Care Instructions for a Mass Cane Plant

Dracaena fragrans, or fragrans cane, is a flowering plant with leaves that have variegated yellow stripes. The plant is originally from tropical Africa and is a common houseplant in temperate climates. The "Massangeana" cultivar, also known as mass cane, has olive-green leaves that are not variegated. Mass cane is typically no more than 5 feet tall in a container, and is a low-maintenance plant.

Potting mix
Liquid fertilizer
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Provide a mass cane plant with bright light for best growth, though it will tolerate low light conditions.
- 2
  Keep the soil moist during the growing season from spring to winter, without allowing the soil to become soggy. Allow the soil to become dry between watering times during the winter. Mass cane grows well in a typical potting mix, as long as it has good drainage. The plant prefers an average humidity level.
- 3
  Keep mass cane at room temperature as much as possible. This plant will turn its leaves sideways when it gets too hot. If the plant is too cold, the leaves will turn brown around the edges.
- 4
  Dilute a balanced liquid fertilizer with an equal amount of water. Apply this mixture once per month during the mass cane's growing season.
- 5
  Repot a mass cane in the spring when it outgrows its container, usually every three years. The plant grows slowly and does well when it is slightly root bound.
- 6
  Take a 4-inch cutting from the tip of a live stem during the mass cane's growing season. Plant the cutting in another pot, and keep the soil moist until the cutting establishes its own root system.

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