Questioni have a corn plant that seemed healthy but lots of the top tier leaves have got brown spots and and then the leaves turn yellow and die. it has been in front of the same window for years and seems to just started a month ago. i have fertilized it with miracle grow but no change. can you help me?
AnswerHi Jeff,
Corn plant leaf spotting can occur when the soil is too dry; when roots are compacted at the bottom of the pot; when soil pH becomes to acidic; or when mineral salts from excess fertilizer or hard water build up in the soil.
Pull the plant out of the pot. If you find only one or two large roots at the bottom of the rootball, then cut them off, add a little soil to the bottom of the original pot and put the plant back in.
If you have a mass of large roots wrapped around just the bottom of the rootball, then pull them loose and cut the big ones off. Add an inch or two of fresh soil to the bottom of the original pot and put the plant back in.
If you find a mass of roots completely surrounding the entire outside of the rootball, then loosen these roots and repot the plant into a pot one size larger. Never add soil to the top of the rootball.
If your local tap water is hard, then use filtered or distilled instead.
Fertilizer doesn't help corn plants and often causes problems, so skip it altogether.
If you have had your corn plant for several years, then the soil may have become too acidic. You can remedy this by adding some horticultural lime to the soil.
The leaves that already have spots will not re-green so you may want to trim them off for appearances sake.
Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
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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