They will also begin to droop and likely die off. Water: Water your Yucca Cane plant when the top 50% of the soil is dry. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. (Make sure to keep the air well-circulated to prevent mold growth on the soil’s surface. Types of Yucca Plants. The Yucca Cane is a drought-tolerant plant and does not require much water. The Yucca Cane is a tough and hardy evergreen that is native to hot and dry parts of the Americas and the Caribbean. Try … If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. 2. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. This is very similar to snake plant propagation, as they are both rhizome plants. This ultimately creates new plants that are capable of surviving on their own once removed from the mother plant. Water regularly in the spring and summer growing season, but make sure the plant has excellent drainage and dries between waterings. When the soapweed yucca plant blooms, it produces pale green-white flowers on the end of a flowering stem that is 3 ft. (1 m) tall. Two years ago, we had a freakishly early snowfall, and the plant was covered. I’m fine having this plant around my kid and pets, but as always, use your best judgment. They are tolerant to most climates and soils, making them popular houseplants.. Yucca plants are tolerant of most climates and soils. Not only did the leaves not burn at all and the plant didn’t show any damage—it thrived and exploded with growth! YUCCA CANE PLANT, $25 Photo: Home Depot. It can grow between 2 and upwards of 30 feet tall! Wherever you put your yucca, just keep in mind that your light levels will directly affect your yucca canes growth rate. If you notice this, cut the leaves off and let the plant dry out completely. As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. There is a small chance that your yucca can die from a pest infestation but that chance is low. Under the right conditions, yucca is not difficult to grow. I think I watered it twice last winter. I’ll focus specifically on caring for the yucca cane plant—also called the yucca gigantea—but let’s do a bit of yucca background first. Speaking of more yucca plants…. While they hail form arid climates, they’ve evolved to withstand a wide range of climates from deserts to grasslands and even subtropical areas. Want to read about plant propagation? These leaves eventually began to die off, so I cut them off about a month later inside. Here are two photos of the plant taken one year apart from one another. While choosing a yucca for growing indoors, it should be seen that the roots are firm and the plant is free of ‘cane wobble’. And that will mostly be to give it some fresh soil. The long, leathery, pointed leaves of a yucca plant are a foot or more in length and about an inch wide. Overwatering is a big concern for yucca cane plants, especially as houseplants. A cactus or succulent soil is nice, but in bigger pots, that route can get expensive. Check boxes below for what you want to see—I won't send you anything else. Yes! Since they aren’t super fast growers, they won’t need to be repotting super often. However, I don’t think I’ll have to repot it again until next year. To divide a yucca plant, remove it from its pot and use a pair of clean gardening shears to cut the yucca plant into two at the rhizome. Add to cart. Providing proper soil moisture (or lack of moisture) is important in caring for a Yucca Cane. I’ve researched it and read online that yucca varieties can grow in USDA zones 3 through 10. As houseplants, they need far less water because they grow more slowly. I’d imagine potted varieties will likely not get much taller than 6 feet, though. I’ve read that yucca cane plants don’t tolerate direct light well, but in my experience, that isn’t true. So, when replacing an indoor yucca plant to an outdoor location, do it gradually over the course of a week so the plant gets a little time to adjust. Giving your yucca plant the right kind of soil is somewhat of a balancing act. That makes them excellent choices for houseplants since usually indoor air is very dry. The potting mix doesn't need to be specially formulated or rich; in fact, this isn't a good idea for low-maintenance yuccas. Keep in mind that if you’re planning to plant your yucca cane in the ground, the root systems can become very intense and difficult to remove completely. I have left my yucca cane outdoors well into freezing temperatures here in Maryland, and it suffered no damage the first year. I’ll be trying my hand at it for the first time at the end of this summer (I read it’s best to propagate it in the fall). 