Ti plant care guide

The ti plant grows long, glossy leaves on top of a slim cane. The leaves come in bold reds, hot pinks, deep purples, and greens, often striped. In Hawaii, green ti leaves are used for leis, food wraps, and hula skirts. Indoors, it adds a big splash of color. Bright light keeps that color strong.

Light

Give it bright indirect light. An east window is ideal. A spot near a south or west window, out of hot afternoon sun, works too. A few hours of soft morning sun deepens the color.

In low light, red and pink leaves fade to dull green. Hot direct sun bleaches and scorches them.

Water

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. In winter, it needs water less often.

Ti plants react to fluoride and salts in tap water. Brown leaf tips are the sign. Rainwater, filtered, or distilled water helps. Read why are my houseplant leaf tips turning brown.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix.

Repot every two years in spring, one size up. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

It does best at 40% humidity or higher. In dry air, the tips brown and spider mites move in. A humidifier helps. Keep it away from heat vents and cold drafts.

Keep it between 18 and 27°C (65 and 80°F), and above 13°C (55°F). Cold damage shows as dark, soft patches on the leaves.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

Pruning

Lower leaves turn yellow and drop as the cane grows. This is normal. Pull them off when they dry.

If a cane gets tall and bare, cut it in spring. Cut at any height. New shoots sprout just below the cut. Root the top to start a new plant.

Propagation

There are three easy ways.

• Top cutting. Cut off the top tuft of leaves with a few centimeters of cane. Root it in water or moist mix.
• Cane sections. Cut a bare cane into pieces 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long. These are sold in Hawaii as ti logs. Lay them on their side, half buried in moist mix. New shoots grow from the bumps on the cane in a few weeks.
• Air layering. Wrap a cut on the cane in damp sphagnum moss and plastic until roots form, then cut below the roots.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Brown leaf tips	Fluoride or salts in tap water, or dry air
Color fades to green	Not enough light
Bleached, scorched patches	Too much direct sun
Lower leaves yellow and drop	Normal aging
Many yellow leaves and soggy soil	Too much water
Dark, soft patches on leaves	Cold damage
Fine webbing, speckled leaves	Spider mites

Pests

Spider mites are the most common pest, most of all in dry air. Check under the leaves every week. Mealybugs, scale, and thrips show up too. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep pests down.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists ti plant as toxic to cats and dogs. It contains saponins that can cause vomiting, drooling, and loss of appetite.

Varieties

• ‘Red Sister’ has red and hot pink leaves. It is the one most stores sell.
• ‘Kiwi’ has green leaves with cream and pink stripes.
• ‘Black Magic’ has dark purple, almost black leaves.
• Green ti has plain green leaves. It is the traditional Hawaiian plant.

The spiky cordyline sold for outdoor planters is a different species, Cordyline australis.