The Cordyline fruticosa is a tropical plant of spectacular beauty that, despite its popularity, few manage to see it bloom due to the specific nature of its care. However, keeping your Cordyline fruticosa in perfect condition long enough to get to see its pretty flowers is perfectly possible if you know what the plant needs beforehand.
If you want to know the cordyline fruticosa plant carekeep reading us in this Green Ecology article to learn everything you need to know.
Characteristics of the Cordyline fruticosa plant
Cordylines, commonly called kiwi dracaena, red or polynesian palmitathey are actually a whole genre of tropical bushes that houses 12 plant species with origin in India, Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia.
These are plants that rarely exceed a meter in height outside their natural environments, although with sufficient care they can reach more. They stand out for their precious lanceolate leaves up to almost half a meter in length, which can be colored greens, reds, purples or even creams depending on the specific variety.
Flowering only occurs between 6 and 10 years of age, although unfortunately most Cordyline fruticosa that are grown outside their natural habitat do not reach these ages. The inflorescences appear in a panicle at the end of the central stem, with flowers of a vivid pinkish white and very aromatic. If you grow it in a temperate climate zone and if you manage the small feat of getting the plant to flower, it will probably do so in the summer.
Location of Cordyline fruticosa
The Cordyline fruticosa needs, like many other tropical plants, a very bright location but sheltered from direct sunsince in their natural habitat they are usually found under the tree canopy.
In tropical climates, the kiwi dracaena is usually grown in gardens or outdoors, planted in isolation, but outside these types of climates it is much more effective to plant it in pots, together with other smaller plants that thus provide environmental humidity to the Cordyline. .
It is also important protect the plant from wind currentswhich have the ability to overdry it and take away the moisture it needs.
Climate for Cordyline fruticosa
We have already mentioned that this plant is of tropical origin, so the ideal for her is exactly that type of climate. However, since few of us are lucky enough to enjoy a tropical climatewe add that it is possible to grow cordyline in temperate climatesalthough as long as we protect it from the cold.
The temperature for the kiwi dracaena should always be at least 15ºCand very high temperatures above 30 ºC do not sit well with it either.
Cordyline fruticosa irrigation
If your climate is humid, the risks of the plant should be moderate, since it does not tolerate waterlogging, which can cause root rot problems. If you grow your Polynesian indoors, it will suffice to water whenever you notice that the top layer of the substrate has dried up.
Of course, it is vital that you always water the plant with water without limeso if in your area the tap has a lot of lime, something very common, you should use rainwater or at least let the irrigation water stand for 24 hours before using it so that the mineral deposits remain at the bottom.
In this other article you can learn when to water the plants.
Moisture for Cordyline fruticosa
To provide moisture to the plant it is important spray its leaves with water daily, especially in the warm months. It is also a good idea to take advantage of this moment to, very carefully, clean your leaves dust or dirt of any kind. Here you can read about How to clean the leaves of plants.
Similarly, you can place the pot on a saucer in which there is a layer of coarse pebbles or stones and a little water that does not cover them. By placing the pot on top, without being in direct contact with water, it will be the moisture from natural evaporation that will keep the plant in ideal conditions.
Substrate for Cordyline fruticosa
The most important thing about the substrate of this plant is that be light and offer good drainageto avoid dangerous accumulations of water while providing good moisture retention properties.
In this case, the universal seed mix with coconut fiber, earthworm humus and peat mixed in equal parts it works very well, although without forgetting to add a handful of vermiculite and another of perlite to finish giving it the touch of water retention it needs. Thus, an extraordinarily nutritious substrate is left, rich in beneficial microorganisms, airy and very light.
Cordyline fruticosa subscriber
You can give your Polynesian plant a supply of organic matter in the form of worm humus or compost monthly in warm months, or use common mineral fertilizer. In this guide you can learn more about the types of compost.
If you have liked knowing the care of the Cordyline fruticosa or Polynesian, you may like to discover more Outdoor tropical plants in this guide.
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