Deebie said:Scott, I wish I could see your gardens in person. The photos are magnificent as it is.

Thanks Debbie! If you are ever down this way the garden is always open and always open seating.

So colorful, Scott! Just beautiful

Thanks for the invitation, Scott. I'll keep that in mind. I do plan to be in Florida in June.

'Ele Ele' living up to its name. Literally meaning "black" or 'black water" in Hawaiian.

So nice!

'Luchia' was cut back heavy last spring and has returned to her glory in the garden.

Wow that peachy color is quite unusual.

@ScotTi, very pretty!

Your post about Luchia prompted me to ask about cutting Ti plants back. I have several Ti's in the landscape but they're getting very bare on the lower parts of the stems. How do I cut them back to encourage more fullness?

The Ti is forgiving and you can not go wrong in cutting them back. I usually cut them back to about 6"-8" from ground level some higher depending on my landscaping location. When cutting you may also stick the cuttings (tops and logs) in the ground around the plant you are cutting to get a really bushy full looking plant.

Scott! Could I do that now, or should I wait until the rainy season?

Ibis, Our weather is warm now, so I would do them now as this will give them time to return to glory by the fall. I started cutting this weekend the ones that needed it that did not have seed on them. If you cut now keep them watered and feed the cut mother plant with M.G. Miracid liquid plant food.

Took this shot of a 'Jackie' offspring this weekend. I like the orange colors this one has in the older leaves.

Wow, 'Jackie' and 'Luchia' are really pretty, Scott. And to Ibis for asking about cutting the tops off the tall Cordies. I have some really lanky ones that are just begging to be cut and I've been sort of circling them trying to decide what to do. Guess it's a good idea to keep them well watered after you stick them in the ground for a while? Do you remove some leaves if there are a lot of leaves on the cuttings?

My new babies from Hawaii are finally starting to make some pretty leaves: Pele's Smoke getting smoky, and Ballerina has some pretty red and white edges starting.

I've really enjoyed the beautiful photos on this thread!
The copper-colored varieties are especially lovely!
I'm interested in trying some Ti Cordylines but I was wondering what conditions were needed to overwinter them in a colder climate. I don't have a greenhouse so many of my non-hardy plants stay dormant to semi-dormant in the cold garage. I currently have a Cordyline "Festival Grass" in there that seems completely unfazed; however, I know that hybrid has different, hardier species in its gene pool. What are the lowest temps that a Ti plant can take and still quickly recover?

Thanks much!
Danita

dyzzypyxxy said:Wow, 'Jackie' and 'Luchia' are really pretty, Scott. And to Ibis for asking about cutting the tops off the tall Cordies. I have some really lanky ones that are just begging to be cut and I've been sort of circling them trying to decide what to do. Guess it's a good idea to keep them well watered after you stick them in the ground for a while? Do you remove some leaves if there are a lot of leaves on the cuttings?

My new babies from Hawaii are finally starting to make some pretty leaves: Pele's Smoke getting smoky, and Ballerina has some pretty red and white edges starting.

You can remove the leaves, I usually remove 50% of them. If you do not no big deal as the cutting will yellow and drop them anyway.
Pele's Smoke is one of the Ti that will branch at soil level on its own to make a full bushy plant as it matures.


(example above of a Ti soil branching)

Ballerina grows quick and becomes leggy and flops, needing frequent cutting back.

The customary spring flowering Ti are now shooting out their flower stalks.

Let's see if the third time is a charm for me with ' Katryn' (Katherine) a tissue culture sport of 'Kiwi'. I usually have this one give up in our hot humid summer but I do not give up easy.

It's a beauty!

Here is 'Ballerina' (AKA 'White Baby Doll')


Here is 'John Klass' a larger leaf Ballerina look-alike.