Dracaena Massangeana: Caring for a Mass Cane Plant Or Corn Plant

The mass cane plant (also known as the mass cane plant, corn plant, or cornstalk plant) has become one of the most popular houseplants.

Its full botanical name is the Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana and it is part of the Asparagaceae family which is known widely for its unique coloration and leaves.

When it comes to caring for this plant, it has no special requirements or overly complicated caring process.

However, there are some things you should know when caring for the Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana. This article will tell you how you can easily grow a corn plant at home.


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How to Grow and Care for Dracaena Massangeana Plants

Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana is a quite hardy and resistant plant. It doesn’t need any special caring or environmental conditions.

The reward is that if you take good care of your Dracaena Massangeana plant, it can grow anywhere from 4-6 feet. As it grows, the plant will need.

However, you will need to regulate its water, sunlight, soil nutrients, repotting, soil enhancement, and when you want more mass cane plants you can consider propagating them.

Below is everything you need to know about taking care of a corn plant.

Soil Type for the Corn Plant

The tropical Dracaena species doesn’t have a specification for the soil types. It can grow in almost every type of soil as long as it gets proper nutrients and has good drainage.

If the water sits in for long, the leaves of your Dracaena Massangeana may develop brown tips.

While it is good for the potting mix to be slightly on the acidic side, it’s not a must.

You can keep an eye on your plant and determine whether it needs more acid and perfect this balance with fertilizers.

Temperature That the Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana Plant Likes

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The Dracaena Massangeana is native to the tropical regions of Africa. As such, it thrives in a tropical climate that isn’t too hot.

The plant is vulnerable to high temperatures, so keeping it at 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit will work.

Any large variations of temperature are not good for the plant. It’s also best to keep the plant away from any direct air conditioning that can excessively dry out the leaves and soil.

Watering Dracaena Massangeana Plants

The corn cane plant doesn’t need much water. In fact, excess water is not good for any plant as it could lead to root rot. Slightly damp soil to soil slightly on the dry side is fine.

A general rule of thumb for the Dracena Massangeana is to water it once a week. This should be enough to keep the soil hydrated while not staying saturated for too long.

Apart from watering, you also need to keep its leaves moist. If possible, spray water on it every day to maintain humidity.

Ensure that for this you never use tap water as, like most indoor plants, the Massangeana Dracaena is also prone to fluoride toxicity.

Light 

Dracena Massangeana or mass cane is a low-light shrub and cannot withstand direct sunlight. This means it’s best that you place it in a semi-shaded area.

Try to keep it away from windows or the entrance door.

Alternatively, you can use shades or filters to balance the light if you have to place it near windows.

Fertilization

Massangeana Dracaena grows during the summer seasons and will need nutrient-rich soil during this time.

You should add fertilizers every three months to keep the soils balanced.

In the winter you won’t need to fertilize the soil as it’s not the growing season.

However, you’ll need to ensure the fertilizer is not too high in superphosphate. Usually, a ratio of 3:1:2 will do the job perfectly.

It’s also important to make sure that the fertilizer is concentrated in the soil surrounding the plant.

Looking for a self-fertilizer? We highly suggest this houseplant fertilizer as it slowly releases nutrients into the soil for the next six months! It’s great because you don’t have to worry about over-fertilizing your plant.

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Pruning

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While the Dracaena Massangeana is a slow-growing plant, it does age. One of the signs of aging is by the older lower leaves turning yellow.

This generally happens around two to three years of age. You should prune these leaves as they start to turn.

Similarly, sometimes the leaves simply outgrow the plant. In such a case, the new leaves will start to emerge from the older ones and you will need to prune or cut its leaves.

To prune your plant, you should start by cleaning the cutting tool and your hands with rubbing alcohol.

Then, you can simply snip the overgrowing leaves and stems. Just take care to not cut healthy stalks or stems that are less than three-inch in length.

Repotting

The roots of the Dracaena Massangeana grow larger every year and will need repotting every two to three years.

According to the North Carolina State Univerisity’s Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, an indication on when to repot your mass cane plant is when the plant starts to lift or sends roots out the drainage hole

It will also need a fresh soil mix and, of course, a container.

It’s important that the new pot has to be at least 2 inches wider than the current and have drainage holes.

Once you have selected your pot, prep it by putting half of the new soil mix into the vessel.

Then carefully take the plant out of its previous container and replant it into the new pot as you would any other plant.

Before removing the Dracaena Massangeana from its old pit, you can use water to dampen the soil for easier extraction.

Last, place the leftover potting mixture into the pot and compact the mix securely around your plant. It should feel snug, but not too dense.

If you are looking for a pot to put transplant your mass cane plant into, consider this self-watering pot. We use this pot for most of our houseplants and love it because we don’t have to worry about watering our plants.

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Propagation of Dracaena Massangeana

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Like most house plants, the Dracaena plant can grow from both seeds and stems.

However, seeds take longer to grow and need more care as you’ll need to germinate them before planting.

Propagating from a stem cutting is much easier than the seed process.

Here’s how you grow a new Dracaena Massangeana from stem cuttings.

  • Start by preparing a planting tray with a peat moss-based soil mix.
  • Sanitize the pot and any other equipment that you may need (such as snippers or tweezers) to prevent the risk of fungus or disease.
  • Find a healthy Dracaena Massangeana and cut a three to four inches piece of a healthy stem.
  • Remove any leaves off of the lower half.
  • Now, place the cutting into the soil mix.
  • After that, cover it with plastic, taking care to check on it every few hours to balance the humidity if needed.

FAQ

Why are the leaves of Dracaena Massangeana turning white?

Whitening of the leaves is associated with photosynthesis imbalance. It usually occurs due to improper lighting or overwatering.

If left out of control for too long, your plant may also see the falling of leaves.

Why are my Dracaena Massangeana’s leaves turning yellow?

Generally speaking, the leaves of this plant turn yellow and fall with age.

So, as long as the yellow leaves are getting replaced by fresh foliage, this is normal and nothing to be concerned about.

However, if the leaves are falling and new foliage is not growing, it may be due to humidity imbalance. If this is the case, try to limit the amount of water your plant is getting.

What are the reasons for the sudden appearance of velvety spots of the plant leaves?

The spots on the green leaves of Dracaena Massangeana often signal an insect infestation.

This plant is vulnerable to many insects, including spider mites.

You can spray the Dracaena Massangeana with a spirit solution or mild insecticide to eliminate the problem.

Is Dracaena Massangeana an indoor plant?

You can plant your Dracaena Massangeana anywhere.

This sturdy plant can handle many environments regardless of whether they’re indoor or outdoor; just ensure your Dracaena Massangeana gets decent light and water.

Summary

Did you know that over 33.1% of the United States people participate in indoor gardening?

From professional interior designers to common house makers, everyone prefers to include them in offices or homes.

It helps to add a hint of color and freshness to the environment.

The elegant-looking Dracaena Massangeana is a perfect shrub to grow at your home. They are easy to grow, look beautiful, and offer great filtration.

In addition to eliminating toxins from your air, this plant also has low caring and watering requirements.

One thing to note, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Dracaena plants are toxic to dogs and cats. So please take care if you have pets.

So, if you are planning to add some greenery to your living environment, the Dracaena Massangeana is the plant to get.

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