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Cordylinefruticosa ( homer - dil - LYE - nee froo - tih - KOH - suh ) is a perennial , broadleaf evergreen plant plant life hailing from Southeast Asia , Eastern Australia , Hawaii , Papua New Guinea , and other Pacific Islands .
It is a extremity of the Asparagaceae family along with the popularDracaena varietiesand was formerly known as Cordyline terminalis .
Photo Credit: Instagram @rafenewyork
The plant life ’s genus name , Cordyline , is come from the Greek , kordyle , which means “ a baseball club . ”
The specific name , fruticosa , means shrubby .
The specific name , terminalis , entail terminal ( death ) emplacement .
Many call the cordyline plant by the coarse name of :
Cordyline Red Sisteris a pop evergreen bush kind found in many garden centers .
Cordyline Fruticosa Care
Size & Growth
Baby Doll Ti Plant has a medal - like growth substance abuse .
It typically grows as a medium - sized shrub or small tree , about 10′ invertebrate foot high , but it can attain heights of 15′ foot under idealistic lot .
The typical spread is between 3′ and 8′ feet .
The leaves of the Ti plant are 30 ” in long with a width of 6 ” inches .
They are showy and colorful with streak of green , pink , red , and purple .
Mature plants typically shed their dispirited leaves .
If you have a bright southern windowpane or a sunshine porch the Cordyline can make wonderful home plant life .
Flowering & Fragrance
Indoor plant of C. terminalis seldom bloom , but when save alfresco , this seasonal flub bring about low , fragrant flowers in nuance of white , icteric , reddish or wan lavender in the spring .
The tiny blooms are arranged on panicle , which may be a foot long .
They transition into showy red berries .
Light & Temperature
Cabbage Palm prefer plenty of bright , collateral sun .
As an indoor plant , it does very well with the ordered , comfortable indoor temperature found in most homes and power setting .
Set houseplants outdoors during the spring and summer in temperate climate .
Be certain to cater shelter from harsh elements and bring the plant indoors well before the first frost .
Kept outdoors year - round , Ti Plant is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10 - 12 .
In the United States , it can only thrive outdoors in Florida and Hawaii .
Outdoors , the bush can do well in light configurations browse from cryptical shade to full Lord’s Day .
More Sunday brings out more leaf color .
Watering & Feeding
Hawaiian Ti likes consistently moist soil and high humidity .
Give it a good lacrimation when the grunge surface has dried out .
Set houseplants onto a pebble tray with water to ameliorate humidity around the works , but be deliberate not to allow the water in the tray to touch the bottom of the container .
Ti Plant should never bear in body of water .
Use rainwater , filtered water , or bottled water to water Red Sister because the plant is sensitive to fluoride and other chemical typically found in tap water .
Fertilize lightly with a balanced , liquid houseplant fertilizer cut to half strength .
Do not use superphosphate fertilizers .
If using a chondritic slow - release plant food , do not permit fertilizer to touch the foliage or stems as this can cause electrocution .
Protect the plant life against any contact with chemicals ( including leaf radiance product ) because these plants are specially sensitive to non - organic substances .
If growing in the landscape painting , be certain to amend the soil with constitutive topic to ply nourishment and good drainage .
Keep it moist . Cordyline fruticosa is not drouth tolerant .
Planting Cordylines: Soil & Transplanting
Red Sister Ti flora do well in gamey - quality potting admixture , not containing perlite ( which hold fluoride ) .
The pH floor should be around 6 - 6.5 .
Soil loamy , sandy , or even on the clay side is fine , as long as it ’s amended with peat or other organic subject to meliorate drain , keep the right amount of wet , and provide some nourishment .
If planting in a pot or container , remember Ti plant tend to be top - heavy , so choose a sturdy , heavy container to preclude toppling .
If embed in the landscape , cater support to prevent toppling .
Grooming & Maintenance
As sentence occur , your Cordyline fruticosa may become a minute leggy and the leaf tips may brown .
Keep up with regular pruning to remove utter leaves .
shave back stems to produce a staggered pattern of stems of varying pinnacle .
When grown indoors clean the leave of absence as they compile dust .
How To Propagate Cordyline Fruticosa
Propagate Cabbage Tree by laying 3 ” – 5 ” inch stem turn sections ( aka Ti logs ) on a bed of damp gravel or Baroness Dudevant in a warm , sheltered area with low , indirect kindling .
Roots and leaves should soon appear , and then transplant your new Ti plant into their own potbelly and treat them as mature plants .
Ti Plants Pest or Disease Problems
When grown as a sign of the zodiac works wanderer soupcon can become an issue on the bottom of leave in hot teetotal environments . pick up spider hint .
Overwatering or overcrowding can have the Ti Plant to have problem with maladies such as :
These bacterial infection get black of the roots and slimy leaves .
Unfortunately , once a bacterial infection has plant in , it is fairly impossible to treat .
You ’ll just need to get disembarrass of the infected plant life .
Avoid having bacterial contagion overrun your plant collection by checking all new plants cautiously for symptom before bringing them home .
If you see spots on your works ’ leaves and stems surrounded by yellowish , purple , blood-red , chocolate-brown , or tan , you may be dealing with the Phyllosticta leaf spot .
To prevent this , avoid overhead watering .
To do by it , try an practical app of a commercial house plant fungicide .
If your plants uprise water - soaked , brown leave at the level of the soil , you may have aPhytophthoraLeaf speckle contagion in abidance .
While preventative software of houseplant fungicide may prevent this from happening , once your plant is infected , it must be cast aside .
Is Cordyline Fruticosa Toxic Or Poisonous?
Baby Doll Ti Plant istoxic to true cat and dogs , harmonize to the American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To animals .
Its toxic precept is saponins , which do symptoms , including :
Is The Plant Considered Invasive?
This plant life is not known to be incursive in the contiguous United States .
Suggested Cordyline Fruticosa Uses
In Hawaii , the leaves of this little tree are often used in the fabrication of hula chick .
Additionally , when properly prepared , the rootstalk are edible .
In tropic folklore , the Good Luck Plant is said to repel vicious intent and ghosts and to bring skilful fortune , so it is traditional to engraft one of these shrubs near the entrance to the base for security and luck .
Cordyline earn an attractive accent terrace plant life and is a lovely specimen plant when establish in the landscape painting in USDA hardiness zone 10 – 12 .
In all climate , Ti Plant have a colorful and interesting houseplant .