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. … It can tolerate lower light areas but will grow much slower. You could also add a bid of peat moss, which is a lightweight additive that can help encourage drainage. The best conditions for Yucca include a sunny corner with relatively low humidity. When older leaves die on a mature yucca plant, simply cut them away, usually in the spring. Yuccas do not need high quality soil, but it needs to be well-draining. I will report back. This yucca cane plant already starts out at a good size in this 9-inch grower pot. Potted yucca plants may grow in full sun and flourish, but will often have browning tips or white, necrotic spots on the leaves. Yuccas are highly susceptible to diseases such as root rot when left in water-saturated soil. This one has been on my radar for a while, so I’m happy to finally be sitting down to write this post. The plant is a member of the Asparagaceae family and subfamily Agavoideae. They have … Yucca elephantipes—also called spineless yucca, stick yucca and yucca gigantea—is a type of shrubby plant with thick cane stems and sword-shaped leaves.Yucca plants grow outdoors in hot arid climates. You’ll love my guides on how to take care of monstera plants, the ponytail palm, snake plants, elephant ear plants, pothos plants, rubber plants, fiddle leaf figs, cape ivy, peperomia plants, succulents, and philodendron. They are especially easy to overwater, and soggy stems are a sign of too much water. A mix of equal parts potting soil, coarse sand, and perlite will provide enough drainage for yucca plants. The spineless yucca plant, a native of Guatemala and southeast Mexico, is an ideal easy care houseplant. Yucca thrives at temperatures between 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit with partial shade. Let the water drain through the bottom, empty the saucer of any water, and then allow to dry out again. Yucca Cane plant will do fine in bright, indirect sun. The poisonous spots are difficult to reach through dense bundles of sharp foliage. Spider mites, mealy bugs, and scale are some of the things you don’t often find on yucca plants. HOW TO PLANT YUCCA. They do well slightly pot-bound, as long as they don't become heavy enough to tip over their containers. You can simply trim any dead, dying, or otherwise unsightly leaves with clean shears. I wouldn’t leave my yucca cane outdoors all winter. I’d love to be proven wrong! Like my info about how to care for a yucca plant? Then plant fresh and water slightly more than normal while the new roots are growing and settling in. No spam; unsubscribe anytime. And indoor yucca cane plants will likely not flower. This variety of shrub tree is native to the hot, dry, arid parts of the Americas and the Caribbean. An old-fashioned houseplant that's just as common now as it was a generation ago, yucca cane is wonderfully easy to grow and an excellent choice if you're just starting out with houseplants. If you want to hear from me, drop your email below! Yuca plants—also known as cassava or manioc plants—are unrelated, if similarly named. The trunk (or cane) can also begin to rot with overwatering, leading the entire plant to slump. Though mine never has. Speaking of water…. Each looks a bit different, but they all have some sort of distinct large, long, sword-shaped green leaves. YUCCA CANE quantity. A yucca cane, or yucca plant, is a hardy perennial plant.Yuccas are considered to be flexible plants, easy to care for and maintain. They can also be propagated by stem cuttings, using pieces of stem measuring at least 4 inches and rooting hormone. It’s all yours! Yucca plants are not the same as yuca plants. If you don’t like the flowers, you can just cut off the flower stalks before they bloom. Yay, more yuccas! The Yucca plant, when kept as a houseplant, needs to be watered moderately during its growth period in spring and summer and sparingly during its resting period in fall and winter. And I keep it in an area with direct sun all day long—it grows BEAUTIFULLY! However, the plant protects itself well. The leaves are typically higher off the ground, though, so they aren’t a danger to children and pets if they’re out of reach. The plant was fine with the temperatures, actually. Use a sharp pair of pruning shears to cut the stalk off 3 to 4 inches above where the stalk grows from the main trunk. This won’t look amazing for a while, though, as it will be bare. Morale of the story? And, well, look like a plant that has had its head chopped off. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Hot, arid parts of the Americas and the Caribbean. Images of Yucca plant and pictures. They also do well in bright, indirect sun. Fertilize during the growing season with liquid fertilizer or controlled-release fertilizer according to label instructions. If you want to prune the flowers of a yucca, you can do so at any time, even if it's not blooming. While a lot of yellow, brown, or bent leaves is likely a sign of a problem, it’s normal for the bottom leaves to wilt and die off. Yucca plant soil should also retain water well. For more details, review my privacy policy. Want my 60-page guide all about 8 of the easiest houseplants to care for? Yucca plants meet the indoor requirements of flexibility and easy care – air cleaning is another extra. Also keep in mind that the underground root structures of mature yucca plants can become large and powerful enough to crack foundations! Yucca canes are available in many