Cordyline Kiwi Plant – A Comprehensive Guide to Growing

Cordyline Kiwi, part of the genera Cordyline, is sometimes referred to as ‘Kiwi’ variation of Cordyline fruticosa, and is an eye-catching, attractive and easy care houseplant. This tropical plant is native to Southeast Asia, Australia and some of the Pacific Islands. It has brightly-coloured sword-shaped foliage in colours of green, pink and cream. Whether you are a long-time plant parent or if you are new to plant parenthood, the Cordyline Kiwi can be a choice for something unusual and striking to adorn your setting.

We shall cover everything about the Cordyline Kiwi plant: its features, and how to grow and nurture it at home.

Characteristics of the Cordyline Kiwi Plant

Vibrant Foliage

The Cordyline Kiwi (Dracaena solderellii) plant is easily identifiable due to its eye catching foliage. The leaves have a sword-shaped rectangular appearance. While not exceptionally thick, the leaves can be quite long and narrow, often reaching 12 in to 18 in in length. The leaves are lined in distinct sections of green streaked with creamy yellow and edged in bright pink, giving the surreal effect of a variegated volcanic sword garnished in the colours of a stained glass window.
This odd coloured grass-like plant is a great choice for bringing a splash of colour to any interior: imagine this plant brightening up your living room or office, or gracing a cool and shaded patio.

Growth Habit

Cordyline kiwi is quite easy to grow, while its slow growth habit makes it an ideal plant for cultivation indoors. Normally, it grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet when grown under indoor conditions, while outdoors, under warm and humid conditions, it can grow up to 4 feet tall clumping growth habit and new shoots continue emerging from the base where the older stems die off. Over time, the older ones die off to form a tight clump, eventually giving the plant a dense bushy look. Because of its small size, Cordyline kiwi finds a place in nearly every space.

Tropical Origins

Being a tropical plant, Cordyline Kiwi grows best in warm, humid conditions and is well-suited to growing indoors where temperatures stay steady between 65°F (18°C) and 85°F (29°C). Cordyline Kiwi’s tropical roots also ensure the plant likes lots of bright, indirect light and can tolerate some directsunlight, especially in the morning or late afternoon.

Air-Purifying Qualities

The Cordyline Kiwi purifies the air as well.. Don’t forget that this is another functional houseplant that removes toxins from the air. It cleanses the air of formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene and is therefore a healthy addition to the air your family breathes. This makes the Cordyline Kiwi a functional and decorative plant.

How to Care for Your Cordyline Kiwi Plant

Although there isn’t much to Caring for a Cordyline Kiwi plant, it is great for both a novice as well as a pro plant owner, knowing the requirements of this popular houseplant could go a long way to keep your plant happy and growing just as beautifully as it first caught your attention.

Light Requirements

The Cordyline Kiwi requires sunlight. Give your plant bright, indirect light, next to an east or west-facing window where filtered light can enter the room throughout the day. Too much direct sunlight, especially in the middle of the day, can scorch the leaves and damage the plant, causing the leaves to fade and turn brown. If either of these things are happening, it is a sign that your plant is receiving too much direct light.

Conversely, your Cordyline Kiwi’s leaves will look dull if it’s hungering for light, and it will slow its production of new growth. If your indoor space receives little natural light, it will be helpful to add artificial grow lights to make sure your Cordyline Kiwi gets the light it needs.

Watering Needs

The cordyline kiwi care is watering which is essential for survival and growth of your plant. WaterING requirements are as many as 5 IMPORTANT DIRECTIVES of watering: Best for a consistent and moist soilHowever, they are prone to root rot, especially excess water, due to which the plant can easily drown. That is why it is important to allow the first inch of soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings. Most likely, when you gradually move from winter to spring, you will need to water your plant even more often, but significantly less during winter weeks. By watering seasons, it means that often during spring and summer growth times of your plant, the soil should be kept constantly evenly moist, but without marshiness.

After plants are well established, reduce watering in the fall and winter when growth slows down. At any time, always use room-temperature water and don’t let it stand in the plant saucer, which causes root rot. If you’re not sure when to water, err on the side of underwatering – Cordyline Kiwi is more tolerant of dryness than permanently wet soil.

Humidity and Temperature

As a tropical plant, the Cordyline thrives in high humidity. Aim to keep the humidity at 50 per cent or above to keep your plant happy. If you live in a dry climate or heat your house indoors, lowering the humidity, either a humidifier or tray of water next to the plant can bring up the humidity for your plant. Misting the leaves with water is also a great way to ensure your plant has the moisture it needs.

CK thrives best if kept warm, and should always be protected from cold drafts and temperatures below 55°F (13°C) which it is very sensitive to. Therefore be sure to keep your Cordyline Kiwi out of any drafts and away from windows or doors that expose it to chilly air. CK prefers a warm environment with a temperature range from 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C).

Soil and Fertilization

A well-draining soil that retains some moisture, without becoming waterlogged, is ideal for the Cordyline Kiwi plant. To enhance the drainage, one can add perlite or sand to a good quality potting mix. Repotting into fresh soil every two or three years will also provide the Kiwi plant with the nutrients it needs for optimum growth.

Fertilising also helps keep aggressive growers, like this one, leafy. Feed your Cordyline Kiwi a balanced liquid-indoor fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season with every-other feeding in fall andows. A 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula is fine.

Pruning and Maintenance

If you pinch out the growing tips before they’re excessively long and leggy, and prune the stems back occasionally, it will remain a compact, bushy plant and produce many new shoots. Remove any yellow or dead leaves to keep it looking at its best. The stems can also be pruned back to promote a more bushy plant, if it develops long bare stems. Pruning can be done anytime during the spring or early summer when the plant is growing.

It is also necessary to clean the plant’s leaves from time to time, when dust and dirt accumulates over them. Too much dirt and dust can block the light from entering into the leaves, so ensure that the plant leaves are clean by gently wiping them with a damp cloth.

Propagation of Cordyline Kiwi

Cordyline Kiwi new plants are a wonderful reward if grown out of any part of an old Cordyline Kiwi, called propogation. There are two main different ways to get your new plants, the easy way would be cutting the stem or the tough way by cutting through wood.

Propagation by Stem Cuttings

Cut Healthy Stem: Pick a healthy branch on your Cordyline Kiwi, at least 6 inches long and with 3-5 leaves, as your cutting.

Cutting the Stem: Use a clean, sharp knife or pair of scissors to cut the stem just below a node (where the stem joins with the leaf). Strip off the bottom leaves, leaving a few at the top.

Set cuttings out on a rack to root or put them directly into a pot of moist, well-drained soil. If using water, change it regularly so it does not become stagnant.

Give the Cutting the Right Conditions: Place the cutting in a warm, bright place with indirect light. Maintain humidity either with a plastic bag or some kind of propagation tray on which to sit the cutting, with a lid.

Potting: Roots usually develop within a few weeks, after which transplant the cutting to a standard pot with potting soil, and care for it as you would a mature plant of the species Cordyline Kiwi.

Propagation by Division

Take the Plant Out of Its Pot: Carefully remove the plant from the pot, shake off the soil.

Split the Root Ball: Either by hand or with a clean knife, cut the root ball into sections, so that each piece has a stem and roots of its own.

Repot the Divisions: Plant each section you separated in your own pot, using fresh, well-drained soil. Water your newly potted plants and let them grow in a sunny, indirect light area.

Look After the New Plants: Keep caring for the new plants as you would a fully grown Cordyline Kiwi, by providing them the right light, water and increasing humidity levels.