How to Care for a Ti Plant
Gardeners in warm climates can dress up patios and gardens with the colorful, tropical ti plant. Native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, this warm-weather plant is commonly known as the Hawaiian ti and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 10 through 12. This colorful plant produces long, glossy foliage that ranges in color from rich greens to deep purples, and even includes variegated patterns.
Prepare a fertile, well-drained sitefor your ti plant. Choose a planting location that receives a full day of full to partially shaded sunlight, if you are planting your ti plant in the landscape. Shovel and till the area to loosen the soil and remove any weeds.
Select a potting container for your potted ti plant that has several drainage holes at the bottom rather than one central hole. Choose a container that is slightly wider than the ti plant’s spread and slightly deeper than its root system. Select a nutrient rich, peat-based soil designed for tropical plant growth. Line each of the container’s drainage holes with fine wire mesh to keep ti plant’s roots from growing through the holes. Fill your container halfway with the soil and set it aside.
Remove your ti plant from its original container and gently remove the excess soil from its root system. Inspect the roots carefully, looking for broken and deadened roots. Cut damaged and dead roots back into the healthy tissue. Do not trim roots if they are firm and white.
Plant the ti plant immediately into its prepared planting environment. Cover all the roots with soil and firm the soil around the root ball with your hands. Irrigate your planted ti plant deeply with tepid water until water begins to flow from the drainage holes. Always water your ti plant at soil level to keep the foliage dry.
Place your potted ti plant in a warm, sunny location that has good air circulation and is free of the extreme temperature variations that you might find near heating and air conditioning vents. Bring your potted ti plants indoors when temperatures are expected to fall below 50 degrees F, as these temperatures will slow the ti plant’s grow dramatically. Cover planted ti plants with cloth or other plant coverings when cold temperatures approach to protect outdoor ti plants.
Water the ti plant as needed to maintain a moist, but not saturated, soil environment. Water the plants deeply with tepid water, never cold, and allow the plant’s soil to dry slightly before the next irrigation. Never allow the ti plant’s soil to dry out completely.
Feed your planted and potted ti plants monthly with a well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer, such as an 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 combination -- the numbers indicate the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the product. Distribute the feed evenly around the ti plant’s soil while keeping the feed at least 1 foot away from the base of the plant to prevent chemical burn and resulting root rot. Water the feed deeply into the soil.
Keep your potted ti plant’s foliage clean and dust-free to avoid insect infestations and fungal diseases. Wipe the foliage periodically with a clean, damp cloth. Rinse your outdoor ti plant’s foliage periodically with water to rinse away any insects and pests that have taken shelter in the plant. Complete the outdoor rinsing early in the day so the foliage has time to dry before the end of the day which will avoid potential for fungal diseases.
Inspect your ti plant regularly for signs of disease and infestation. Look for spotted foliage, loss of vigor, nibble marks and yellowed foliage. Treat the ti plant with a fungicidal spray to treat spotted foliage and diseases such as leaf spot. Spray the plant with an insecticide treatment to control and eliminate any insect infestations. Be sure to rinse the foliage and allow it to dry before applying the spray.
- Feed the ti plant every two weeks, as opposed to once a month, to eliminate yellowing foliage, as this is a sign that the plant lacks nutrients.
Writing professionally since 2004, Charmayne Smith focuses on corporate materials such as training manuals, business plans, grant applications and technical manuals. Smith's articles have appeared in the "Houston Chronicle" and on various websites, drawing on her extensive experience in corporate management and property/casualty insurance.