Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

I have a corn plant at work that I'm getting conerned about. I know
"corn plant" is a very faigue name so I looked up some scientific names
that might match the plant I'm talking about. It looks almost
identical to Dracaena Massangeana or Dracaena Fragrans.

This plant is originally from home where it was doing great. I then
brought it into work where it continued to do fine. It was in a
location where it received some natural light (it was about 30-40 feet
from a window) but most of the light came from overhead lighting which
would go off for the most part at night. I've now moved offices where
the plant gets no natural lighting and unforutnely it sits very close
to one of the lights that never goes off so it receives lighting 24/7.
It's been losing a leaf every few weeks for the last few months since
I've moved. So I'm wondering if the fact that it's receiving light
24/7 might be the problem. I'm guessing a plant needs rest time too,
correct? Is there anything I can do other than moving the plant
somewhere else?

Thanks,
Harry

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

I can't help you on the ID, but I will reccomend that you take the plant
home again, as the more leaves it looses, the more energy you are depriving
it of. Try it's smaller cousin, a comon asian Dracaena sold under the name
"lucky bamboo". It'll last a little longer under those conditions, and is
easy to replace.
Murri

"Harry Muscle" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a corn plant at work that I'm getting conerned about. I know
"corn plant" is a very faigue name so I looked up some scientific names
that might match the plant I'm talking about. It looks almost
identical to Dracaena Massangeana or Dracaena Fragrans.

This plant is originally from home where it was doing great. I then
brought it into work where it continued to do fine. It was in a
location where it received some natural light (it was about 30-40 feet
from a window) but most of the light came from overhead lighting which
would go off for the most part at night. I've now moved offices where
the plant gets no natural lighting and unforutnely it sits very close
to one of the lights that never goes off so it receives lighting 24/7.
It's been losing a leaf every few weeks for the last few months since
I've moved. So I'm wondering if the fact that it's receiving light
24/7 might be the problem. I'm guessing a plant needs rest time too,
correct? Is there anything I can do other than moving the plant
somewhere else?

Thanks,
Harry

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

"Harry Muscle" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a corn plant at work that I'm getting conerned about. I know
"corn plant" is a very faigue name so I looked up some scientific names
that might match the plant I'm talking about. It looks almost
identical to Dracaena Massangeana or Dracaena Fragrans.

This plant is originally from home where it was doing great. I then
brought it into work where it continued to do fine. It was in a
location where it received some natural light (it was about 30-40 feet
from a window) but most of the light came from overhead lighting which
would go off for the most part at night. I've now moved offices where
the plant gets no natural lighting and unforutnely it sits very close
to one of the lights that never goes off so it receives lighting 24/7.
It's been losing a leaf every few weeks for the last few months since
I've moved. So I'm wondering if the fact that it's receiving light
24/7 might be the problem. I'm guessing a plant needs rest time too,
correct? Is there anything I can do other than moving the plant
somewhere else?

Thanks,
Harry


Is it also growing new leaves up top? If so, give it time to adjust to the
new situation. Many plants will lose leaves in reaction to situational
changes. Also, Dracaena will lose its lower leaves gradually, even under the
best of conditions. They just get old. Eventually, you end up with longer
trunk than you began with. There's a way around this which involves
something called air layering. You make a notch someplace on the trunk where
you'd like roots to grow. When roots develop, you cut the trunk off below
that point and stick the new "root zone" into a pot. Voila. Shorter plant.

Check this out:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_plants_p...382837,00.html

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

another solution besides taking it back home, or rooting another piece from
the original, would be to substitute a mother in law tongue or Sanseveria
for your dracaena because they can take all kinds of light conditions. low
light, high, you can even forget to water it for a week and it will forgive
you. Sanseveria's are neat and there are more than two kinds now you can
find at most Lowes or Home Depots, and there are people who grow the other
varieties if you want something different. I have five different
Sanseveria's myself.
madgardener who has more tropicals than she knows what to do with sometimes
(especially when they all have to come back inside the house right now)
"Harry Muscle" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a corn plant at work that I'm getting conerned about. I know
"corn plant" is a very faigue name so I looked up some scientific names
that might match the plant I'm talking about. It looks almost
identical to Dracaena Massangeana or Dracaena Fragrans.

This plant is originally from home where it was doing great. I then
brought it into work where it continued to do fine. It was in a
location where it received some natural light (it was about 30-40 feet
from a window) but most of the light came from overhead lighting which
would go off for the most part at night. I've now moved offices where
the plant gets no natural lighting and unforutnely it sits very close
to one of the lights that never goes off so it receives lighting 24/7.
It's been losing a leaf every few weeks for the last few months since
I've moved. So I'm wondering if the fact that it's receiving light
24/7 might be the problem. I'm guessing a plant needs rest time too,
correct? Is there anything I can do other than moving the plant
somewhere else?

Thanks,
Harry

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

It stopped growing any leaves, actually one of the leaves that fell off
was right at the top.

Thanks,
Harry

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

Water softener at the place of business? Odd fumes?

"Harry Muscle" wrote in message
ups.com...
It stopped growing any leaves, actually one of the leaves that fell off
was right at the top.

Thanks,
Harry

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

I've actually been using water from the water cooler to water it lately
(no bathroom close by in my new location), so it was pretty pure, but
I've since switched back to tap water in case that was causing any
issues. As for odd fumes, I can't smell any, but I wouldn't be
suprised if there is something ... my office is in the basement now. :(

Thanks,
Harry

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

"Harry Muscle" wrote in message
ups.com...
I've actually been using water from the water cooler to water it lately
(no bathroom close by in my new location), so it was pretty pure, but
I've since switched back to tap water in case that was causing any
issues. As for odd fumes, I can't smell any, but I wouldn't be
suprised if there is something ... my office is in the basement now. :(

Thanks,
Harry


I'd say give it a couple of weeks and see if it begins to make new leaves.
If not, it's time to get that plant out of there. Is it sitting on a cold
floor?

Corn Plant (dracaena ... ?) loosing leafs
 

The floor is carpeted and it feels fine to the touch.

I'm thinking I might take it home this comming weekend. It's huge
though so it's a pretty big ordeal to move it.

Thanks,
Harry