The dagger plant Yucca aloifolia , or Spanish bayonet, features tall, bushy clusters of leaves with white flowers.
Spineless yuccas Yucca guatemalensis grow naturally as tall trees —up to 30 feet—in Central America. Many indoor yucca plants look similar to a palm tree or dragon tree Dracaena draco , though they are not actually related. Soapweed yucca Yucca glauca grows as individual shrubs up to four feet high with thin, spiky leaves.
While it looks comparable to soapweed, bear grass yucca Yucca filamentosa grows more similarly to Adam's needle, being two of the few variants in this family that have adapted to extremely cold temperatures.
Propagate your plant by separating offsets or cutting stems, which both require a similar method. It's best to take stem cuttings in the spring, while offsets can be propagated year-round. Here's how:. Step 1: Identify an offset or stem to propagate. If it's possible to wait until the offset has roots, it'll establish more quickly but any offset with at least a quarter-inch of stem will grow into a new plant.
Step 2: Cut off the offset, including any roots, or cut a portion of stem that's at least three inches long. Remove the bottom few inches of leaves from stem cuttings. Step 3: Place your offsets or stem cuttings in a shady, dry place for a few days to callus on the ends before planting. Step 4: Fill the pot with potting mix. Plant offsets or cuttings in the soil, ensuring at least part of the stems are submerged in the fresh mix. Step 5: Put the cuttings in a cool place with indirect light.
Water thoroughly when first planted, then avoid watering until the soil becomes completely dry. Step 6: Water sparingly—every one to two weeks—when the top inch of soil is dry, as too much moisture can cause root rot. Keep new cuttings away from direct sunlight until a strong root system grows. At this point, they can be transferred to new pots and cared for as usual. Yucca trees are an easy-growing species , but a few common problems may affect your plant: yellow or brown leaves, dark spots, and pests.
Here's how to keep your yucca growing healthy:. These colors indicate that your plant isn't getting the right amount of water. Brown leaves mean your plant needs water, while yellow leaves indicate overwatering. Yellow leaves can also be a sign of poor-quality soil: If your plant isn't bouncing back after some time without water, repot it in fresh, well-draining soil.
Gray or brown spots on your yucca's leaves are a sign of a fungal disease. Trim off the affected areas, then purchase a fungicide from your local nursery to treat the plant. Yucca plant bugs, mealybugs, and scale are all common pests that infest yuccas. If your yucca has been outside for the season, check for any mites or infestations on the plant before bringing it back indoors. Treat yucca plant bugs with insecticidal soap, and use one part rubbing alcohol mixed with nine parts water to treat mealybugs or scale.
This species can thrive when slightly rootbound, so until it's visibly outgrowing its pot, your yucca can grow in its current container. This adaptation helps yucca survive drought and ensures its survival.
In its native habitats of Florida and the Southwest, yucca grows in sandy soils. It is tolerant of other soil types, including clay and loam, as long as soils are well draining, according to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
Most plants prefer slightly acidic soils, with a pH of 6. If soil test results are lower than 6. Yucca thrives in poor soil having low fertility, and require little to no fertilization. Although yucca grows naturally on dry, sandy soils, it can also grow in heavy soils if it is planted above grade, such as on a raised berm, which provides sharp drainage. The peat and sand will help add a bit of weight to the soil so that it is heavy enough to support the plant.
The perlite will help to improve the soil drainage so that the peat and sand do not cause it to become waterlogged. Remember, you guys are very susceptible to over-watering diseases such as root rot. After you water the plant, make sure that the water runs out of the pot drainage hole. This will prevent the roots from becoming waterlogged. On average, most yucca plants tend to live anywhere from 5 years to 7 years. However, they can live much longer than this.
Also, the better you care for your yucca plant, the longer it will live. Many growers prefer not to re-pot the plant until there are clear signs that the plant needs it. Another common reason to replant the yucca plant is when the soil becomes contaminated with fungal or other plant diseases, such as root rot. Check out this pair of pruning shears on Amazon. Keep in mind that yucca plants can become pretty weighty, especially if they are over a year old. Be sure to purchase your pot ahead of time and make sure that it is big enough to support the plant.
Water the yucca plant a day before the re-potting. Also, make sure that the new pot is no more than a couple of inches larger than the previous pot and has a drainage hole. Find out more about this peat moss on Amazon. Next, lay the plant on its side and gently rock it back and forth to remove it from the container. Keep in mind that the yucca plant roots may be wrapped around the inside of the pot. Next, slowly lift the yucca plant out of the pot and be careful not to damage the roots when placing the plants in the new pot.
As you place the plant in the new pot, come up make sure that it is level and not leaning to the left or right.
0コメント