cordyline leaves broke

[DrGonzo]

We had a cordelion in the garden (pineapple shaped thing ), but about 2/3rds of the leaves snapped in some gales back in January so they are now all hanging down and only the leaves at the top of the plant are hanging outwards like they should.
Doesn't look like the bottom will recover but thare there any things we can do to help it ?

 

[Thermo]

no as it grows taller the leaves at the bottom die off, so nothing you can do

 

[DrGonzo]

what about chopping off all the broken leaves (they're not actually dead leaves, just broken) as close to the trunk as possible?
WIll it grow new ones?

 

[DrGonzo]

e.g.

 

[Thermo]

it grows new ones from the top. that needs to be in a bigger pot and new compost in by the look of it. Slowly trim off the old ones from the bottom to give it a good chance of surviving the damage.

 

[coldshowerkid]

Hi i agree with what thermo says. also i have found that during winter especially when these plants are small they need protection. i normally cut the top and bottom off a large cola bottle so you have a tube,pull the leaves upwards and slip the tube over, not only does this protect the leaves from wind damage but also from heavy frost damage to the centre of the plant,in spring slip the tube off and i a few days the leave drop down and back to normal.

 

[DrGonzo]

Okay, I'll try all that. Thanks for the advice.
I don't really get how there won't be a gap after I trim off the bottom of the plant slowly. As you'll see in the picture there is a section of about 3 ft worth of damaged leaves maybe more (4ft).
If the plant grows leaves from the top, surely it does this by growing upward? Fair enough, some leaves will hang down, but they might look completely tou of place hanging down to fill a 4 ft gap ?

Also, how slowly do you mean. Trim off some leaves once a week over a month period in summer or longer?

 

[Thermo]

no they wont come back, but if you take all the damaged ones off in one go the plant wont be too happy, so do it in stages, and put it in a bigger pot!