten up even the most dreary corner. This plant likes bright, indirect sunlight. However, this plant can adapt to situations with consistently low light, like offices and interior rooms.
Direct sunlight is the enemy to a dracaena, whether you plant them indoors or outdoors. Choose a location with partial shade, especially in the afternoon when the sun’s rays are strongest. Overdosing your dracaena in direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. That results in black or brown spots on leaves or foliage that appear unusually orange or red in color.
Approach watering a dracaena the same way you would attend to your other tropical houseplants. When your plant feels dry to the touch, it is likely about 50 to 75 percent drained and ready to be watered.
Water your dracaena until water flows freely through the drainage hole at the bottom of its pot. If water continues to gather at the bottom of the plant, remove the saucer or other catchment device to avoid accumulating moisture near the roots.
Oversaturating a dracaena is highly discouraged. Refrain from checking its moisture level until about seven to 10 days after its last watering. An overwatered plant appears yellowed and may be droopy.
As a tropical plant, your dracaena appreciates plenty of moisture. While overwatering isn’t the answer, providing light misting works great. A simple spray bottle achieves the desired effect, especially during cold and dry spells indoors. Misting also helps reduce pest infestations and dust collection on leaves.
If you prefer a lower maintenance solution to your dracaenas humidity needs, consider purchasing a small humidifier for your indoor houseplants. A lower-tech solution is a shallow pan covered in a layer of small pebbles, something like a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. This pan is refilled with water after it evaporates.
Average room temperature is the preferred environment for your dracaena. Between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit provides the best temperature for this tropical houseplant.
Depending on the species of dracaena, some varieties are hardy outdoors, even to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of seven. This zone contains the climate experienced in places like Washington D.C., Oklahoma, and northern New Mexico. Dracaena living outdoors should be covered if there is a threat of frost.
This plant appreciates well-drained soil and tolerates the acidity and mixture of the standard potting mixes that are widely available. Dracaena are slow-growing plants and do not require much plant food or fertilizer. Dilute any fertilizer to half-strength before administering it to a dracaena plant.
Branched Corn Plant/Mass Cane Care & Info
FAQ
How to care for a mass cane plant indoors?
- Being a variegated plant, the mass cane thrives in lots of sunlight, preferably medium to indirect sunlight. …
- Make sure not to place the plant in direct sunlight as this can scorch the leaves! …
- Being a dracaena variety, this plant doesn’t need lots of water.
Should I cut the brown tips off my mass cane plant?
You can cut them off. The leaves will continue to brown and you will need to keep cutting. I usually just cut off the whole leaf once it starts to look silly. These lose their older leaves as they grow naturally, so they have to come all the way off eventually anyway.
Why are the leaves on my mass cane plant turning yellow and brown?
Over/underwatering and poor drainage cause yellow leaves; adjust water and soil. Balance light and temperature between 65-75°F to prevent stress-induced yellowing. Address nutrient deficiencies with balanced fertilizer and regular pruning for health.
Do mass canes like to be misted?
Mist your Mass Cane Plant as needed to maintain a humid environment as they are native to tropical regions and require humidity.