Question
QUESTION: I have two corn palms which I bought around two months apart. The first I watered as per instructions 7-10 days but after around three weeks the leaves began to turn brown so I stopped watering but it continued to die so I bought the second which I've watered maybe three times in five months but it too has started to go the same way. I have used water straight from the tap in the past but have recently began filtering it. They are positioned 15 feet across from a south facing window which gets goood light during midday in 20cm pots with multi purpose compost. The first plant now only has leaves at the top of the tall stalk but the shorter one has new sprouts coming two thirds of the way up, would cutting the stalk down encourage growth?

ANSWER: Matt,

I suspect that your city water has fluoride and chlorine in it and this plant hates that.It responds exactly as you stated. To get rid of the fluoride and Chlorine you must leave the water sit in an open bucket for 48 hours before you use it. The fluoride and chlorine will dissipate into the air and then the water is safe to use. Or you can use distilled water.Yes, cutting the stalks down would encourage new growth. On this plant the new growth is usually at the apex of the plant only. Otherwise you are doing everything right. All plants in the Dracaena family have this aversion to fluoride and chlorine. Good luck.

Darlene

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corn plant stump   QUESTION: How long would it normaly take for leaves to grow back because one sprout died back to the stalk and is now a collection of small withered brown leaves and would be as vibrant as before?.
Thank you.

Answer
Matt,

The sprout on the left in the picture looks like it still has some green leaves. Take the brown outer leaves off and cut off the brown sprouts level to the stem. If the plant is in good bright light and you use distilled water and water it within 2 days of the surface of the soil going dry then it should sprout new sprouts within 2-3 months at the most. They should grow to that size within a month or 2. Fertilizing with a Miracle Grow type of water soluble fertilizer would help it grow faster. Good luck!

Darlene Kittle