Nurturing A Corn Plant

Q: We received a corn plant when were married forty-one years ago. Now it’s blooming and the fragrance is wonderful!

A: Given appropriate watering, occasional feeding, and the right amount of light, a corn plant can live to a ripe old age. The plant’s scientific name is Dracaena fragrans, which accounts for its perfumed flower. The flower will last for several weeks on the plant, although you can cut it off sooner if you care to. One thing to understand is that the tip of the plant around the flower stem will die in a few months. This is normal: the plant simply sprouts another stem nearby and continues growing normally.