I use water that was left standing for a couple of days or distilled water. I give it a sip, and not often. I say sip to myself, because I killed every plant by over-watering.

I am sure others will have a better idea, with their hands-on experience.

These plants TOLERATE low light but they won't thrive in it. Give it better light, be a miser in watering and expect some lower leaves as it ages to die out (not too many and not too fast - losing a few over the years is normal). It can survive the underwatering very well but not the overwatering. I used to pick up the pot of my plant and it would be light as a feather - that's how misery I was with it about watering. Another thing this plant will deteriorate with is being placed in cold drafts.

So, bright light, little watering, no cold drafts and no over-potting. It'll be fine. Don't discard it. It will bounce back for you.

This is my corn plant, she is now five years old. I keep her in low light. She is near the kitchen, however away from the window. She does however, receive enough light to make her happy. I recently repotted her, and she does have a lot of roots. I have her in an eight inch plastic pot. And I don't water it at all, maybe once a month at most. She gets enough humidity so I don't have to spray her down during the winter months. She hates my water, I live in Brooklyn, NY and so I let the water sit for a good 48 hours before watering this particular plant, otherwise her tips show her sadness by turning brown. Otherwise, she is a good plant to have.

Don't overwater and keep them rootbound, they seem to like it.

GH

My neighbor is out of town and her ceiling-high corn plant has whitish-to-brown round spots all over all of its leaves. Only one leaf is completely brown. She's had this plant for a long time, and I don't know when this started, but it hasn't been watered for a week and was dry today, so I watered it well. It's away from a window in a bright room. I'm not sure what signs of insect infestation to look for.
Any hints are apreciated!
Andrea in Oakland

I have the plant next to a large window, so it gets ample sun. Doesn't seem to need watering...and there are no signs of pests.

Any suggestions...or is it time to throw it out?

As far as determining that it didn't like the weather...it started getting a few spots and discolorations on its leaves. I just thought that was a hint it was getting too cold. It did just fine last year?....

If the roots and stalk of the plant are still healthy, it should resprout. This is probably going to be a slow process, and the plant will be even more likely to rot than usual for a while. Don't stop watering altogether, but water less often than you're used to. Bright light and warmer temperatures will encourage resprouting, if you've got a sunny window.

If the stem softens, or feels like the outer layer has separated from the core of the plant, then we're talking about rot, in which case see the response to Splinters81.

dollhead:

Insufficient information. Are the leaves turning yellow, or black? Are the leaf tips black? Are the newest leaves at the center of the rosette dying?

Splinters81:

It is very probably rot, sad to say. There is no cure once the outer layer of tissue has separated from the core. You may be able to get the piece you pulled off to grow if there's an actual stem present (if it's a very young shoot, and the leaves appeared to be coming directly from the main trunk, it's probably not mature enough to save) and the stem is still firm. If you've still got a firm stem on the part you pulled off, I would recut the stem with a sharp, clean knife and stick it in a vase or glass or something and put it in a bright spot that does not get direct sun. Keep the water level high enough to cover the bottom of the stem. You should see roots of some kind in about 3-5 weeks; when the roots are a few inches long, pot the plant in a well-draining soil and water thoroughly, until water is running through the pot, and only when the soil is dry. Then let the soil get dry again (you shouldn't be able to feel anything damp by sticking your finger in the soil) before watering again. If you keep the plant too wet, you'll have rot again.

There may be people reading this who disagree with the suggestion of water-rooting; all I know is that I've managed to recover about seven pieces of rotting Dracaenas at home that way, and it's the fastest and simplest way I know. I expect that rooting in damp perlite or vermiculite would also work, but it's harder to tell whether anything's happening with those.

Right now it is in front of my sliding glass door, and gets some morning/afternoon southward sun. So far I have not had any problems with it in this location. My question is...it is about 10 feet tall, and is running out of room. Should I cut the tops off to make new plants? How do I root them, and will the origional tree stems regenerate new growth, or will it stay looking like I lopped off it's top?

Thank you for the advice, you seem to know alot.

My mother gave me some corn plants (3 very large bushy ones) and they were about 6-7 ft tall when she gave them to me last year. Now they've reached the top of my 9ft ceilings. The plants have leaves except for maybe 1/4 of the bottom stems. She said I can chop the top 3/4 of the plant and then put that back in the soil and it should grow roots pretty easily. And then she also said that the remaining 1/4 stalk should start sprouting new shoots.

My mom's a gardener with green fingers and toes (not just a green thumb lol) and can grow anything I tell ya. But the advice she gave me was a little shocking. I'm sure if she did it, it would root and she'd have another healthy plant. Can I really take 6ft off the top of my corn plant, put the stalk without roots in the soil and wait for roots to grow? I'm afraid that it will just die on me.

What do you think? She's done this for several plants without any issues, should I give it a shot?

thanks,
lali

Thanks!

Hope this helps answer any questions you have.

Maid~