Corn Plant and Palm Transplant Shock: Water Quality and Pot Size

Two common issues causing decline in new houseplants:

Corn Plant (Dracaena) Brown Tips

• Chemicals in tap water (fluoride, chlorine). Let water sit 24+ hours before use.
• Nursery over-fertilizing for sales appeal. Flush soil, stop fertilizing.
• Trim brown tips cosmetically.

Palm Transplant Shock

• Repotting into too-large a pot. Rule: max 2 inches larger diameter.
• Oversized pot → root-focused growth → leaf drop.
• Water with vitamin B-1 (thiamine) after transplant to reduce shock.
• Keep warm, bright, humid. New roots form in weeks.

General Watering Rule

Water thoroughly, then wait until soil is dry at root depth (not just surface). Peat-based mixes hold water deceptively.