Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Cordyline (Ti Plant) diseases. Disease Symlptoms 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 b 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 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 shining chemicals. Keep fertilizer off the growing point and young leaves. Use leaf shining chemicals carefully.

Prepared by Gary W. Moorman, Professor of Plant Pathology