The Ti Plant (Cordyline frutescens) is a tropical showpiece: long, lance-shaped leaves in shades of green, pink, red and purple, rising from a woody stem like a small palm. In bright light the colours are extraordinary — hot pink, deep burgundy and cream — and a well-grown ti plant is one of the most colourful houseplants there is.
Like the croton, its colour depends on light, and like many tropical plants it hates cold and dry air. Brown leaf tips are the classic complaint, and they usually mean dry air or salts in the water rather than a watering problem. Keep it warm, bright and humid, and it will grow steadily. It is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. This guide covers light, watering, humidity, temperature, soil, repotting, feeding, propagation and the common problems that show up when something is off.
Ti Plant at a glance
| Care factor | What this plant needs |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Cordyline frutescens |
| Light | bright indirect |
| Water | every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry |
| Humidity | moderate |
| Temperature | 65–80°F (18–27°C) |
| Repotting | every 2–3 years |
| Pet safety | toxic to cats and dogs |
Light
Give your Ti Plant bright indirect light. A spot near an east- or west-facing window is usually ideal, or a metre or so back from a bright south-facing window. In the right light the plant grows steadily and keeps its colour; in too little light growth turns weak and stretched, and the plant loses the look that makes it worth growing. Our grow-light calculator can help work out whether your spot is bright enough.
Bright indirect light is essential for the colour: in low light the leaves turn mostly green and the plant stretches. A little gentle morning sun deepens the pinks and reds, but harsh midday sun scorches the leaves, so an east-facing window or a bright spot behind a sheer curtain is ideal.
Watering
Water: every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry. The golden rule is to check the soil before you water rather than watering on a fixed day — push a finger into the mix and water thoroughly only when it has dried to the depth the plant prefers, letting the excess run out of the drainage holes. Then empty the saucer so the plant never sits in standing water. Our watering calculator gives a starting point for your pot size, and the watering schedule generator can help you build a routine around it.
Water when the top inch or two of soil has dried, and water thoroughly. Ti plants like steady moisture in the growing season and dislike drying out completely, but they also hate sitting in water — yellow leaves are the usual sign of overwatering. Use filtered or rainwater if your tap water is hard, since salts cause brown leaf tips.
Humidity and temperature
Ti Plant needs moderate humidity and temperatures of 65–80°F (18–27°C). Humidity is the care factor most homes get wrong: heated indoor air in winter is far drier than most houseplants like, and the first sign is usually brown, crispy leaf edges. Grouping plants together, a pebble tray under the pot, or a small humidifier near the plant all help; a humidifier is the only method that reliably lifts humidity enough. Misting does very little — the water evaporates in minutes. Our humidity and temperature checker can tell you whether your room suits this plant.
Moderate humidity is the minimum, and higher is better. Dry air is the main cause of brown, crispy leaf tips on this plant, so keep it away from radiators, group it with other plants, or run a humidifier nearby.
Soil and potting
Indoors, Ti Plant needs a rich but free-draining potting mix. Standard potting soil on its own can hold too much water and compact over time, so mix it with perlite and orchid bark to keep air around the roots while still holding some moisture. A pot with drainage holes is not optional; without one, water has nowhere to go and root rot follows. Our potting-mix calculator can work out the parts for a homemade mix for your pot size.
Use a rich, free-draining mix with perlite and bark. The plant grows tall, so a heavy pot helps keep it stable, and drainage holes are essential.
Repotting
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size — a pot that is too big holds wet soil the roots cannot use, and that is a fast route to rot. Our repotting calculator can help you work out the next pot size and how much fresh mix you will need.
Repot every 2–3 years in spring, moving up only one size. Ti plants grow steadily and fill their pots, and repotting is a good moment to take a stem cutting from a leggy plant.
Feeding
Feed during the growing season, in spring and summer, with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half the strength on the label, roughly once a month while the plant is actively growing. Do not feed in autumn and winter when growth slows. Always follow the directions on the label — more fertiliser is not better, and excess salts build up in the soil and burn the roots, which often shows up as brown leaf edges. If you have been feeding heavily, flush the soil with plain water occasionally to wash the salts out. Our fertiliser calculator can help you get the dose right.
Feed monthly at half strength in spring and summer to support the vivid colour. Do not feed in winter, and do not overfeed — brown leaf edges are the usual sign of salt build-up.
Propagation
Ti plants are propagated from stem cuttings or cane sections. Cut a stem into sections, each with at least one node, and lay them on moist potting mix or stand them in water until they root and sprout. Tip cuttings root easily too.
Keep cuttings warm and humid — a clear plastic bag over the pot helps — and out of direct sun. Roots usually appear within a few weeks in spring or summer.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pests | Check undersides of leaves regularly | Inspect leaf undersides weekly; isolate and wipe or shower the plant. |
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering | Let soil dry more between waterings; check drainage. |
| Brown leaf tips | Low humidity | Trim brown tips; raise humidity; use filtered water if tap water is hard. |
Pests
Likely cause: check undersides of leaves regularly. Inspect the undersides of the leaves every week, especially in warm weather, and isolate the plant at the first sign of trouble so pests do not spread to neighbours. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or give the plant a gentle shower, and repeat weekly until the pests are gone. Our pest identifier helper can help you work out what you are dealing with before you treat it.
Yellow leaves
Likely cause: overwatering. Yellow leaves most often mean the soil has stayed wet for too long. Let the top of the soil dry out before watering again, check that the pot drains freely, and remove leaves once they are fully yellow. If several leaves yellow at once, check the roots — soft, black roots mean rot, and you should cut the rot away and repot in fresh mix. Water less in winter, when the plant grows more slowly and the soil stays wet for longer.
Brown leaf tips
Likely cause: low humidity. Trim the brown tips with clean scissors, following the leaf's shape, and raise the humidity around the plant — a pebble tray or humidifier helps more than misting. If your tap water is hard, switch to filtered or rainwater, since salts can also crisp the edges. Check the humidity with our humidity and temperature checker and move the plant away from radiators and hot, dry draughts.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Ti Plant?
Every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry. Check the soil with your finger before watering rather than watering on a fixed day — pots dry out at different rates depending on light, pot size and the season.
How much light does Ti Plant need?
It needs bright indirect light. Too little light gives weak, stretched growth, while harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves, so a bright spot out of direct midday sun suits most plants in this guide.
Is Ti Plant safe for cats and dogs?
According to the data used for this guide, this plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants, and if a pet eats any of it, contact your vet.
When should I repot Ti Plant?
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size so the fresh mix does not stay wet for too long.
Why does my ti plant have brown leaf tips?
Brown tips usually mean dry air or salts in the water. Raise the humidity, move the plant away from radiators, and switch to filtered or rainwater. Trim the brown tips with clean scissors — the damaged parts will not heal, but new leaves should come through clean.