What Is Wrong With My Cordyline?

Are there any small translucent spots on leaves, spots later turn black?

Are there any tan to red-brown, oval spots on the tips of young leaves?

Do the lower leaves yellow and wilt, roots are brown, tan spots form on the stem at the soil line?

Are there any small, round to irregular spots on older leaves?

Are the leaves covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery?

Are the leaves stippled, reddish or yellowish with fine webbing?

Are there any wounds oozing with the white liquid that may be frothy, have a slight orange tint, and may have a foul odor?

Bacterial leaf spot causes circular translucent spots scattered over the leaf surface. These spots turn brownish-black and may spread to form large patches of dead tissue. To prevent the spread of this disease, avoid working around wet plants. Remove and destroy affected parts. Spray Bordeaux mix on remaining plants.

Fusarium leaf spot cause tan to red-brown, oval spots to form on the tips of young leaves. Spots have a bright yellow halo. Avoid overhead watering. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants.

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Fusarium Stem and Root rot. Avoid overhead watering. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants. Discard infected plants.

Phyllosticta leaf spot causes small, round to irregular spots to form on older leaves. Spots have purple borders and yellow halos. Avoid overhead watering. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants.

These symptoms may indicate thrips. Thrips are tiny, yellow to black flying insects. Severely infected plant parts should be removed and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

Reddish to yellowish flecks on leaves and webbed foliage indicate spider mites. These tiny, spider-like pests feed by sucking sap from the underside of the plant's leaves causing yellow flecking on the upper leaf surfaces. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap, or pyrethrin as a last resort.

Cordyline slime flux is a bacterial disease that enters the plant through pre-existing wounds, typically caused by frost damage. Wounds may ooze a white liquid that may be frothy, have a slight orange tint, or have a foul odor. There may also be black stains beneath the ooze. Younger plants are more prone to frost damage, which can cause plants to wilt and appear to be rotting at the stem and the growing center. The disease is not fatal, but because it is associated with frost damage, the affected plant's parts may need to be removed.

If the tips and margins of leaves turn brown and die, the plant is suffering from fluoride toxicity. Maintain a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Do not use water containing more than 0.25 ppm fluoride. Do not use a potting mix with perlite or superphosphate fertilizer.