Introduction
Mass cane, also known as corn plant or striped dracaena, is a slow-growing indoor plant that produces rosettes of flowers and fruits. It is native to Africa and grows in the wild there.
Mass cane is a popular houseplant because it is easy to care for and can tolerate low light levels. The plant does best in bright, indirect light but can also tolerate some direct sun.
Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Allow the soil to dry out completely between watering to prevent root rot. Feed the plant every two weeks during the growing season with a general-purpose fertilizer diluted to half-strength.
Mass cane is an azalea, so it benefits from being placed in an acidic potting mix. The plant can be propagated from stem cuttings taken in spring or summer.
Essentials
Soil
Well-draining soil is all these hardy plants need. It is low maintenance. It can be fertilized once a month. Nutritious soil only helps it grow better. Drainage holes at the bottom of the container are pivotal to maintaining a good, healthy mass cane plant.
Watering
Check for soil dryness and water once a week or even twice a week depending on how much water remains in the soil. Although a native of Africa, it is not very picky about either soil or temperature as long as it’s indoors. If you are growing this outdoors, remember that this plant is of a tropical origin and may not tolerate cold temperatures.
Flowering
Variations in temperature and light may induce flowering. Flowering takes up a lot of energy from the plant and it’s best to remove blooms when indoors. Flowers are sometimes fragrant. However, indoors they do not contribute to the plant’s reproductive process and end up causing undue stress to the plant.
Fruiting
Fruits are bright yellow in color and look like cherry tomatoes. They are 1-2 cm in diameter and are full of small seeds. The seeds are usually not used for plant propagation.
Propagation
Mass cane propagation is done via stem cuttings. 10-20 cm long stems are dried and planted into well-draining soil or sand. Plant roots after a few weeks and new growth show up in the cuttings at the top of the stem.
Pests and diseases
Mealybugs, scale insects, thrips, and Spider mites affect mass cane plants. Soapy water sprays and neem oil sprays can be used to rid the plant of these bugs.
Irritation to pets
This plant is toxic to pets. Swelling of the mouth, and tongue in pets is a common symptom if pets chew on leaves. This is because of the presence of calcium oxalate in the plant.
