Cordylines RIP ...
The following thread was started by Sweevil on Lopez Island, 8b on February 17, 2009 at 4:12 pm PST
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The above followup was added by Sweevil on Lopez Island, 8b on February 17, 2009 at 4:14 pm PST.
I would leave them for a while. It has been my experience that many times they will recover from the base even after all of the top growth has rotted and flopped over...
The above followup was added by Neil on February 17, 2009 at 4:28 pm PST.
Neil - I have heard others say this but can't picture what you describe. Surely the existing base ("trunk") doesn't produce new growth? Does it re-sprout from the ground?
The above followup was added by Loree on February 17, 2009 at 4:45 pm PST.
They will always regrow from ground level if the top has been frozen. However less likley to regrow if they were left out in a pot. If the pot froze solid then the entire plant is toast. Plants in post are much less cold tolerant. I was looking at some lady's tall Cordyline today, she was very upset because the top was killed. I told her to cut it off at the base in April. It will send up a ton of new ones from the base of the trunk.
The above followup was added by Joe, SSI on February 17, 2009 at 4:53 pm PST.
They may regrow. You can pull it out of the pot and look at the roots, if they are still firm and white it is probably still viable. You may think about if it will provide the appearance you want anytime soon. If it does regrow it will probably take most of the summer for it to look like much. If these aren't a special variety you may elect to buy 2 new plants for instant gratification. These days you can get a nice red variety at most nurseries for under $10 for a 1 gallon
The above followup was added by Travis on February 17, 2009 at 5:49 pm PST.
Here is one I dug up a few years ago and the top was dead but it regrew from ground level.
The above followup was added by Roger in Olympia 8b on February 17, 2009 at 6:09 pm PST.
This one had a small split on the trunk, but to my surprise it recover, and know I am wonder if any damage will show up this spring on this one, so far so good. Had some centers pull out on some 14 footers. They will just branch more from the top now. Cordyline look so exotic but are one of the easiest to grow.
The above followup was added by Roger on February 17, 2009 at 6:15 pm PST.
Well at least they're relatively cheap and fast growing Sweevil. Also, those are fairly small, so if they do get knocked down to ground level, you could stick them in the yard and buy to new ones for your pots, and no one would no the difference.
The above followup was added by Brian in Bremerton on February 18, 2009 at 8:18 am PST.
"know" the difference.
The above followup was added by Brian in Bremerton on February 18, 2009 at 8:19 am PST.
Good advice, folks. Thanks! As you say, they're so inexpensive, I'll just get two new little ones. These were two years old.
The above followup was added by Sweevil on Lopez Island, 8b on February 18, 2009 at 11:19 am PST.