Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Prune a Ti Plant

Ti plant is one of about 20 species of Cordyline. These upright evergreens typically attain heights of 10 to 12 feet. That’s a little much for many enthusiasts, particularly for those who maintain their specimens indoors. Fortunately, these beauties don’t mind a little snip here, there or everywhere. Nor do they care if you cut main stalks almost to the soil line if need be. Ti plants are easy to grow and care for, and they’re very forgiving.

Remove dead, yellow, brown, damaged or diseased leaves as they may occur with a clean, sharp knife.

  • Ti plant is one of about 20 species of Cordyline.
  • Nor do they care if you cut main stalks almost to the soil line if need be.

Cut off stems or stalks that have grown too large or appear messy or untidy for your taste using sharp scissors or a clean hacksaw. Prune Ti plants at any time during the year.

Prune the entire plant back to control its overall size. Cut as much excess from the Ti as you wish, down to 12 inches above the soil line. New shoots will soon emerge from below the cuts.

Prune any stem from the Ti plant to encourage multiple new shoots to fill a sparse area in its place.

Rejuvenate an older, shabby looking plant by cutting the main stalk off 6 inches above the soil line. Cut all but the three largest and healthiest new shoots off the soil. Trim or cut them back, if you wish.

  • Cut off stems or stalks that have grown too large or appear messy or untidy for your taste using sharp scissors or a clean hacksaw.
  • Prune any stem from the Ti plant to encourage multiple new shoots to fill a sparse area in its place.

Prune A Ti Plant

The ti plant is known by many common monikers, including Hawaiian ti, good luck tree, dracaena and red sister. Science adds its two cents with Cordyline fruticosa, which is synonymous with Cordyline terminalis. No matter what you choose to call this attractive tropical ornamental, sooner or later you'll find yourself busy with ti plant pruning. Trim off colorful ti plant leaves to accent your indoor arrangements throughout the growing season. Use clean, sharp shears or scissors. New shoots will sprout from the cut as well as from lower areas of the stem. Cut all but three of the older stems back to about 6 inches above the soil level to rejuvenate more mature plants if they begin to look tired or straggly. Provide a warm, humid environment free of drafts to help the ti plant bounce back quickly from pruning. Keep it between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t allow the temperature to drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant cuttings three-fourths of the stem length deep vertically to produce single-stemmed plants. Mist two or three times daily. Keep the cutting in a bright, warm area out of direct sun.

  • The ti plant is known by many common monikers, including Hawaiian ti, good luck tree, dracaena and red sister.
  • Provide a warm, humid environment free of drafts to help the ti plant bounce back quickly from pruning.

Tip

Ti plant clippings can easily be rooted in soil. Keep the rooting medium evenly moist and don’t allow it to dry out. Keep the cutting at around 75 degrees F, and provide lots of bright indirect light while it’s rooting.

Related Articles

How to Prune a TI Plant
How to Prune a TI Plant
The Best Way to Grow Split-Leaf Philodendron Indoors
The Best Way to Grow Split-Leaf Philodendron Indoors
Mexican Heather Plant Care
Mexican Heather Plant Care
How to Care for a Chinese Fan Palm
How to Care for a Chinese Fan Palm
How to Prune a Calathea
How to Prune a Calathea
How to Propagate Ivy Geraniums
How to Propagate Ivy Geraniums
How to Prune Abutilon
How to Prune Abutilon
How to Cut Back a Ficus Tree
How to Cut Back a Ficus Tree
How to Transplant a TI Plant
How to Transplant a TI Plant
How to Prune Agave Plants
How to Prune Agave Plants
How to Cut Back Petunias
How to Cut Back Petunias
Garden Guides
×