Cordyline

My cordyline looks a bit under the weather (see attached). It's leaves, especially the lower leaves, look really scruffy. I am hoping I can revive it. Does anyone have any ideas. Should I



re-pot it? Should I cut the worst of the leaves off? Help greatly appreciated!

 

It looks okay to me, they lose lower leaves as they grow, could be a bit of wind damage.

 

what I do is take it out the pot get a saw cut it in half (root ball) put the bottom part to one side , put back in the pot and top up with fresh compost covering the stem as you go.

Keeps it a sensible height for the size of pot
The stem will root into the fresh compost

And the part you cut off put in a pot and cover with compost and in 6 or 7 weeks you will have new plants showing through.

Spruce

 

Thanks Spruce. Would never have thought of that in a million years. Can I do that now, in June?

 

best time while its starting to regrow so yes do now , I have had the same plant in the same pot for years .
And re plant the part you cut off and cover with about 3 to 4 inches of fresh compost and you will have few more before the end of the summer.

Spruce

 

Ok, experimented with this as advised. Top part not looking great...





Bottom part growing! Need advice on what to with this now...





Any help appreciated!

 

Hi

Just a quick update , so you cut through the roots and compost and dropped it down and re planted and the old part of the root has made new shoots ??

 

Yes that's right. I'm not sure what to do with the new plants, which are all growing out of the old stump

 

I told you they would grow from the old root , put the whole lot in a pot and next spring you can divide if you want, cut them from the original root.

I think it came as a bit of a shock for the main plant , you need to keep in the shade for now as the roots develop , as most probably in this hot weather not enough roots to draw up enough water , I would remove the tatty leaves from the bottom of the plant .

make sure it doesnt dry out no need to feed if you have used new compost

 

Brilliant! Should i mulch it in the winter and then divide in spring? When i cut it off the old root, how much of the old root should i take with it?

 

I told you they would grow from the old root , put the whole lot in a pot and next spring you can divide if you want, cut them from the original root.

I think it came as a bit of a shock for the main plant , you need to keep in the shade for now as the roots develop , as most probably in this hot weather not enough roots to draw up enough water , I would remove the tatty leaves from the bottom of the plant .

Make sure it doesn't dry out no need to feed it , if its fresh compost.

have you a greenhouse ? if not keep close to the house wall for protection , yes you can mulch the top , cut off the growing parts where you can see new roots and then pot them up fresh compost , and just grow them on