John&Jacq~s Garden

Posted by Jacqueline on January 31st, 2010 in Our Garden

We had planted a beautiful Hawaiian Ti (Cordyline terminalis) before, probably about a decade ago. It grew from a stem cutting (also known as ‘log’) that was presented by a dear couple who returned from holidaying in Hawaii then. But was eventually discarded when it became leggy and unsightly.

Seeing a vibrant variegated pink/maroon beauty during our recent vacation to Felda Residence Hot Springs, Sungkai in Perak, has surely rekindled in us a strong yearning for one!

We’ve never seen this variety of the Ti Plant before with such intense colours, the shocking pink on the glossy foliage is absolutely striking and truly spectacular, in fabulous contrast with the dark maroon and in lovely random blotches. I believe this is Cordyline terminalis ‘Red Sister’

We’ve searched high and low for the same variety in Kuala Lumpur but not a single one was to be found in some of the garden nurseries we visited. Even Ti Plants of other varieties for sale were sickly-looking, not value for money at all!

Our next best alternative will be to scout for a stem or two of a Ti variety that is popularly grown in home gardens, roadsides and elsewhere and propagate some plants, ourselves.

Lo and behold, while cruising around the neighbourhood last week, we saw a beautiful and attractive stand-alone red/maroon Cordyline bush, growing beside a telephone pole on no-man’s land.

A couple of wild creeping vines sort of entwined the whole bush, yet it stood luscious and majestic, surrendering to our tropical heat and rain, and poos from stray dogs too (eeek…I almost stepped on them), to provide for its growing needs!

Of course we came prepared with a pruning scissors the second time around and happily snipped 2 healthy stems to take home to propagate some Ti Plant for our tropical urban garden.

This Cordyline terminalis has leaves variegated in red and pink tones, and dark maroon with a greenish tinge. Another gorgeous and stunning Ti variety that is widely and popularly grown.

Thus, for January’s garden article, we’d simply share how Cordyline terminalis (Hawaiian Ti or Ti Plant) can be propagated.

Propagation from tip cuttings or stem cuttings is the easiest method and can be started in the soil or in water. We chose the former, being the easier and faster way.

1. Cut back any healthy stem of a matured leggy plant with a sharp pruning scissors or knife. The remaining bottom trunk will continue to grow and should sprout new shoots.
   
2. From the severed stem cutting, cut off a tip cutting 10 cm below the crown of leaves, and cut the remaining leafless stem into 10-cm section cuttings.
   
   
   
   (a) to root the tip cutting:
   first, carefully remove some of the lower leaves to leave a section of bare stem about 10 cm. long.
   
   
   
   Then, insert the tip cutting into the pre-moistened potting media that can hold moisture, yet provides good drainage and aeration. Gently firm the soil around the stem and place the pot in a warm and brightly lit (with filtered sunlight) location. With sufficient heat, regular watering and misting of leaves, rooting shouldn’t be a problem at all. Note that tip cuttings usually require intermittent misting until sufficient roots are produced to prevent necrosis of leaf tips or leaf drop.
   
   
   
   (b) to root the section cuttings:
   just stick the 10-cm stem cuttings, vertically into a pot with appropriate potting media. When top growth appears, pot them individually.
   Alternatively, the section cuttings can be laid down horizontally in moist soil, by gently pushing half into the soil and exposing the remaining half lengthwise. Locate in a sunny area and keep the soil damp. When new growth appear along the sections and root, you can cut them off to plant them as individual plants.
   
   

Check for plant profile on Cordyline terminalis (Hawaiian Ti or Ti Plant) here.

Learn more on propagating foliage and flowering plants at Aggie Horticulture, Texas A&M University System.

We’re extremely happy to have added this lovely Red Ti to our garden. Even 2 pots of newly propagated tip-cuttings can truly brighten up the landscape. Keeping our fingers crossed that our propagation project will be a success! Keep tuned!

Update: February 28 2010
Woo hoo…100% success! Soooo…happy!
A couple of basal leaves from plants propagated by tips cuttings had since dried up and withered which is usual, while the rest of the foliage is growing nicely with new leaves emerging.
Those propagated by section cuttings that were pushed into soil or laid horizontally are growing fine with young shoots of green leaves.
Photos below show their growth status 30 days after propagation :

Tags: propagation, propagation by cuttings