Question
I bought a beautiful mass cane plant in february. it is kept near a windoe that gets sunshine but not directly in the sun. the dirt is constantly wet feeling but i do not water it very often(maybe 1 a month when it feels dry). Many leaves started getting yellow spots and now there are a whole lot of brown leaves. Am i killing my plant (i have bad luck growing cactuses). Also can i cut off the brown parrts of the leaves?

Answer
Hi Stefanie,

Nearly all potted plants should dry out enough to need water every 1-2 weeks maximum. If your corn plant is taking longer than that, then there is a good chance that the roots are starting to rot and causing the symptoms you are observing.

Why is the soil not drying out? The most common reason is that the pot is too large. Did you move it into a larger pot after you got it? If the pot does not have drainage holes, than that will keep excess water from running out. If the soil is too dense and lacks porosity, that will keep it from drying out. Finally, if the light is too dim then very little water will be absorbed by the roots.

Let me know which seems to apply and then I can help you find a solution.

Brown or dead sections of leaves can be trimmed off with sharp scissors. It won't restore the plant's health, but it will make it look a lot better!


Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.