Save this plant?

Question: Hello,

This is an office plant that has seen some neglect in the last few months.  Two questions:  What is the name of the plant?  And my boss wants to know if we can cut off the top and root the plant, or do something else to restore it to health?

Thank you!

responder: Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied March 10, 2023, 11:44 AM EST
response: That plant is a type of Dracaena,  and this aptly named variety is commonly known as "Corn plant".  Young corn plants have low bunching leaves but it's normal as they age to grow straight up and drop older leaves, leaving the scarred stem as you have there. We think you have a good chance of success in making it healthier/happier. It looks like it's been a long time since it's been repotted. We'd suggest maybe a slightly larger pot. Put the plant on its side and roll and push the pot around to loosen it to remove it from the present container.  We'd expect it may be pretty rootbound. You will want to shake off as much soil as possible while cutting and untangling what roots you can. Black or dry roots are dead. You will want to slice vertically down the edges in a few places to open up the roots to new growth. Use fresh potting soil to set the plant generally at the same depth (but you can cover the gray woody roots) in the new pot and lightly tamp down and water it well (outdoors or in a sink/tub so that water runs freely out of the bottom. Add more soil if you need to.  For best health, these plants need bright light- (not direct sun) but ideally maybe 2-3 hours a day of sunlight filtered through a transparent blind or curtain.  The top looks pretty happy so it could go back where it was but lack of light will continue to elongate stems of plants which will reach for light.  The plants like temps between 65-75F. If it goes too cool leaves could droop and fall. They also appreciate high humidity so placing the pot on a saucer or tray of damp pebbles or mist-spraying them regularly is helpful.  During the spring and summer periods of active growth, water plentifully as often as needed to keep the soil well moistened but don't allow the pot to sit in water. (I realize this is rare in an office setting, which shows you how tough these plants are!) They rest a bit in winter and so need less water then.  You can start feeding it now, applying a standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the active growth period.  Now.  If you don't want to or can't repot it, you could try gently tipping/scraping out some old soil, pushing a dowel or pencil deep into the soil in multiple places and refreh it with new potting soil into the holes and covering the grey/woody looking roots.  Cutting the top off somewhere above the tan, thicker junction should allow the plant to push out a new top with time.   You *can* cut the top off with 4-6 inches of stem and try to get it to root in a new 4-6" pot of slightly moistened rooting mixture of equal parts of peat moss or coarse sand and perlite.  For high humidity, you could put a plastic bag tented around it and it would have to stay in a warm, partially shaded position until rooting in 4-6 weeks. <This is an older school of thought- I personally would just use a good fluffy potting soil mix, take a longer stem and stick it in there, keep it watered and see what happens.  Much more than you wanted to know I'm sure. I think it is nice though that you and your boss are interested in keeping it alive if you can- that's how I am too. But if not, you can send it home with someone or to the trash and new ones can be had pretty inexpensively.   Christine

responder: The Question Asker Replied March 10, 2023, 1:02 PM EST
response: Thank you for so much great information!  Catherine    On Fri, Mar 10, 2023 at 11:44 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied March 10, 2023, 1:02 PM EST
response: Thank you for so much great information!  Catherine

responder: Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied March 10, 2023, 1:14 PM EST
response: You are welcome! We are happy to help.