Why are my cordyline superstars leaves falling off?

[el_artichaut]

Hi, someone lended me a cordyline superstar for the holidays. I don’t know if I gave it the right amount of water (2 glasses each 3 days) but the soil is humid.

The problem is that now the base of the leaves is really fragile and they fall off. 3 of them have fallen since yesterday because I touched them, but the rest of the remaining leaves are already half torn from the trunk. 2 of the falling leaves were not dried out though. One of them had its base brown, viscous and a little stinky. Another one was dried out, really crispy, and the last one was normal. They were all from the bottom of the plant. I linked some pictures in this post.

Also, there is a lot of flies around my plant.

Since it’s the first plant that I have, I don’t know how I can help it and I don’t know exactly what caused it. Thanks for helping!

 

[Marck]

Greetings, welcome to the Forums.

The 'Superstar' Cordyline (Cordyline obtecta 'Albatross) is a cultivar of a species native to northern New Zealand and Norfolk Island.

The plant pictured is beginning to succumb from overwatering and/or poor drainage. Its culture most be improved without delay.

It wants full sun or bright indirect light, mild temperatures and regular water, but with excellent drainage. Let the potting soil partly dry before irrigating again. Observe the plant and soil before irrigating. Do not blindly water with a pre-set amount on a pre-set schedule.
Also make certain that the soil an container drain properly. Do not let the pot sit in a flooded saucer.

The flies you mention a re fungus gnats living in the potting soil. They are another symptom of excessively wet conditions.