Question
QUESTION: "My 28 year old mature corn plan has been cut down to its wood base which is about 5 feet tall.  There is a flourishing cutting planted with it along with flourishing cuttings potted all over the house.  

But having totally over pruned it, I now need to get the main stalk to put out new shoots and leaves. So I have the following questions:  

1) How far down do I need to cut the mature stalk to get new shoots/leaves to grow?

2)Do I need to put any material over the area that is cut?
I noticed that there is some sort of covering on the main stalk where it was cut many years ago.

3) What is best equipment to use to cut the wood stalk.  It is thick, my hand does not reach fully around it.

Your help and advice are very much appreciated as I have had this plant for 28 years and am very attached to it.

Thanks so much!

Tracy

ANSWER: Hi Tracy,

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to promote additional growth on your corn plant cane. Cutting the cane itself will not promote growth. It is possible that a new stem will emerge somewhere near the top of the cane, but that may never happen, despite your best efforts. All you can do is to wait patiently for a month or two. If there is no spontaneous new growth by then, you can assume there never will be.

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.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]




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

QUESTION: Hey guess what!  Yesterday as I went to water the off shoot planted in the same pot, I noticed a brand new shoot has popped up from the soil right up against the cane. I assume this means the cane is still alive and shall continue to water as I have been.  Will it eventually grow enough to replace the ceiling high plant I loved so much?

Thanks again!

Tracy :)
ANSWER: Hi Tracy,

I hate to burst your enthusiastic bubble, but I don't want to raise any unrealistic expectations.

When new growth appears at the base of a cane, it usually means the cane is in its last throes of life. I have seen this happen dozens of times over the he years and only once have a seen the new plantlet survive and grow to any significance - (after 5 years it is now about 2.5 feet tall). Perhaps yours will defy the odds and make it, but don't get your hopes too high. Sorry.

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.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]



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

QUESTION: Will removal of the cane when the the little plant is bigger give it a better chance of survival? Or will that damage the roots?  I have three strong off-shoots growing in their own pots and they seem to be thriving, this plant was pretty strong in it's day.

I will do whatever I can to save the new shoot so let me know what you recommend, even if it just a litle prayer against the inevitable.  

Thanks for your advice and help!

Tracy  

Answer
Hi Tracy,

Your best bet is to remove the baby plant from the cane and then pot it up in a small pot with a porous potting mix.

The cane is probably gone. If the bark on the lower portion of the cane feels loose and papery, then it is definitely finished without even a prayer against the inevitable (I like that phrase!)

Good luck!

~Will