how to plant yucca

Caring for yucca plants is fairly simple. The Yucca plant is a widely popular drought tolerant evergreen garden perennial. Yucca filamentosa ‘color guard’ can easily be grown in well-drained, sandy soils. You can harvest yucca flowers. This plant is a hardy, woodsy perennial that grows to about 18 to 20 inches, producing beautiful white flowers atop straight stems with sword-like leaves. A yucca should be planted in a spot with high sun exposure in the garden. The yucca … When do I cut off the long stems when growing yucca? Some recommend only fertilizing yucca once a year. Old leaves on the bottom of yuccas naturally die and turn brown. Too little sunlight can cause decreased flowering and spindly foliage development. (7.5–10 cm) long should be sufficient. This is more labor-intensive, but may provide additional drainage. You can also protect the plant by placing a solid sheet of glass or plexiglass over the bed instead of mulch. Be careful, yucca are sharp! Then, dig in a circle around the plant about 5 inches outside of the shoot, and as you dig, start lifting up the plant until you can remove the whole shoot and root ball from the ground. Yuccas should receive full sun to part sun. Remove the seeds from the pods, allow them to dry, and store in a cool dark location for the winter. Here at Plant Delights Nursery we have grown dozens of different Yucca species and cultivars over the years. Sow seed in spring at 13-18°C (55-64°F) for hardy yuccas and 19-24°C (66-75°F) for tender ones. The plant will likely still grow. Once started, yucca plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground outdoors – either directly in your garden or in a specially-prepared raised bed. If my yucca was broken by a falling tree, can it grow back from the stump? Yucca is a plant with large, long, sword-shaped leaves. Get expert advice, now. Reduce the frequency of watering if your yucca plant develops brown tips with yellow rings around them. Both Yucca aloifolia and Yucca filamentosa can produce offsets that you may wish to prune away to keep them in-bounds. This central, long root can be quite long in some yucca species. It is quite easy to turn one yucca into a flock-o-yuccas. References Dividing yuccas to control their growth works on the same principle. Thanks", "Perfect. More specific watering requirements will depend on how much light your yucca plant … This article gave me step-by-step instructions on how to do, "The article was very informative. The length and thickness of the cutting do not matter much. You can collect yucca seeds, and plant them out but be patient as the seeds are slow to sprout. This article has been viewed 245,033 times. Both Golden Sword and Color Guard Yucca may be sold as Yucca filamentosa or Yucca flaccida as those pesky plant taxonomists have got us growers all mixed up. The yucca plant, which has many different varieties, can be grown both indoors as well as outdoors. There are also plenty of awesome variegated forms to choose from. There are more than 50 types of yucca and all are formidable plants with stiff, sword-shaped leaves. The yucca's native environment consists of arid conditions with low rainfall and poor soil. The illustrations were, "I wanted to know how to grow yucca plants from seed. Next, transplant the shoot to another location outdoors where it will get plenty of sun. Last Updated: February 21, 2020 To plant yucca outside, find a spot that offers full sun exposure. Curled threads line the edges o… One way of propagating yuccas is to cut the rhizomes with baby plants from the main root. Yucca is a genus of perennial plants of 40-50 species found in dry regions, and comes under the Agavaceae family. Set the plant in and fill up the rest of the hole with your dirt/sand mixture, patting it down in the ground to hold the plant’s base upright. Very informative and just what I needed. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. It doesn’t matter if you cut it off or not. Will they still grow? Video of the Day wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This is because yucca can survive well in areas with low nutrients. You should see growth from rhizome cuttings in about a month. It needs little care and will tolerate very dry conditions because of its fleshy roots. Planting yucca Indoors. The seed may even take a full year after planting to sprout. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. While the many species of yucca vary in size and color, they are all able to thrive in hot, dry climates and can be cared for in the same way. Similarly, if you miss a monthly fertilization in the summer, it is not a big deal. Struggling to get a new job? The leaves emerge from a trunk and are dark green to pale blue. There are several variegated cultivars that we especially like including, Golden Sword Yucca and Yucca Color Guard. Thank you very much. Approved. Most of my yucca seeds look like the center has been removed - are insects to blame? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 245,033 times. unlocking this expert answer. The easiest propagation method involves division of an already mature plant. Although called Red Yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora is more closely related to the Agaves than the Yuccas, and its showy blooms, carried on long, arching stalks, are generally rosy-pink or salmon.A native of the Chihuahuan desert of northern Mexico, the plant is heat and drought tolerant and recommended for USDA hardiness zones 5 to 11. