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Cordyline help 2

stannataylorstannataylor Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hi all since my last post I repotted my Cordyline as it was starting to look sad. However its growing in height but half of the leaves are yellowish and top half looks great, not sure how to help it get back on track, any advise would be appreciated 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @stannataylor. It's the normal pattern for a cordyline to shed the lower leaves as it grows. The bottom leaves will gradually die off, and it'll form a more noticeable trunk. You'll find that over autumn and winter, those lower leaves will wither away and you can remove them. 
    These plants often get called Torbay palms. If you google that, you'll see lots of pix of them in coastal areas of the UK, and especially on the south west coast of England  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • stannataylorstannataylor Posts: 8
    Thanks for quick reply Fairygirl. So it is normal to have dark spots and yellowing leaves seen in pic 1
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I second fairygirl's reply.

    In my view they begin to look scruffy if you don't remove the dead leaves.  They won't fall off on their own.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes- the lower foliage dies off. If the top is healthy and growing well, the plant discards the excess, although it's usually better to remove it as it does look scruffy. You'll eventually have a trunk with foliage at the top. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited August 2022
    Your Cordyline looks like quite a mature plant as it already has a well developed woody trunk.  They generally fare well in containers for only a couple of years before the roots need more space to develop and support the foliage. Yellowing and browning leaves are natural as the plant ages but the high proportion of these on your plant suggests that it is struggling.  If you have a suitable place in your garden, the plant’s health will improve greatly, helped by the addition of organic matter to the soil and regular watering in dry spells.  Both the red and green leaved varieties of Cordyline have a tendency to show signs of leaf spotting more than the variegated variety.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • stannataylorstannataylor Posts: 8
    Hi all since my post nearly a year ago think our cordy is struggling on top however growing from the base please any advise
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited June 2023
    I would cut the trunk just above the newly emerging shoots and find a suitable place for the base and shoots to replant in the ground.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    The top-half already looks dead to me ; follow the advice of @plantminded above ; it's good advice !
  • stannataylorstannataylor Posts: 8
    Wow. Didn't think it was good. Will new shoots grow from were it needs to be cut ? Also can I cut it and leave in the pot ? not really got anywhere to plant it.

    Thanks for replying btw
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    More suitable for open-ground , but if that's a negative then a much larger pot will suffice temporarily .
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