Yucca Growing | How To Care For A Yucca Houseplant

If your friendly yucca plants become yellow or may discover black spots on leaves then there may be chances of spoiling the growth of yuccas from blooming flowers. You need not worry as this problem can be easily solved by applying natural fertilizers and by providing sufficient water and sunlight to the plants.

Yucca plant is a perennial shrub in the family of Asparagaceae that is abundantly seen in the Caribbean and American countries. It is a super air-purifying plant and grows well in hot and dry climatic conditions. Plant leaves, stems and roots are poisonous if consumed directly. Though the plant is poisonous it contains powerful antioxidants that help to cure a stomach ache, headache and other skin related problems in humans.

Here in this article, we shared the detailed information related to the yucca plants, growing conditions and how it is helpful in your daily life to lead a happy life.

Companion Plants

Yucca combination plants include euphorbia, sedum, lilies, sage, rudbeckia and ceratostigma that help to improve plant growth. Both the plants are benefitted if planted together by deterring pests and diseases problem, nutrient deficiency issues and flower blooming. There are some plants that should not be combined with yuccas that spoil the growth of yuccas when planted in your home or garden.

Yucca Varieties

The natural distribution of yucca plant varieties has 49 species and 24 subspecies that covers all over the world. Its classification is done based on the living habitat, growing regions and plant maturing time. 

Here are some of the yucca plant varieties to grow in your home or garden are given below…

• Banana yucca Spike leaves grow up to 2-3 feet
• Soapweed yucca 4 feet flower spike with large white flowers
• Beargrass yucca 2 feet tall, produce strong aroma at evening times
• Spanish bayonet 2 feet tall, rigid and sharp-pointed leaves,
• Adams needle 2½ feet, bell-shaped flowers

How to Grow Yucca plants?

A simple procedure to grow yucca plant in your home is to…

• Take yucca seeds and place them in pots containing fertile soil.
• Provide water and sunlight to the plants sufficiently.
• Seedlings develop and you can start fertilizing now.
• When the plant matures you can shift to outdoors to grow bigger.

Yucca seed variety:  

Select the yucca seed variety and buy them from nursery or online to plant it in your pots. The seeds may take months time to germinate seedlings. So start sowing the seeds in winter or early spring season. Before sowing, place the seeds in a container of moist paper or towel. Now maintain the room temperature between 65-75 F to prevent the seeds from drying out.

Pot:

When you start growing from seeds pot size can be of 6 inches. But when transplanted to outdoors choose bigger pots of size 8-12 inches both width and depth. Make sure the pot or container has holes at the bottom for proper drainage.

Soil: 

Now pour soil into the pot that is excellent for drainage. They are easily susceptible to diseases such as root rot when placed in saturated soils. So maintain a good mixture of perlite, coarse sand and potting soil in equal amounts. Cactus mix and palm soil also work well for yuccas when matures.

Watering: 

Place the seeds about (1/2) inch deep into the soil and water thoroughly. Germination may vary depending upon growing season. If you plant plenty of seeds only few may sprout and may take 3-4 weeks time to sprout.

Temperature or Sunlight:

The plant can survive in hot conditions and can also tolerate up to 45F during night times.  Provide sunlight to the plants for a minimum of 6 hours a day to thrive faster.

Pollination:

Yucca plants are being pollinated by yucca moths to transfer the pollen from stamen of one plant to the stigma of another plant. Moths larvae usually depend on seeds of yucca plant for food thereby pollination occurs.

Pruning:

Pruning is not necessary when you grow yucca plant outdoors. The best time to prune yuccas is early spring just before they enter the growth period.

Repotting:  

Repotting is done only when the roots of the yucca plant emerges out of the pot. When it happens remove the yucca plant with roots carefully.  At this time you can shift it to bigger pots to prevent overcrowding problem by adjusting soil levels with potting mix soil to remove air pockets.

Nutrient Deficiency

• Nitrogen         Leafy growth
• Phosphorus Stem growth and movement of water in plants
• Potassium develops roots, flowers, seeds and fruit

Pests and Diseases

• Pests         Diseases
• Scales         Blackspot
• Mealybugs Root rot
• Weevil         Damping-off
• Spider mites Powdery mildew

Fertilisers:  

Yuccas are slow-growing plants and may only need fertilizers a few times a year.  Low-balanced nitrogen fertilizer is ideal which should also contain micronutrients. You can also use organic matter such as manure, eggshells, Neem oil, insecticidal soaps to deter pests & disease problem. Nutrient Deficiency problems can be solved if Fertilize the plants properly.

How to Propagate Yucca Plant?

Yucca plant is a hardy perennial shrub that thrives in hot, dry climates. You can start growing yucca plant from cuttings than growing from seeds which makes you easy to plant outdoors. A brief about the growth factors is given below…

From Cuttings: 

Using stem cuttings from another yucca plant is an easy and popular method to propagate. In this method take the mature stem cuttings with or without leaves of size 4-6 inches during the growing season. Now sow the cuttings immediately into the soil for the roots to develop.  For better results remove the bottom leaves before planting. This method is most successful in humid areas and takes 2-3 months time to establish roots.

From Bulbs: 

You can also propagate yucca plants from bulbs that form between the stems and leaves.   Remove the bulbs from the plant before falling on the ground. Now place the bulbs into the soil mixture and keep moist by watering a little. Roots will develop and is ready to transplant outdoors within 2 months. Plant doubles its size within a short time when you continue to grow them in pots.

How do you Care for Yuccas?

• Test the nature of the soil and ph before planting from seeds indoors.
• Plants cannot survive if you grow them at extreme hot conditions.
• Water the plant regularly to maintain the soil moist and not completely wet.
• If you find the plants overcrowded then safely report them in any growing season.
• When you grow the plant indoors, place it near window location to receive sunlight.
• Prune dead flowers, stems and dry foliage regularly that reduce the chances of diseases.
• When you select the pot or container make sure it has holes at the bottom for proper drainage.
• Provide proper spacing between each plant so they do not fight for food when preferring outdoors.

What are the Medicinal uses of yuccas?

Both the yucca plant leaves and roots are edible and have steroidal content which is used for skin burns, inflammation, joint pains and arthritis problem. It is also good for blood purifying, cleaning kidneys and liver.

Do yucca plants die after flowering?

When matures the plant produces beautiful flowers once in every season. Some varieties may even take years to bloom and last for weeks before the plant dies.  You can also cut flower stalks after it dies to encourage flowering furtherly.

How do you harvest yucca flowers?

To harvest yucca flowers use a sharp knife, shears or scissors. Firstly wait for yucca flowers to bloom during its growing season and then remove the flowers at night times. Now wash the flowers, discard the bulbs from it and is ready to use now.

How much water does a yucca plant need?

Water the plant in huge amounts (outdoors or desert areas) once in every 10 days, because the plant has water storing capacity for a long time in roots, stems and leaves that helps the plants to survive in extremely hot conditions.  When planted indoors water a little on regular basis.

Is yucca plant poisonous to pets?

Yuccas mostly grow in desert areas and are more dangerous to large animals that feed on this plant. When dogs and cats eat leaves which results in weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea sensation.

How big do yucca plants grow?

Yucca plant matures and produces creamy white flowers that bloom in mid-summer season. The plant grows to a height of  10 feet tall and leaves may reach up to 2 feet in length under suitable conditions.

Start growing yucca plants in your garden space from seeds/cuttings that purifies the air and keeps the surrounding atmosphere hygiene. If you have wonderful ideas about yucca plants, please share your experience with us.