Question
Hi Will, I was just about to re-pot my Mass Cane (Dragonnier Massangena) when I read on your site that it is not necessary to re-pot these plants. My plant stands 4 ft. from bottom of the pot to top of the leaves and is in an 8" plastic pot with good drainage. The roots are not coming out of the holes at bottom but I can see the tips of them through the holes. It has not been re-potted since I bought it 1-1/2 yrs. ago. I've kept in on a ledge under a high window in the foyer of my house where it gets indirect light but never direct sunlight. Question: is it time to re-pot this plant and if so what material should I use at the bottom of the new pot to keep it well drained? (stones/pebbles/or something else?) thanks for your help.
Cecilia

Answer
Hi Cecilia,

You are a pleasant surprise because you took the time to ask about repotting before proceeding with it! It is so much easier to prevent problems than to correct them. Unnecessary repotting is the most common of all indoor plant problems.

You seem to be doing everything you should be doing to keep your Dracaena (note correct spelling) massangeana cane healthy and happy. As long as your plant is healthy and you are able to keep it properly moist by watering no more than 2 or 3 times per week, there is no reason to repot. It is a mistake to think that plants must be repotted every so often. Many plants never need to be repotted...ever.

If you find your Corn Plant dries out enough to need a thorough watering every two days, then that is a good reason to move it into a 10" pot, but no larger. The correct way to repot is to loosen the roots wrapped around the outer part of the rootball; add 2 inches of potting mix to the bottom of the new pot; set the loosened rootball in the center of the new pot; and fill in the sides with fresh soil.

Please note that I did NOT mention adding drainage material at the bottom or adding any soil on top of the rootball. The former is an outdated and discredited practice and the latter is unnecessary and makes proper watering more difficult.

I have written articles on repotting and on Corn Plant care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected].

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

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com