Question
QUESTION: I read that you said you don't have to re-pot yet i want to,I want to know the right way to do this for I have some I get from my job that are in need to be re-potted for there will be one in one pot or two in one and I would like to put them together, They are in lava rock so i will be using that ,So if you can give me some advice i would love it thank you
Catherine

ANSWER: Hi Catherine,

Repotting is generally not only not necessary, but often a bad idea. In this case, you are trying to combine several Corn Plant canes into one pot. No doubt the pots originally contained 3 or more canes that have died back. That suggests the remaining canes and foliage may not be in great shape. Disturbing the roots of weak plants is always a risky proposition so you should know that before you combine them.

If you are determined to do this and accept the risk, here is what I recommend. Gently remove all of the canes from their pots and carefully shake off any loose potting material. The risk here is damaging or removing the tiny roothairs that are nearly invisible and do most of the important work, so be very careful and don't try to wash away the potting material. If any of the canes have few or no healthy roots, then discard them.

Add several inches of the same potting material to the bottom of a pot and set the canes inside close to one another. Then, fill in the space with more of the same potting mix. Use the smallest pot possible to hold the canes and add just enough potting mix to hold the canes in place.

This is not easy to do and somewhat hard to describe in text, so I wish you the best of luck if you decide to try this.

I have written an article on repotting 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 PlantCareExperts.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One more thing i for got to ask you , every thing was under stand-able to me thank you and I am going to try it, After re-potting should i cut the canes back so better growth will come back and should i use vitamin B to help with shock? The foliage looks bad and I would like it to be better, These are plants that would be thrown out so they let us take them home its a nice way to help a long with learning more about them too,Thank you Will for all the help, Catherine

Answer
Hi Catherine,

Vitamin B will not help. Plants don't use Vitamins.

Keep your expectations low. Your plants were discarded because they are in poor condition. The repotting will add to their stress. Disturb the roots as little as possible and try to slowly nurture the canes back to health. There are no shortcuts or easy solutions. Patience, however, is a requisite.

~Will