Solved How to tend this plant.

Can anyone tell me the name of this plant and how to tend it?

First thoughts are it needs a larger container. I have also been told I need to break off the lower faded leaves.

 

Its a cordyline. The green ones are winter hardy in the UK, coloured ones can be hit and miss.

I'd plant it in the garden but pot in a larger container as a minimum.

As for leaves, when they die at the bottom of the plant pull them downwards and slightly sideways - the leaf will pull off easily if its ready to go.

 

what I do to keep in the same container (if it gets too big and leggy) is take the plant out of the pot and using a saw cut a 1/4 off the way from the bottom using the saw/cut straight through the compost , then drop the plant back in to its origianal pot and top up with fresh compost to the same level it was at originally .... the stem will send out new roots into the fresh compost ...If you pot up the piece you cut off and cover with a good layer of compost you will have new plants appear in a couple of months ... Be brave , it works well as it stops the stem looking too leggy and you can keep in the original pot ...

Spruce

 

Sounds awfully brutal to me Spruce but sounds like a plan. Unfortunately passed my strength level, as indeed the potting on is, but I will pass this information onto my sons whom I'm sure will help.

Thanks so much for your advice.

 

Thanks for identification. I wasn't sure about resistance to frost so covered them (there are actually two) with fleece to protect from frost. I only have a small patio so garden planting isn't an option. What did you think of Spruce's solution?

 

No not brutal it like having a slice of cake but leaving some for others , same pot a top of compost ...easy sons sound a good idea

 

Thanks again Spruce, it does sound like the way to go.