Corn plant care
Dracaena fragrans — also called Dracaena, Mass cane, Janet Craig. Everything below is the same data Plantroster uses to schedule care for this species.
Care at a glance
| Light | Medium to bright indirect. Tolerates low. No direct sun — bleaches the foliage. |
|---|---|
| Water | About every 10 days in summer, every 18 in winter. Let the top 2" dry first. |
| Soil | Standard houseplant mix — 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite |
| Humidity | At least 40%, happiest near 50% |
| Temperature | 65–80°F. Cold damage below 50°F; heat stress in sun above 95°F. |
| Feeding | Every ~60 days while actively growing. Nothing in winter. |
| Repotting | Every 3 years, or when roots circle the pot |
| Tap water | Fluoride-sensitive — use distilled or rainwater |
| Pets & children | Toxic. Saponins — vomiting and drooling in cats and dogs. |
What people get wrong about corn plant
Crispy brown leaf TIPS with a thin yellow halo are the classic fluoride/salt burn from tap water — not underwatering. Switch to distilled or rainwater and flush the pot.
Frequently misidentified as a spider plant; dracaenas grow a woody cane, spider plants grow from a crown.
Common problems
Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, scale. Check leaf undersides monthly — backlighting a leaf against a window is the fastest way to catch mite webbing before an infestation takes hold.
Plantroster tracks this plant's watering, feeding and repotting cadence against your actual weather — and tells you when a cold night or heatwave means moving it.
Open PlantrosterCorn plant FAQ
How often should I water a corn plant?
Roughly every 10 days in the growing season and every 18 days in winter, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule — light, pot size and your home's warmth all shift it. Let it dry well down. Dracaenas rot easily and recover from drought far better than from wet feet.
Is corn plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Saponins — vomiting and drooling in cats and dogs. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.
How much light does a corn plant need?
Medium to bright indirect is ideal, and it will cope with low. No direct sun — bleaches the foliage.
Why does my corn plant have brown tips?
Corn plant is genuinely sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water — brown tips on this species usually mean your water, not dry air. Switch to distilled or collected rainwater and flush the pot to leach out accumulated salts. Filter pitchers do not remove fluoride.
What soil is best for corn plant?
Standard houseplant mix: 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite. Bagged potting soil alone stays too wet in an indoor pot; perlite fixes the drainage.
Other plant guides
General horticultural guidance, not a substitute for inspecting your own plant. Toxicity notes are a starting point — if a pet or child has eaten part of a plant, contact a vet or poison control rather than relying on this page.