Corn house plant - Ask Extension
My friend has a very tall corn plant, she has had it for many years. She asked me if and how she can prune it?
I was not too sure. I have a dracaena ...
Knowledgebase
Corn house plant #924495
Asked February 12, 2026, 10:01 AM EST
My friend has a very tall corn plant, she has had it for many years. She asked me if and how she can prune it?
I was not too sure. I have a dracaena that I prune by just cutting it back then rooting the cutting and planting but mine looks a bit different than this one. How should she proceed?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
There are several species of Corn Plant (Dracaena) grown as houseplants, but they can be treated the same way you have been managing your plant: by cutting the top off as needed and rooting it, to either replant in the same pot later or to use in a new pot. These plants do not branch to the extent that more tree-like species (say, Ficus) would, so pruning will mostly only temporarily lower their height until new growth regains that stature over time and the process needs to repeat itself.
Miri
Miri
