Planting, flowering, cultivation and care

Overview of cordyline

What light and exposure are ideal for cordyline?

Whether you grow it indoors or outdoors, cordyline has need a bright location And protected from cold drafts to develop well. But be careful, varieties with colored or variegated foliage must be protected from direct sunlight.

What is the ideal temperature for cordyline?

By its origins, cordyline is a plant rather chilly and not very rustic. This means that if you live in a region where frost episodes are rare, you can grow it in the ground.

On the other hand, in other regions, it is more prudent to favor growing in pots so that you can protect your plant at the arrival of the bad season.

Note, however, that certain species of the Cordyline genus, such as cordyline australis, cordyline banksii, which are native to New Zealand, tolerate negative temperatures unlike other species more sensitive to cold, such as cordyline fruticosa. At the time of purchase, it is therefore important to carefully check the hardiness of the chosen species.

Watering cordyline

Cultivation outside

Whether you grow your cordyline in the ground or in a pot outside, it needs a substrate always fresh, but never soggy, especially during the development period, that is, from May to September. When temperatures drop and days get shorter, you need to reduce water intake.

From the second year onwards, you will be able to space out the waterings and finally just water during any prolonged periods of drought.

Growing indoors

If you are growing your cordyline indoors, whether permanently or only during the bad season, it is important to never let the substrate dry and, whatever the season. In summer, it is recommended to water your plant as soon as the surface of the substrate is dry, then from autumn you can start to space out the waterings. Think of empty the saucers after watering to prevent root rot.

Ideal atmospheric humidity

Generally speaking, for optimal development, cordyline needs good atmospheric humidity in addition to regular watering. An atmosphere that is too dry tends to cause its leaves to dry out.

What types of soil and fertilizer for cordyline?

Earth

Cultivated in open ground, cordyline has a preference for rather rich soils, but it can adapt to different types of soil as long as it remains fresh and drained. If the soil in your garden is heavy, it is best to add sand to lighten it, and if it is rather poor, do not skimp on compost. For growing in pots, preferably use a special potting soil for green plants or special Mediterranean plants for its draining properties.

Fertilizer

If you grow your cordyline in the ground, you can provide liquid fertilizer during its growth period, especially if the soil which hosts it is rather poor. You can also add compost around its base in spring or autumn. If you grow it in a pot, it is advisable to add fertilizer once or twice a month, from spring until the end of summer.

Planting and repotting cordyline

Pot cultivation

If you want to grow your cordyline in a pot, here is how to proceed with planting:

• Choose a pot large enough for your plant. Choose a terracotta pot with a hole in the bottom to promote drainage.
• Install a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, with clay balls, for example.
• Install your cordyline in the pot and fill it with potting soil.
• Pack the soil by hand, then water thoroughly.

Your cordyline will need to be repotted every 3 to 4 years. Between repotting, carry out topping each year. This amounts to removing 5 to 6 cm of soil to replace it with new one.

Cultivation in open ground

To plant your cordyline in the ground, it is best to wait until May. Here’s how to do it:

• Soak the root ball in water to rehydrate the roots.
• During this time and after choosing a bright and sheltered location, dig a hole 2 to 3 times larger than the size of the root ball.
• Install a drainage bed with gravel or clay balls at the bottom of the hole.
• Place your plant in the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is not above ground level.
• Fill the hole with soil, being careful not to bury the collar.
• Pack carefully, then water thoroughly.
• Do not hesitate to put mineral mulch all around your plant. It will help the soil stay cool.

How to multiply cordyline?

Cordyline can be multiplied in different ways.

Sowing

You can sow between February and March. To do this :

• Leave the seeds to soak for 24 hours.
• Prepare pots with a suitable substrate.
• Sow by burying your seeds 2 cm deep.
• Store the jars thus prepared at a temperature of 27°C.
• You will have to wait 4 to 6 weeks before seeing your seeds germinate.

If you want to collect seeds directly from your shrub, the plant must flower, which is rare in our territoryand the seeds mature.

Rejection

Another fairly quick and easy solution to implement is to propagate your plant by taking suckers from its base. You then just need to plant these suckers in pots filled with a mixture of earth and sand, and ensure that this substrate is always moist.

Install your pots in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight, and warm. To speed up rooting, you can install your pots in a mini-greenhouse or cover them with plastic.

Cutting

Finally, you can propagate the plant using the cutting technique. To do this :

• Choose a healthy stem about twenty centimeters high and cut it about 10 cm from the base and below a node.
• Remove the leaves, except those at the end of the stem section.
• Lay the section horizontally in a pot filled with a mixture of potting soil and sand. Push two thirds of the section thus lying into the substrate.
• Water in fine rain.
• Maintain a temperature of 20°C and a humid atmosphere. The ideal is to install the pot in a mini-greenhouse or under a cover.
• After a few weeks, when your cutting has developed roots, you can repot it.

How to prune cordyline?

Cordyline does not require pruning.

Cordyline maintenance

Very easy to grow, cordyline requires little maintenance. It comes down to a few actions:

• Remove faded and damaged flowers as you go : this will allow your cordyline to maintain a beautiful appearance.
• When the bad season arrives, protect plants grown in the ground: this amounts to mulching young plants in early fall. If a frost episode is forecast, you can cover your plant with a winter veil.
• When the first cold weather arrives, protect your pot-grown cordyline by sheltering it in a bright room or in a veranda, provided that the temperature does not drop below 5°C throughout the winter.

Species and varieties of cordyline: there are many species

The Cordyline genus has around twenty species to choose from, such as:

• Cordyline australis which comes in different varieties such as ‘Red star’, ‘Sunrise’, etc.;
• Cordyline undivided;
• Cordyline fruticosa;
• etc.

The 4 points to remember about cordyline

• Aestheticcordyline will look great in your garden.
• It can be grown in open ground in regions where the climate remains mild, otherwise it will be necessary to grow it in pots to protect it from the cold in winter.
• It is a plant that only requires low maintenance.
• Resistant to drought episodesbut also to sea spray, it is a vigorous plant.