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Ti plant dropping leaves: causes and fixes

Cordyline terminalis

Quick answer

Leaf drop on your ti plant has a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is normal lower-leaf loss as it grows.

Ti plant (Cordyline terminalis)
Ti plant · Cordyline terminalis
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Toxic to pets

First, check the soil. Push a finger 2 to 3 cm (0.8⁠–⁠1.2 in) into it and lift the pot. Dry and light means thirst. Wet and heavy means too much water or poor drainage.

Most likely cause

Normal lower-leaf loss as it grows

Pixel illustration of a healthy dracaena crown where only the lowest, oldest leaf has turned yellow and is dropping

How to tell

  • Losing older, lower leaves steadily while the top keeps growing is completely normal on a ti plant as the cane lengthens.
  • It’s not a symptom by itself.

The fix

  1. 1
    Only worry if it’s dropping leaves from the top or many at once.
  2. 2
    Otherwise let it be.

Other possible causes

Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.

A recent change or shock

It started dropping leaves soon after you bought, moved, or repotted it.

The fix

  1. 1
    Pick a suitable spot, keep care steady, don’t fertilize, and let it adjust over a couple of weeks.
  2. 2
    Many plants settle once conditions stop changing.

Overwatering

Leaves yellow and then drop, and the soil stays wet for days after watering.

The fix

  1. 1
    Ease off watering, check drainage, and inspect for rot in the roots if it feels soft.

Underwatering

Leaves drop after the soil has been bone dry for a while.

How to tell

  • Watch for curling leaves first.

The fix

  1. 1
    If the soil is bone dry, water thoroughly, then check it more regularly so it doesn’t dry out that far again.

Cold drafts or temperature swings

It sits in a draft, near a cold window, or next to a heater, and leaves fall after a cold snap or a sudden temperature swing.

The fix

  1. 1
    Move it somewhere with stable, draft-free temperatures.

All ti plant guides

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