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Cordyline (Ti Plant) Diseases

Name: Cordyline (Ti Plant) Diseases
SKU: ART-3287

Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Cordyline (Ti Plant) diseases.

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Updated:

June 26, 2025

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Pink and green colored leaves of Ti plant

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Disease	Symptoms	Pathogen/Cause	Management
Bacterial Leaf Spot and Stem Rot	Infected leaves and stems become wet and slimy. Cuttings rot. Roots of established plants turn black and die.	Erwinia chrysanthemi, E. carotovora pv. carotovora	Purchase plants free of the disease. Discard infected plants.
Fluoride Toxicity	Leaf tips and margins brown and die.	Excessive fluoride	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.
Fusarium Leaf Spot	Tan to red-brown, oval spots form on the tips of young leaves. Spots have a bright yellow halo.	Fusarium moniliforme	Avoid overhead watering. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants.
Fusarium Stem and Root Rot	Lower leaves yellow and wilt. Roots are brown. Tan spots form on the stem at the soil line and may be covered with powdery, yellowish spores.	Fusarium	Avoid overhead watering. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants. Discard infected plants.
Phyllosticta Leaf Spot	Small, round to irregular spots form on older leaves. Spots have purple borders and yellow halos.	Phyllosticta dracaenae	Avoid overhead watering. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants.
Phytophthora Leaf Spot	Leaves near the soil are water-soaked and have brown, irregular, zonate dead areas.	Phytophthora nicotianae	Plant in pasteurized mix. Discard infected plants. Apply a fungicide to protect healthy plants.
Poor Color	Plants appear dull, mostly dark purple to maroon, and lack rose or pink tints.	Plants appear dull, mostly dark purple to maroon, and lack rose or pink tints.	Maintain a moderate fertilizer level. Shade in the summer but add light in the winter if too low. Maintain moderate temperatures.
Tip Death	Very young leaves die, but the plant recovers.	Damage from fertilizer or leaf-shine chemicals.	Keep fertilizer off the growing point and young leaves. Use leaf-shine chemicals carefully.