How hardy is Cordyline indivisa

[themes]

Is it true you can propogate them by collecting stools? info on the net is sketchy at best.

[Essex Ross]

Since 1987, some species of Cordyline in New Zealand have been affected by a disease called "Sudden Decline", caused by the pathogen Phytoplasma australiense. The sudden death of some specimens of C. indivisa in cultivation and in the wild has been attributed to this disease, but it is still not clear if this was in fact the case. - Quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyline_indivisa

[Essex Ross]

This plant is very rarely cultivated, but is occasionally offered by specialist nurseries. It is a very attractive tree, but it has a tendency to collapse suddenly during high temperatures or in times of water shortage. It prefers cool moist soils, and semi-shade, and is easy to grow in the cooler parts of New Zealand. North of Hamilton, it can only be grown with great difficulty but few plants survive long enough to flower in lowland areas. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyline_indivisa

[Dave Brown]

My last one rotted off at the base. The problem seems to be they like a fair amount of dampness if warm, but if the compost stays too damp they rot. For 2 years it started to rot in late summer early autumn when the humidity gets higher here. My guess is that the soil they grow well in is very fibrous so drains well, but they never get drought. The problem we have here is it is too dry much of the time so we compensate with moisture retentive compost which they seem to hate.

Martin (Bodster) had his growing on the site of an old conifer who's needles make for a very fibrous compost.

I tried growing in coarse bark and grit which seemed to work to start, but then the bark rots down compacting and the only place the roots did not rot was right next to the pot wall on the sunny side.

I'm convinced the rotting off is in response to being in too wet, too compacted compost when it cools down

[Livistona]

I have recently bought some Indivisa seeds and is going to try and germinate them. Here is what the leaflet says about its requirements.

Cordyline Indivisa prefers a moist, cool, even climate. Hardy to -10c once well established. It will tolerate a little more cold than Australis but is more fussy when it comes to its planting position. It needs the infamous moist but well drained soil, plus a sheltered spot in part shade or filtered light is ESSENTIAL. Once it is established it is less demanding.