Question
I have a cane plant that all the leaves are brown on one side.  This is due to it
previous owner having the one side crammed in a corner.  Can I cut them off.
The other question is when should I transplant it.  It fills the pot it's in now with
about an inch and a half between the pot and the plant.

Answer
Hi Jina,

Yes, you can certainly trim off all of the brown (dead) leaves. They will never recover and it will not harm the plant in any way to trim them off.

If your cane plant is a Dracaena massangeana cane (Corn Plant), then it probably does not need to be repotted. You cannot go by external appearance to determine when repotting is necessary.

Water your plant thoroughly. If it takes more than 2 or 3 days before the top quarter of the soil dries out, then it does not need a larger pot.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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