Sorry for not being able to offer an accurate description of the
problem but I'm a complete newbie at gardening. I'm posting another
question separately, too. I have a plant that looks a little palm-tree-
ish and it appears to be growing fine. However the newer leaves appear
to be a much paler shade of green that those that existed before I
purchased the plant. In addition, some of the leaves have split down
the middle. This second problem could have been caused by recent
strong winds but the plant is fairly protected.

I've posted a picture of the plant at: http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3...lmproblem1.jpg

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Paul

"Paul" wrote in message
...
Sorry for not being able to offer an accurate description of the
problem but I'm a complete newbie at gardening. I'm posting another
question separately, too. I have a plant that looks a little palm-tree-
ish and it appears to be growing fine. However the newer leaves appear
to be a much paler shade of green that those that existed before I
purchased the plant. In addition, some of the leaves have split down
the middle. This second problem could have been caused by recent
strong winds but the plant is fairly protected.

I've posted a picture of the plant at:
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3...lmproblem1.jpg

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Paul


The plant in your picture looks like a Cordyline australis and, in truth, it
looks very healthy to me. The *slightly* paler new leaves, I suspect, will
darken as they receive sunlight for longer. They just need to
photosynthesise, which means the plant uses sunlight to feed itself
(chlorophyll in the leaves process sunlight and turns it into sugars which,
in turn, feed the plant).

The older leaves don't look that bad to me. Yes, there is some minor
damage, but it is usual with Cordyline to cut away the old, tatty leaves,
leaving a textured stem as it ages. Put up with them a little longer, if
you can, as they are still green and feeding the plant.

In winter, I loosely tie up the leaves of my Cordyline so the rain doesn't
get into the centre of the plant and rot the crown. I learnt this the hard
way, having nearly lost the plant in its first winter.

Hope this helps.
Spider

On Jul 15, 3:53*pm, "Spider" wrote:
"Paul" wrote in message

...



Sorry for not being able to offer an accurate description of the
problem but I'm a complete newbie at gardening. I'm posting another
question separately, too. I have a plant that looks a little palm-tree-
ish and it appears to be growing fine. However the newer leaves appear
to be a much paler shade of green that those that existed before I
purchased the plant. In addition, some of the leaves have split down
the middle. This second problem could have been caused by recent
strong winds but the plant is fairly protected.

I've posted a picture of the plant at:
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3...lmproblem1.jpg

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Paul

The plant in your picture looks like a Cordyline australis and, in truth, it
looks very healthy to me. *The *slightly* paler new leaves, I suspect, will
darken as they receive sunlight for longer. *They just need to
photosynthesise, which means the plant uses sunlight to feed itself
(chlorophyll in the leaves process sunlight and turns it into sugars which,
in turn, feed the plant).

The older leaves don't look that bad to me. *Yes, there is some minor
damage, but it is usual with Cordyline to cut away the old, tatty leaves,
leaving a textured stem as it ages. *Put up with them a little longer, if
you can, as they are still green and feeding the plant.

In winter, I loosely tie up the leaves of my Cordyline so the rain doesn't
get into the centre of the plant and rot the crown. *I learnt this the hard
way, having nearly lost the plant in its first winter.

Hope this helps.
Spider

Hi again Spider,

Thank you for your advice. I will tidy it up in the autumn and may
well tie up the leaves as winter approaches - it rains a lot, even
here!

Cheers,

Paul

I really think this one isn't Cordyline australis either. If you look at the way the leaves attach to the cane, and compare that with a Cordyline, I think you must agree that they just aren't attached like those on a Cordyline. Also the leaves seem fleshier than a cordyline. I think this could be another Dracaena, as they tend to get leaves splitting like that. It happens when you get a period of vigorous growth after and earlier period of less vigorous growth. But I'm not sure, as there are plenty of other cane-forming plants with strap-like leaves, yuccas, beschornerias, furcraeas, nolinas, etc, and they are very confusing to distinguish to a non-expert like me.

Tying up the leaves on a Cordyline in the winter is really only if you get temperatures below about minus 5 C. Also, they are less hardy when they are young. Mine shrugged off minus 9 this winter, even a Torbay Red which is less hardy than the species, and I didn't tie them up, but they are well established.