making cordyline cuttings

[Patrick]

Hello all

I have a stalk on a cordyline that I need to cut down in the next couple months. I'd imagine the process of propigating new plants from this stem is not tough, but I've never done it. I was hoping some folks could shed a little light on just how to do this, and what works and what doesn't. Thanks in advance for the advice!

Also, if anyone locally is interested when I do cut this thing up, let me know and I will start a plant or two for you.

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

Hope this helps: http://www.jaycjayc.com/jan10-propagate-cordylines-ti/

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

Also, I usually get a root tone powder and mix with water to make a paste. Then us a brush and paint the canes to help with root growth.

[Wai`anae Steve]

When cutting in to the short pieces cut the bottom on an angle and the top straigt. That way if you plant them vertical you'll know which end goes in the ground.

I like to lay them horizontal in the pot. I found that planting vertica sometime after the plant gets a few inches tall the cutting dies and then the new growth fol lows as it doesn't have roots.

If horizontal the new shoots will be rooted.

[Walter John]

I'm going to take a cutting of one this afternoon, so I can show you the easy peasy method in picture later on, no root hormone, no big deal, just cut and plant. It's too hot outside at present.

[Tropicgardener]

I just cut mine and put the tops straight into the pot with normal potting mix. I then keep the pots with trays of water underneath, within weeks roots are coming out of the bottom of the pots. I do the same with short cane cuttings but I ensure that they are planted the right way up........if unsure just put them down horizontally (the Hawaiian way). I don't use any hormones whatsoever as Cordyline fruticosa generally strikes very easily. Some of the Australian native Cordylines however are more difficult to strike by stem cutting so I take tuber cuttings.

[Patrick]

I promised Iwan I'd post some pictures of my Cordyline so we could possibly get an I.D. on it. I'm anticipating maybe a little leaf burn this weekend with the cold coming in. It will get down to the high 20's over the next couple of days. As you can see, this plant is right up against the house so it gets a little insulation. The stalk coming out is the one on the far right. It keeps thinking it's my pimp and smacks me in the face on a daily basis.

The white-ish areas are mealy bugs- eggs or something, they kind of hang out on it, but they're manageable. I guess it's where all the mealy 'cool kids' hang out.

And here's one of my heliconia which suprisingly hasn't melted to the ground yet over the past two winters- we still did get below 30 though. WHAT A MESS!!!!!

And here's a picture of my dog because she's cute.

[mnorell]

Cordylines are unbelievably easy to propagate as long as you can give them moisture and warmth. You can take stem pieces and bury them, take tip cuttings (defoliate them right away!) and either plant those in a greenhouse (if you're in a cool climate such as yours) or just put them in a glass of water on a windowsill. You can use rooting hormone or not. Just make sure if you have stem cuttings that you use a free-draining medium and don't overwater.

[Tropicgardener]

I promised Iwan I'd post some pictures of my Cordyline so we could possibly get an I.D. on it. I'm anticipating maybe a little leaf burn this weekend with the cold coming in. It will get down to the high 20's over the next couple of days. As you can see, this plant is right up against the house so it gets a little insulation. The stalk coming out is the one on the far right. It keeps thinking it's my pimp and smacks me in the face on a daily basis.

The white-ish areas are mealy bugs- eggs or something, they kind of hang out on it, but they're manageable. I guess it's where all the mealy 'cool kids' hang out.

And here's one of my heliconia which suprisingly hasn't melted to the ground yet over the past two winters- we still did get below 30 though. WHAT A MESS!!!!!

And here's a picture of my dog because she's cute.

You Cordyline is Cordyline 'Glauca'..........This is an interesting plant as it appears to be a species as unlike the hybrids it tends to breed true from seed. It is also very similar to some forms of the Australian native Cordyline rubra..... I am not sure where or how it came to the U.S. but here in Australia it was apparently imported from Belgium. Maybe some genetic testing may be able to work out whether it is a form of Cordyline rubra and whether it is originally from Australia.

[MattyB]

Love the dog!