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. A cutting 3–4 in. Should I cut the flowering stem of my yucca glorioser? We had stumps removed and the dump truck ran over one yucca several times, it was down to dirt when they left. If the plant was kept in a shady location, consider moving the pot to an area of indirect sunlight for a week before moving it into full sun. Most yucca species are slow-growing and can be harmed by excess fertilizer. Start the seeds indoors when you start your other transplants or wait until the danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to 55 degrees. When planting a yucca cane directly in the ground, dig a hole twice as large as the plant’s roots and mix fresh soil in with sand to help mimic the desert environment. A completely open space, however, is not recommended. This article has been viewed 245,033 times. This article will deal with caring for this plant, taking into account its light, soil, water, and other requirements. This is a sign of over-watering. I got the info I needed fast and very easy to follow.". For a quicker process, take a cutting from an existing adult yucca plant. And nobody likes a skinny Yucca. If your Yucca aloifolia gets too tall for its spot in the garden, you can cut the trunk (in early spring prior to the growing season) to a better height and the yucca plant will resprout from the cut point. You can collect yucca seeds, and plant them out but be patient as the seeds are slow to sprout. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. This method is described in the next section. Yucca baccata: Grows up to 5 feet with shorter, almost blue leaves and purple and off-white flowers in spring. You can use a standard timber hand saw. Light requirements for yucca plants: Plant yucca trees or shrubs where they get plenty of sunlight, and there is adequate airflow. Most likely. As long as it is well-draining, Yucca does not care what type of soil you plant it in. Yucca roots can grow deep into the ground, and you’ll want to remove as many as possible as you’re digging. are succulents that grow in harsh conditions. Yucca plants are perennial shrubs or trees belonging to the Asparagaceae family. We thought it was dead, so left it alone, it rose like a Phoenix! Support wikiHow by Yuccas (Yucca spp.) When you prune a yucca, it goes without saying that you need to protect yourself from the leaves which are often sharp. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Yucca plant (yucca elephantipes) The 40 to 50 species of the yucca plant (yucca elephantipes) are known for their evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves or razor shaped leaves, large terminal whitish flowers. We have a massive yucca cluster and want to remove some sections, The stems are about 20cm in diameter. The yucca plant is an important plant for landscaping in harsh climates. This is not a necessary step, but it may encourage growth. Water the Yucca. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.gardenershq.com/Yucca-plant.php, http://www.weekendgardener.net/perennial-flowers/yucca.plant.htm, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Gardening-Tips-Books-Techniques-and-Tools/Yucca-Cutting/2959, http://dotpointing.com.au/growing-yuccas/, http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2383/, http://www.perennialnursery.com/guides/yucca.html, http://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/yucca, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We planted yucca plants in a strip of ground between our house and sidewalk, but they keep multiplying like crazy and choking out everything else. What tool do we use? GROWING INDOORS You can also grow a yucca plant indoors, and spineless varieties such as Y. elephantipes, are popular houseplants. The leaves are long and pointy, sometimes even razor-sharp. The stiff, leathery leaves are armed with prickly spines. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If the roots fail to develop, you may wish to try again with a cutting from a larger, more mature yucca plant. Species that we really like are Yucca filamentosa, Yucca aloifolia, and Yucca gloriosa. % of people told us that this article helped them. If my yucca is near a sewerage pipe, should I remove it? This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. It has been two weeks since I cut off the yuccas to be replanted. When older leaves die on a mature yucca plant, simply cut them away, usually in the spring. Dig over the soil thoroughly and add lots of bulky organic matter, such as planting compost, to break up heavy soils and help ensure good drainage. 9241 Sauls Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603 | All rights reserved. As the age gradually increases, the lower leaves shed and bare stem will appear. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durable … For a quicker process, take a cutting from an existing adult yucca plant. The best way to grow an Adam's Needle plant is to propagate a root cutting taken in … As stated above, the germination period for yuccas is extensive. Check them for insects and. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. We cut the stem off ours every year. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. You can propagate Yucca via division, root cuttings, stem cuttings and seeds. In areas where rainfall is sporadic and sometimes torrential, it still thrives as long as it is growing in well-draining soil. It is now back and robust with no special care. The slender leaves, which end in a spine, can reach a length of over two feet long on large plants. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. While the sewage is (hopefully) properly contained within the pipe, it's never a bad idea to relocate it. Sand from stream banks is usually acceptable. How great is that? Sharp-tipped leaves mean you should plant yucca plants away from sidewalks, paths, mailboxes and driveways. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid2296901-v4-728px-Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"