Question
I bought a corn plant as a cane that is about 6 inches long.  I have had it in water for about a year now, and it has grown the distinctive green leaves with yellow stripes, they are about 3 inches long.  I have tried to get it to root in soil, but it refuses.  Should I use a rooting compound or keep it in water?

Answer
Hi Erik,
You can try using a rooting compound to see if this will help.  If it does not help, you can try to air layer the stalk:
Air layering.  Make a slice in the cane towards the bottom where a leaf had grown at one time, there will be a node there.  Make the slice about 1/16" deep.  Do the same on the opposite side.  Put a little piece of toothpick in the slice to help keep it open.  If you have any  sphagnum moss, dampen that with water and sprinkle a bit of rooting hormone on it and wrap it around the area you sliced and then wrap with saran wrap, secure the wrap making it as air tight as possible . If you do not have any moss, you can use paper towels.  Watch every few days to make sure the moss or towels remains damp.  Mist with water to dampen again.  Once the roots begin to form (you will see them through the moss) you can then plant into dirt.
If this does not work either, then just keep the stalk in water and allow it to grow that way.  I have several plant cuttings that I just keep in water and never plant into dirt and they do great.
Good Luck Erik,
Leslie