How to care for ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

Cordyline fruticosa · Good-luck plant, Hawaiian ti plant

Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) — a palm-like evergreen with tufts of long, lance-shaped leaves in green, pink, purple or deep red; it can reach roughly 3–4.5 m outdoors, and potted indoor plants rarely flower. Ti plant needs partial shade. Water it about every 7 days while it grows and about every 14 days in the winter rest.

Checked against sources: November 5, 2026

Watering and repotting ti plant through the year

It lives indoors all year, so it has no sowing or planting dates: it grows from March to September and rests from October to February (the other way round in the southern hemisphere).

Repot it about every 24 months.

When to plant ti plant?

Plant or repot ti plant in spring, as it starts into growth; early to midsummer also works. It is a houseplant, so it has no outdoor planting date and no frost decides it: just avoid autumn and winter, when growth slows and fresh compost stays wet too long. After that, move it to a slightly larger pot about every two years, or sooner once roots circle the pot or grow through the drainage holes.

Watering in the growing and resting halves of the year: Watering and repotting ti plant through the year.

Sources: RHS: How to repot a plant · Penn State Extension: Repotting houseplants

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Latin name	Cordyline fruticosa
Family	Asparagaceae
Also called	Good-luck plant, Hawaiian ti plant
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Repotting	every 24 months
Grown in	At home

Ti plant care by growth stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 74 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 104 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 134 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 164 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 194 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 14 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright filtered or indirect light keeps the leaf colours strong.

Soil

Moist but well-drained, fertile potting mix; peat-free multipurpose compost works well.

Care

Water moderately while it is growing and let the soil dry out a little between waterings; water sparingly from late autumn to late winter. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly while it grows. Brown leaf tips mean the air is too dry; wipe dust off the leaves with a soft cloth. It does not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C. Pot on every 2–3 years in spring. Wear gloves when handling it, because the sap can irritate skin. Toxic to cats and dogs.

Pests and diseases of Ti plant

2 problems are recorded for ti plant; each has a page with symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Pests

Other plants of the Asparagaceae family

Ti plant belongs to Asparagaceae; 12 other plants of this family have a guide here.

Plant lists it is in

Part of: Houseplants

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.