Question
I want to repot my corn plant, Dracaena fragrans.  I have no idea what to do or if I should even bother.  It is growing very well in a small 8 inch plastic pot, there are three trunks, tallest is about 4 feet and the leaves extend up to about 5 1/2 feet.  Should I repot and what else can/should I do?

Thanks much as this is my first plant

Joe  

Answer
Hi Joe,

Follow the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Unnecessary repotting is the single most common cause of plant failure. As long as the plant is healthy and as long as the soil stays moist for at least a couple of days after a thorough watering, then you should leave it in the same pot.

If it becomes top-heavy, as corn plants sometimes do, then set the plant and its plastic pot inside a larger terra cotta or ceramic pot. The outer pot will provide the ballast (weight) necessary to keep the plant from tipping over.

If your plant becomes so heavily potbound that the soil dries out every day or so, then you should move it into a 9" or 10" pot. Loosen the roots around the outside of the rootball before moving it into the larger pot.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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

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