@ScotTi - you got me already ... I now have a pocket full of Cordyline seeds. Any hints on planting and germination?

Dutchlady1 said:@ScotTi - you got me already ... I now have a pocket full of Cordyline seeds. Any hints on planting and germination?

Many ways to propagate the seed. I have gotten lazy this year and have sown the entire fruit without cleaning the actual seed that are found in the fruit. I just plant in the ground in the garden. l have found that the plants grow much faster this way. The number of seed in the fruit vary from 1-12 or so. During our summer wet season I will find seedlings growing out of the ripe fruit at times.



seedlings growing out of the fruit

You may also squish the little black seed out of the fruit onto a coffee filter or paper plate, throwing away the skin of the fruit and removing as much seed pulp as you can. Have a bowl of water handy as this is a sticky mess for your fingers. Let the seed dry a few days on coffee filter or paper plate till the fruit pulp that remains is dry. You are then ready to sow as you would any other small flower seed.

As with all good things in life .... the colors will take time to come out on the leaves. They will be green at first.

Here is a very rare miniature ( no name) Cordyline . Looks to be a smaller version of the small leaf 'Pink Joy'.

Adorable. I do like the minis. Recently saw one in Costa Rica that was planted all over the place, would have loved to have brought some of it back with me.

I had no idea they always come out green and later turn colors! I composted a bunch of Ti babies because i thought they lacked interest. Duh.

bummer...

Live and learn. I am going to check my plants for seeds tomorrow.

Dutchlady1 said:Excellent! Love that second one - does it have a name?

I was gifted the plant without a name some years ago. When it is in flower the scent will fill that area of the garden.

This 'Golden Stripe' Ti was rooted in water for about 2 weeks, then transplanted into the 1 gal. pot you see here. I think these may be ready to go in the ground now. @ScotTi?

Hetty, They will be fine to plant in the ground now if you wish.

Here is some Halloween eye candy for the plant lovers on this form.













First 3 from seed/ last picture is 'Maria'

Happy Halloween!

@ardesia Alice they are hardy for you in 9a?

Yes, most are root hardy and in mild winters the top stays alive. The past two winters have been unusually cold and I lost a few that I brought from Hawaii but generally it was because they were planted in areas with poor drainage. They need to be dryer during the cool months. If they come back from the roots they never get as tall as they would in a warmer climate. It rarely, if ever, freezes here and the soil stays above 55 but it is damp and tropicals hate that.

'Fairchild Red' is a great mini Ti. This is a slow mini but branches well on its own. I have had it for 5 yrs and it is 10" tall.

'Purple Prince' a nice smaller leaf Ti that hates the sun. Very slow growing.

You have a great collection.

Indeed! An astounding collection!

Thanks! A collection that seems to have gotten out of hand. But I can't stop.
'Caroline'-summer/ fall coloring


'Caroline'- winter/spring coloring


'Caroline' is on the smaller side and is one of the Ti that branches at soil level to produce a bushy plant.