The Pink Passion Cordyline features striking, sword-like foliage with grey-purple leaves and bold pink margins. This evergreen shrub adds a tropical flair, making it a popular choice for indoor containers and outdoor gardens. Its vibrant coloring provides year-round visual interest.
Essential Care for Pink Passion Cordyline
Light Requirements
Pink Passion Cordyline thrives in bright, indirect light indoors. Direct, intense sunlight can scorch its foliage, especially the pink margins, causing discoloration. Outdoors, partial shade is ideal, particularly in warmer climates, to protect leaves from harsh afternoon sun and ensure vibrant color.
Watering Needs
Maintain consistent soil moisture for Pink Passion Cordyline, but avoid waterlogging. Water when the top 25-50% of the soil feels dry. Overwatering causes mushy, brown leaves and root rot, while underwatering leads to crispy tips. Ensure proper drainage to prevent standing water.
Soil and Potting
Pink Passion Cordyline thrives in a well-draining soil mix rich in organic matter. A suitable blend includes peat moss or coco coir for moisture retention, combined with perlite, pumice, or coarse sand for drainage and aeration. When potting, use a container with adequate drainage holes.
Temperature and Humidity
Pink Passion Cordyline prefers temperatures from 65 to 85°F (18 to 29°C) and high humidity, typical of its tropical origin. It is sensitive to cold drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. In low-humidity environments, misting, using a pebble tray, or a humidifier can help maintain optimal conditions.
Fertilization
During the active growing season (spring to late summer), fertilize Pink Passion Cordyline monthly. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength. Always ensure the soil is damp before applying to prevent root burn. Reduce fertilization in fall and winter when growth slows.
Pruning and Maintaining Your Plant
Pruning Pink Passion Cordyline maintains its shape, promotes bushier growth, and supports overall plant health. The best time for significant pruning is late winter or early spring, before new growth emerges. Remove dead, yellowing, or damaged leaves by trimming them at the base.
To encourage a fuller, more branched appearance, trim older stems. This stimulates new shoots from dormant buds below the cut. For outdoor plants in colder regions, tying up foliage can protect against wind and frost damage during winter.
Propagating Pink Passion Cordyline
Pink Passion Cordyline is commonly propagated through stem cuttings. Select a healthy stem section with at least one node. Make a clean cut just below a node, as new roots are most likely to form there.
Cuttings can be rooted in water or a well-draining soil mixture. For soil rooting, insert the cut end into moist potting medium and cover with plastic to create humidity. Place cuttings in a warm spot with indirect sunlight. Roots should develop within a few weeks, allowing for repotting.
Common Issues and Solutions
Browning leaf tips on Pink Passion Cordyline often indicate insufficient humidity, inconsistent watering, or sensitivity to minerals like fluoride in tap water. Using distilled or rainwater can help. Mushy, brown leaves typically point to overwatering and potential root rot.
Pest infestations, such as spider mites and mealybugs, can affect Pink Passion Cordyline. Spider mites cause yellow pinpricks and fine webbing, especially on undersides. Treat them by wiping leaves with insecticidal soap, diluted rubbing alcohol, or forceful water sprays. Mealybugs appear as white, cottony masses, usually in leaf axils or on undersides. Remove them by dabbing with an isopropyl alcohol-dipped cotton swab or washing with soapy water.