Corn plant brown tips are a feature that would worry you, as you look through the crops and see them looking unhealthy. Especially when the otherwise healthy plant suddenly gets these tips indicating health issues that must be addressed.
There can be many reasons why the browning forms, and it is important to get to the bottom of the problem to get the right solution. This article explains all the reasons for browning and suggests the right solution to help you out, so continue reading.
Contents
What Are the Reasons for Brown Tips on a Corn Plant?
The reasons for brown tips on corn plants is due to having watering problems, or an imbalance in the humidity. Moreover, it is also due to a recent change that causes it stress, or having an imbalance in the temperature, excessive fertilization, and attacks of different pests.
Corn plants, scientifically known as Dracaena fragrans, or dracaena plant, are evergreen plants native to Africa. It has huge, glossy scythe leaves with a golden stripe along the center. These plants make good houseplants due to their ease of care. Brown tips, on the other hand, are a common indication that you need to enhance your corn plant care.
– Watering Problems
Corn plants grow the best in summer and spring. As a result, they require more fertilizers and water than in the winter. It is recommended to water based on how the soil feels rather than following a watering schedule, but when you don’t do it as such, and water in an excessive way, then you will see that the plant has tips that are turning brown, and it is beginning to change the way it looks.
In hot weather, the soil dries out much faster, necessitating more regular watering of the corn plant. Because the soil stays moist longer in the winter, the plant may require less watering. Tropical plants flourish in humid climates with abundant rainfall.
– Improper Humidity
Despite its tropical origins, the maize plant may grow in locations with little humidity. The ideal humidity range for a maize plant is 40 to almost 50 percent. However, there are various ways to enhance this, and when you begin to see that the range is not as sufficient, you will see the plant growing in a weird-looking way, and the tips will begin to weaken.
– Recent Changes Causing Stress
Any recent change usually causes stress in plants. A plant may show signs of stress due to rapid changes in its soil, illumination, or environment. The corn plant is probably stressed if you’ve recently repotted it or brought it home. Like any other living creature, the maize plant needs more time to get comfortable in its new environment.
The plant should progressively begin to produce typical green leaves without brown areas or streaks. So long as the corn plant gets access to all the nutrients, water, and growth conditions it prefers, but if it has its location and requirements given in an insufficient manner, it will weaken, and you will see signs of stress.
– Instability in Temperature
The maize plant, like many other houseplants, dislikes drafts. Keep the corn plant away from vents and windows, and be sure to open them regularly. Brown-tipped leaves will most likely emerge if the maize plant is left to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
– Insufficient or Excessive Lighting
Corn plants thrive in indirect, bright light; if their leaves are exposed to too much direct sunlight, they may burn. Sunburn can be identified by the presence of brown spots surrounded by golden rings on the leaf of a maize plant.
Too much direct sunlight causes the corn plant’s leaves to curl inwards. The plant is trying to keep itself from drying out in this way. Corn plants are far more tolerant of low light, so keep them away from direct sunshine pouring in through the window. They thrive in bright indirect sunlight but may also tolerate little shade, but when the shades get excessive, it is simple to see it as such.
If the plant stops growing or seems drab in color, it probably needs more artificial illumination than it is getting. Indoor corn plants have it all, so consider planting them inside if you have little choice of outdoor shade, and this is why the corn plant care indoors is fairly simple and will yield good results.
– Excessive Fertilization
Overfertilization can also cause the leaves of the maize plant to turn brown. Another indicator of excessive fertilization is salt deposition on the soil’s surface. From April through September, using a plant fertilizer once a month will be enough to feed your maize plant with the required nutrients.
If you suspect the plant has been over-fertilized, flush the soil with water, and allow the water to drain through the soil at the bottom of the container. If the plant appears to be over-fertilized, repotting with a fresh potting mix is the best alternative.
– Attacks of Pests
Corn plant turning brown are particularly susceptible to a wide variety of pests. Insects can be avoided by regularly spraying your plants, for instance, spider mites, little moving specks, usually white or red, and when they attack, they begin to harm it. They are frequently spotted on the undersides of leaves, and small thin webs can be seen occasionally.
The mites create stippling on the leaves, often followed by browning. They prefer hot, dry environments and will repel any frequently misted plants. If your plant has mites, thoroughly clean it or remove the brown leaves with a damp cloth.
It can also be facing some mealybugs, which are slow-moving insects with waxed filaments on their torsos, giving them the appearance of a cottony mass. They are sap-sucking insects that live on the leaves of your plant. Lastly, thrips, are little black insects that feed on the fluids in your plant’s leaves. As a result, your corn plant’s leaves will turn silver or acquire brown stripes.
What Are Solutions To Prevent Brown Tips From Corn Plants?
