How much to water a potted cordyline?

[dant]

Hi,

Just wondering if I have been overwatering this cordyline?  Second plant shows the same symptoms.  I had been giving a little top up every 2-3 days.

Should I be just watering until water comes out the bottom of the pot once per week. 

Once placed into a new garden bed this weekend, what is the recommended amount of watering and how do you know if it's appropriate?

TIA, Adam

[MitchellMc]

Hi @dant, 

You’ll have much better success giving your cordyline a proper soaking once a week rather than topping it up every couple of days. Those small top-ups tend to keep the soil constantly damp, which cordylines don’t particularly enjoy as they prefer the soil to dry out a little between waterings. A good approach is to water deeply until you see water running out of the bottom of the pot, then leave it to dry down. During the week, check the soil by sticking your finger about 10 centimetres into the potting mix. If it feels dry at that depth, then it’s time to water again. If it still feels damp, hold off on watering, as watering when the soil is still wet will only stress the roots.

Once you plant it out in the garden bed, the same principle applies, but the soil will generally hold moisture for longer than a pot, especially if you mulch around the base. Give the plant a thorough soak once a week, and then monitor the top 10 centimetres of soil. In hot or windy weather, you might find you need to water twice a week, but again, only if the soil has started to dry out. Over time, the cordyline will establish deeper roots and become more resilient, so you’ll be able to reduce the frequency of watering and rely more on natural rainfall.

Here's a helpful guide: How to grow, prune and propagate cordyline.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[dant]

Thanks for this comprehensive reply, @MitchellMc Mitchell.  Just what I was after. Adam