Corn plants make excellent houseplants since they are so easy to care for. However brown tips are a common indication that you need to improve how you care for your corn plant.
In this article, I want to look into the most common reasons why corn plants get brown leaf tips and what you can do against them.
Corn Plant Brown Tips
The corn plant leaves develop brown tips due to inconsistent watering, humidity, type of water used, stress, temperature, lighting, fertilizer, or pests.
The Corn Plant
Corn plants are evergreen plants native to Africa with the scientific name Dracaena fragrans. Its scythe leaves are large and lustrous, with a golden stripe running across the center.
Corn plants may reach over four feet in height, even inside, and have a palm-tree-like appearance, making them a lovely addition to homes or businesses.
But, if your corn plants don’t grow to their maximum height, you have to know the potential reasons behind it.
Corn plants, on the other hand, have a tendency to have brown tips on their leaves.
1. Inconsistent Watering
Summer and spring are when corn plants develop the most. Therefore, they need more nutrients and water than they do in the winter.
It is preferable to water according to what the soil feels like rather than following a watering plan.
In warm months, the soil will dry up faster, requiring you to have to water the corn plant more frequently. During the winter, the plant may require less watering because the soil will keep moist for longer.
Tropical plants thrive in humid areas with plenty of rainfall. So, as far as possible, strive to reproduce this setting in your own house.
2. Humidity
Despite its origins in the tropics, the maize plant can thrive in areas with little humidity.
A maize plant’s optimum humidity range is 40-50 percent. However, you can improve this in several methods.
Spritzing the corn plant 1-2 days a week will keep the leaves wet and assist them from drying out.
You may also arrange your houseplants together to create a humidification zone in your home.
A third alternative is to use a stone tray to increase humidity while also ensuring that the plant does not lie completely in water, which can cause root rot.
3. Type of Water Used
Fluoride and chlorine in tap water can cause the leaves of corn plants to turn brown.
While rainwater is the most environmentally friendly choice, you may also use purified or filtered water.
Unless tap water is your only option, let it rest on the countertop for at least 24 hours until watering to enable some of the contaminants to dissipate.
While the old brown foliage will not return to green, your plant should begin to produce new green leaves.
4. Stress
Stress in plants is generally triggered by a recent change. Whether it’s the plant’s soil, illumination, or surroundings, a plant may show indications of stress as a result of abrupt changes.
If you’ve just repotted the corn plant or just brought it home, it’s possible that it’s stressed out.
The corn plant, like any other living thing, needs time to adapt and acclimate to its new surroundings.
The plant should gradually start to produce typical green leaves free of brown patches and streaks. As long as the corn plant has all of the nutrients, water, and growth circumstances that it prefers.
5. Temperature
The corn plant, like other houseplants, isn’t fond of drafts.
Keep the corn plant away from vents, making sure to regularly open them as well as the windows. Although the corn plant can endure a broad variety of temperatures, it thrives best at temps between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the maize plant is exposed to temperatures below 50°F or over 90°F, brown-tipped leaves will most likely emerge.
6. Lighting
Corn plants thrive under bright, indirect light. The leaves of the plant might burn if exposed to excessive direct sunlight.
The presence of brown patches encircled by golden rings on the leaf of a corn plant is a telltale indication of sunburn.
The corn plant’s leaves will bend inwards from too much direct sunshine. The plant is attempting to prevent itself from drying out in this manner.
Corn plants are much more tolerant of low light, so place the plants away from direct sunlight coming through the window if possible.
Corn plants thrive in strong indirect sunshine, although they may also tolerate little shade.
It’s likely that the plant requires more artificial lighting than it receives if it stops growing or seems dull in color.
7. Fertilizer
Overfertilizing can also cause the corn plant’s leaves to become brown.
Salt accumulation, which is visible on the soil surface, is another sign of overfertilization. Using a plant fertilizer once per month from April to September will be more than enough to provide your maize plant with the nutrients it requires.
If you feel the plant has been over-fertilized, you should flush the soil with water. Let the water drain through the container’s bottom via the soil.
If the plant still looks to be over-fertilized, repotting the plants with new potting soil is the best option.
8. Pests
Corn plants are extremely vulnerable to a wide range of pests. Insects may be avoided by spraying your plants on a regular basis, so here are some of the most common culprits and how to spot them:
Spider Mites
Spider mites are small moving specks that are generally white or red in color. They are frequently seen on the undersides of leaves, and tiny thin webs are occasionally visible.
Spider mites cause stippling on the leaves, which is proceeded mostly by the browning of the leaf. They love hot, dry conditions and they will resist any plants that are misted frequently.
If your plant does have mites, properly clean it or wash the leaves with a moist cloth to get rid of them.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are slow-moving insects that eat in clusters and have waxed filaments on their bodies that give them the appearance of a cottony mass.
They’re sap-sucking insects feeding on your plant’s leaves.
To get rid of mealybugs, soak a cloth in some alcohol and use them to wipe away any visible bugs. Make a solution of 1 cup of rubbing alcohol, 4 cups of water, put a few droplets of castile soap.
Spritz the entire plant with this solution and repeat every week or two weeks till the infestation is gone.
Thrips
Thrips are small black insects that feed on the fluids from your plant’s leaves. Your corn plant’s leaves will become silver or develop brown stripes as a result of them.
To get rid of thrips, thoroughly rinse the leaves with water. Spray the plant with the same mixture as before, giving special attention to diseased leaves.
Conclusion
Use these corn plant brown tips to keep or revive your corn plant’s brown foliage so they look healthy and beautiful again.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.