Solutions to prevent brown tips from corn plants are to enhance the humidity levels around them, and you can also water them adequately, and provide proper temperature around the plant. You must enhance proper drainage, get rid of weeds, improve the lighting, and protect it from pests.
– Enhance the Humidity
Spritzing the maize plant one to almost two times each week keeps the leaves moist and prevents them from drying out. You can also group your houseplants to make a humidification zone in your home. A third option is to use a stone tray to improve humidity while keeping the plant from being entirely submerged in water, which can cause root rot when you are watering it excessively.
– Adequate Watering
Many people want to know how often to water dracaena corn plants. Corn plants demand less water than other indoor plants. Once a week is sufficient, they can be watered again until the surface soil of the container is dry.
Under the pot, a tray should be placed. Water the plants slowly until the water drains out of the pot bottom, then drain the extra water in the tray after 30 minutes. Leaves may fall due to too much water, inconsistent watering, and insufficient drainage. During the day, fine water mists can be sprayed toward the leaves to improve the ambient humidity and keep the leaf edges from drying.
It should be mentioned that the Fluoride in tap water is toxic to the corn plant. Long-term tap water use may cause dark blotches or yellow leaves borders on their leaves. If you are doing everything right and still the corn plant leaves turning yellow, this is probably the cause. Thus, it is best to use collected rainwater or pure water; alternatively, tap water can be held in a container for one night and then watered once the Fluoride has been lowered.
Fluoride and chlorine in tap water can induce the browning of corn plant leaves. While rainfall is the most environmentally friendly option, purified or filtered water can also be used. If you use tap water, leave it on the counter for at least a day before watering to allow some toxins to evaporate. While your plant’s existing brown foliage will not return to green, it should start producing new green leaves.
– Provide Good Temperature
Corn is a subtropical plant that prefers a warm and humid climate. Another reason your corn plant leaves turn brown and yellow is the temperature in which they are situated. It grows best at temperatures ranging from 60 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is less cold-resistant and may be damaged below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
The corn plant is relatively drought-resistant and can be grown outdoors in a warm, humid, and shady climate, but it is more commonly grown inside. Generally, a humidifier can improve humidity, or a tray of pebbles can be placed under the pot bottom to supplement some water to promote humidity.
– Enhance Field Drainage
Several dangers are reduced during a growing season, including field ponding, compaction, seedbeds, nitrogen loss, and poor root development. Young plants do not like soggy soils, and people need to work on corn hybrids that do. In addition, when soils are saturated, soil nitrate-nitrogen disappears through leaching or denitrification.
– Get Rid of the Weeds
Use trash cleaners on the planter, kill any winter annual weeds, and then plant on the dry side of conditions if possible. Late planting isn’t a yield killer if you can get that perfect seedbed. You can target the weeds by simply pulling them out if you wish or spraying some vinegar on them, be careful of spraying it on the stem of the plant.
– Improve Lighting
The ideal light for your corn plant is filtered sunlight. The corn plant light requirements are simple, and it thrives in filtered sunshine, so place it near a window. Too little light makes the leaves lose color variegation and may hinder plant growth. Direct sunlight can cause the plant’s leaves to burn and wilt; outdoors, the plant thrives in a shadier location.
In short, you must keep in mind that filtered sunlight is the ideal light for your corn plant. This plant thrives in filtered sunshine, so place it near a window. Too little light causes the leaves to lose color variegation and may hinder plant growth. Direct sunlight can cause the plant’s leaves to burn and wilt. Outdoors, the plant thrives in a shadier location.
– Protect from Pests
To eliminate mealybugs, dip a cloth in alcohol and wipe away any visible bugs. Prepare a solution of one cup of rubbing alcohol, four cups of water, and a few droplets of castile soap. Spritz this solution all over the plant and repeat every week or two weeks until the infestation is gone.
You can also rinse the leaves well with water to get rid of thrips. Spray the plant again with the same mixture, paying special attention to damaged leaves. You can also try to place predators like caterpillars and beetles, flea beetles, Japanese beetles, and sap beetles, which are effectively controlled with common vegetable garden contact pesticides such as carbaryl, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, permethrin, or bifenthrin.
Conclusion
Corn plants are usually easy to care for and are termed low-maintenance plants but may occasionally get problems like the browning of the tips. Here is what you can do to prevent that from occurring:
- Take good care of the environment of the corn plants by looking after their temperature requirements, humidity, and amount of light they receive.
- Pest control and adequate fertilization also play an important role in the care.
- The maize plant can withstand a wide range of temperatures and grows best at temperatures ranging from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Corn leaves develop dark tips due to insufficient watering, humidity, the type of water used, stress, temperature, lighting, fertilizer, or pests.
- Make sure to water the plants as per their need. Over-watering and insufficient watering both lead to browning of the tips.
With this guide in mind, you will soon have many thriving corns in your home.
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