grow too large for most homes. Dwarfing of cordvlines may be ac- 

 complished by withholding food and by keeping the plants in pots as 

 small as possible. 



The results of growing 24 plants of Cordyline terminalis in as many 

 homes for from two and one-half to 18 months were as follows: 14 good, 

 four satisfactory, four unsatisfactory, and two failures. The failures 

 were caused by too much water, rotting of the roots being the result. 

 Three of the unsatisfactory plants were injured by too much sun or heat 

 and drying, while the fourth was damaged after the grower oiled its 

 leaves. 



Soil used 



A fibrous mixture of two parts compost and one part peat moss 

 was used. 



Window exposure 



Plants were given almost every possible exposure around the home. 

 Results obtained indicate that exposure is important only in its effect up- 

 on the water needs of this plant. Cordyline terminalis was found tolerant 

 to poor light conditions if it was not overwatered. It could stand the 

 sunniest windows in mid-winter and early spring but needed consider- 

 ably more water than when not in sun. Some of the best plants were 

 kept in good indirect light or near a sunny window, but shaded slightly. 



Watering 



The poor performance of all unsatisfactory plants was directly 

 traceable to too much or too little water. The leaves of six plants were 

 shined with a vegetable oil and three of these were damaged severely by 

 overwatering shortly after. Apparently the oiling of the leaves cuts 

 down the water loss from these plants, so the water supplied the plants 

 should be reduced accordingly. 



Cordyline plants kept at a high temperature or in sunny windows 

 may need so much water that more than one daily watering is necessary. 

 In such cases, it would be better to shade plants slightly or do something 

 to lessen this high water requirement. On the other hand, these same 

 plants not in sun and in fairly cool locations may require water only once 

 or twice weekly. 



The first symptoms of injury from drying usually will be dried 

 spots on the leaves, together with slight scorching of the tips and mar- 

 gins. Damage from overwatering first causes rotting of the roots and 

 eventually the loss of lower leaves. By occasional examination of the 

 root system this trouble may be detected in time to prevent damage to 

 the top of the plant. However, cordvlines are not difficult to grow. 

 The same watering practices that are used for most other plants will 

 suffice. 



Temperature 



Plants were subjected to night temperatures from 45° - 75° F and 

 day temperatures almost as variable. Cordvlines will grow satisfactorily 

 at 75° F if sufficient water and light are available. With higher tempera- 

 tures more light and water will be necessary to grow successful plants. 



Containers 



Roughly, half the plants studied were in porous clay and half in 

 glazed pots, while some of the porous were placed in jardinieres. There 



Thirty -two 



