help with my Cordyline fruticosa plant

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skyhacienda Sucre, Bolivia Aug 13, 2012

hi - I live in Bolivia and bought the above named plant and was told it was ok for outdoors (we have spring temperatures all year round). however, we recently had a cold snap at night and the leaves have gone brown. the plant itself is still very much alive. i would like to bring it indoors as a houseplant as it is so attractive, but can i cut off the leaves to encourage new ones.
thanks in advance for any help.

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tapla Bay City, MI(Zone 6a) Aug 13, 2012

If the apical meristem (the growing tip of the stem) was frozen, the plant will probably come back as multi-stemmed. It it wasn't damaged by freezing, remove the leaves carefully, so you don't damage the growing tip of the stem, or eventually you will end up with several stems.

Cutting off the leaves won't "encourage" new ones, but it will tidy up the plant. If any part of the leaves look viable, you might want to consider retaining them temporarily as they are the source of current photosynthate (food), and removing living parts of leaves will reduce the plant's ability to make food and actually slow the emergence of new foliage.

Al

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skyhacienda Sucre, Bolivia Aug 14, 2012

thank you for your help.

Post #9241122
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tapla Bay City, MI(Zone 6a) Aug 14, 2012

You're very welcome. If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Al

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