Hi there! I have 2 corn plants (Massangeana) On one of them, the top of the stalk broke completely off. I am hoping that if I put it in a jar of water, it will sprout roots and I can put it back in the soil. Will that happen with this type of plant? If not, how can I save the part that broke off? It has 8 beautiful leaves on it, 1 new one coming out of the middle. Can it be saved? Please help!! Thank you!

Melissa McRee

Hi Mellisa,

Your broken piece of corn plant will root in water and can be replanted. Don't wait too long after the roots form however because the plant developes water roots that won't grow well in soil after transplanting.

Another alternative is to simply shove the stem directly into the soil, making sure there are several leaf nodes under the soil and the broken piece is sturdy in the soil. You may need to remove a few of the lower leaves first. These leaves would probably die during rooting anyway. Keep the soil only moderately moist, at best, otherwise the cutting will rot. Dip it in rooting hormone first or just fertlize when you water. You should also get one or more new heads coming out of the lower portion of the broken limb which will give you a fuller plant.

Good luck,
Diane