How do you cut the Cordyline?
You can chop the Cordyline back to any point you wish and new shoots will form just below the cut. I angled it slightly to let water run off and used a saw, it is incredibly easy to cut through. You could cut right down at the base and it will reshoot, almost always with multiple growing points.
When is the best time of year to cut cordylines?
The best time is not when I cut it, we live in a microclimate. Wait until spring, around May. This is because Cordylines are slightly tender and the leaves offer the plant some protection from frosts, so it’s best to wait until they’re out of the way.
How do I care for my Cordyline?
Watering: once established, only required in very hot or dry conditions. Garden designers and home-owners alike have discovered the brilliance of foliage plants, and the cordyline has become a must-have.
What is wrong with my Cordyline?
There were three problems with our Cordyline due to the fact our patio is West facing. Firstly, it is leaning more and more toward the sun to the south, this lean was pulling the roots out of the ground.
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How do I stop my Cordyline from growing too high?
Cordylines look at their best when keeping a low profile. So when a cordyline becomes too tall and straggly for its position, take a clean, sharp pair of secateurs, shears or loppers and remove top growth, leaving about 1 foot (40 cms) of bare stem.
How do you trim Cordyline leaves?
In mid spring, once it's obvious which parts of the plant are clearly dead, remove the dead leaves or stem, either sawing part-way down the trunk or just cutting off the dead foliage. Cordylines often regrow and new buds produced from the remaining trunk, or from the ground.
How tall will a Cordyline grow?
Also known as cabbage palms, cordylines are evergreen shrubs or palm-like trees from New Zealand. Young plants look like a low fountain of strappy foliage, then as they mature they form a strong stem and can reach 3–10m (10–30ft) tall, resembling an exotic palm.
When should I cut back my cordyline?
The best time is not when I cut it, we live in a microclimate. Wait until spring, around May. This is because Cordylines are slightly tender and the leaves offer the plant some protection from frosts, so it's best to wait until they're out of the way.
How do I make my Cordylines bushy?
Yes, by pinching or damaging the growing tip will stimulate the growth of side shoots, if the plant is too tall you can even cut the top off to the desired height.
How long does a cordyline live?
50 yearsIn very good conditions a horticultural plant can live to 50 years. Cordylines aged 20-plus years are not uncommon in established nurseries. It takes about four years for a stem cutting to attain an acceptable size and 15 to 20 years for Cordyline to develop a trunk and grow into a tree.
Can you transplant a large cordyline?
Cordylines (aka cabbage trees) are notoriously difficult to transplant. They have fleshy roots that don't take easily to being chopped off and the roots go down farther than you'd imagine.
Do cordylines have deep roots?
A cordyline sends down a long and deep root, almost like an underground extension to its truck (to anchor what is basically a tall spindly plant) and then has lots of smaller fibre like roots.
Why pollard a Cordyline australis?
It’s a good question, why even pollard a Cordyline australis in the first place? Well, I agree, there is no point, the bigger they get the more beautiful they are… usually. I’ve always loved our Cordyline, it seemed to retain its lower leaves in the green better than others I see around.
When to prune a Cordyline australis?
The best time is not when I cut it, we live in a microclimate. Wait until spring, around May. This is because Cordylines are slightly tender and the leaves offer the plant some protection from frosts, so it’s best to wait until they’re out of the way.
Where to prune a Cordyline australis?
You can chop the Cordyline back to any point you wish and new shoots will form just below the cut. I angled it slightly to let water run off and used a saw, it is incredibly easy to cut through. You could cut right down at the base and it will reshoot, almost always with multiple growing points.
How does it grow back?
Our Cordyline started showing signs of new growing points in April, these start as green bumps bursting through the barky trunk. Gradually they form points as you can see above. These new shoots are particularly delicious to snails and slugs which kept eating them so I added the copper tape to prevent this from happening.
Any after care?
Yes, you will need to give it some fertiliser in the form of a compost mulch or liquid seaweed when it’s growing as it has suffered a major loss. Although once the leaves start appearing, it will be back in business, usually with a lot of new shoots.
How to keep cordyline healthy?
To keep your cordyline healthy, remove lower foliage as it starts to look tired. Start from the lowest leaves and work up, and they should pull off easily. Some varieties can become very leggy (all trunk with only a little foliage up top). These can be cut back severely. See "How to propagate a cordyline" for more information.
What is cordyline foliage?
Equally stunning in the garden or in pots and planters, cordyline's handsome strappy foliage comes in colours ranging from greens to reds, pinks, oranges and yellows. Look for varieties that don't form a trunk – they'll stay in a neat clump, and slowly spread.
What are cordylines used for?
Uses of cordylines. The cordyline can be planted in various ways to achieve striking effects: Mass plant for foliage effect. Excellent for adding tropical appeal. Strongly architectural, brilliant in front of a plain wall or fence. Excellent for pots and tubs.
What is a warm and cool cordyline?
Warm and cool temperate cordylines. These are generally hybrids or varieties of Cordyline australis, the New Zealand cabbage palm, so are better suited to cooler conditions. They will survive in warmer regions but may struggle with heat, humidity and high rainfall.
What are the two main groups of cordylines?
There are two main groups of cordyline: Tropical and sub-tropical cordylines. These are landscape flamingos with bold, flamboyant foliage in reds, pinks, yellows and oranges, easily recognised by their broad, lush, tropical-looking foliage. Tropical and sub-tropical cordylines are generally only suitable for warmer climates, ...
Can cordyline root rot?
All varieties of cordyline can suffer from root rot if they remain too wet for too long. This can be avoided by ensuring drainage is good. Warm-climate varieties of cordyline may be attacked by grasshoppers, and cooler-climate varieties can be troubled by snails or slugs.
Do cordylines need sun?
They will need wind protection. Warm and cool temperate cordylines prefer full-sun to part shade. They are adaptable to most soil types, but must have good drainage, and will be tolerant of dry conditions once established. Some forms can tolerate frost and temperatures down to –15°C.