sizes and can be very large indoor plants, but ours is a shelf sized option perfect for decorating a tabletop, shelf, or desk. I’m planning to keep my large yucca in this pot this year. Over time, yucca plants will typically lose their lower leaves (in nature, they droop, forming a skirt around the trunk), giving the plant a pleasant "tree-like" appearance. We help our customers by giving them affordable access to great gardening ideas and products. The low-growing desert shrub grows about 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and wide. Thus, even container gardening of this plant requires proper care and expertise to know the consequences of the different steps being taken. Notice, however, that I said survive, not thrive. I’ve had my large yucca cane plant outdoors two summers in a row in very bright sun for the majority of the day. Yucca Elephantipes/Spineless Jewel/Cane Yucca/Soft-tip Yucca. If your plant has a soft trunk, droopy or yellowing leaves or brown, mushy roots this is a sign of rotting. Wait until the leaves are green. Known variously as the Spineless Yucca, Spanish Dagger, Adam’s Needle, Spanish Bayonet and Soapweed yuccas are hardy perennials that generally range from 30 cm to 2.5 meters in height. If your trunk seems to be getting soft instead of tall and stiff, be worried! As mentioned in the paragraph on types of Yucca plants, the most common Yucca to be grown indoors is Yucca elephantipes, also known as cane Yucca. “Yucca” itself is a genus in the Asparagaceae family, subfamily Agavoideae. Yucca plants do require some tidying to keep them looking their best. A rhizome is how this plant produces new “babies.” Rhizomes are horizontal underground plant stems that create offshoots of the plant. Yucca cane plants can survive in a variety of light conditions, which the yucca plant’s indoor care a breeze. Check it out. However, it still needs to be heavy enough to hold the plant upright. We can’t talk about how to care for a yucca plant without talking about watering needs. But there are two ways to propagate a yucca plant—by dividing it, or through yucca pups (so cute). Yucca plants are hardy in many ways, and their resistance to pest infestations is one of them! Click here to see all articles about Yucca. If you have a large yucca you need to pot or repot, you can add sand and small rocks or perlite to a regular potting mix to lighten the soil up and encourage drainage. Due to these harsh environments in which they grow, Yuccas have adapted ways to store water and moisture to survive long periods of drought. Today I’m sharing all about how to care for a yucca plant, including caring for indoor and outdoor yucca cane plants, how to propagate yucca cane plants, what light and water the plant needs, and more! Water your Yucca Cane only when the top 50% of the soil is dry—perhaps every 1-2 weeks, depending on your indoor climate. Its blooming is bird-attractive during fall and summer. As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. My free 50-page guide will help you get started propagating 7 easy houseplants! When growing the yucca plant indoors, try to locate it in a partially shaded area of bright, but indirect light for better leaf color. ), Since my plant suffer a bit of damage outside last winter, I’ve been slowly pruning it back to life this summer. You can likely find yucca cane plants easily these days in big-box garden centers like Home Depot and Lowes, as well as your local nurseries. They are perennial shrubs and come in upwards of 50 different species. This yucca cane plant already starts out at a good size in this 9-inch grower pot. Notice, however, that I said survive, not thrive. 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. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. To stop your yucca cane plant from getting any bigger, you can cut off the top portion of the trunk. During the winter when your plant isn’t actively growing, you can water it much less. Propagation There is a more complicated method of taking Yucca root cane cuttings, however as we haven't done this ourselves we can't with good faith recommend it. Propagating yucca plants is apparently very easy. ), have a distinctive appearance with sword-like green or blue-green leaves that may have variegation. As with most patient houseplants that thrive on hands-off care, yuccas don’t necessarily need fertilizer. Just drop your email below and I’ll send it straight to you. However, last year, in early December we had some bitterly cold temperatures. Near a sunny window is perfect. Repotting larger yucca plants can be difficult, so larger plants can be refreshed with new potting soil by digging out the top two inches of the container and adding new soil. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durable service as a houseplant. Yucca plants grow on canes, or large, woody stems. You can try to replant the part you cut off, too. They are native to the hot and dry (arid) parts of the Americas and the Caribbean. 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