This spiky plant can thrive as a houseplant or part of your garden.
(They can grow up to 30 feet tall outdoors!)
Fortunately, the yucca plant can be a super easy-care, no-stress plant for your garden or home decor.
Photo:Grumpy Cow Studios/Getty Images
Here’s how to ensure that your yucca plant thrives for years to come.
But yuccas can also thrive in humid conditions, as they’ve adapted.
Here are the types of yucca that thrive outdoors.
Removing the hard coating on the seed or mechanically scarifying it can also help speed germination.
The best time to start germinating the seeds is in late March.
Planting is a fairly simple process.
Put the seed on top, then cover it with a thin layer of the starter mix.
During the growing period, keep the soil moist and around 55 degrees.
Use agardening knifeto cut it away, along with some of the parent plant’s roots.
Replant it in a new pot, and water to keep it moist (not wet!)
until you see new growth.
Light
Yucca plants need plenty of sunshine to thrive.
Soil
Yucca grows best in sandy, well-drained soil that mimics the desert.
Once a week is plenty during the spring and summer, and good drainage is a must.
In the winter, every couple of weeks should suffice.
They will get soggy if they’re planted in very moist soil or standing water.
Fertilizing
Youshould fertilizeyour yucca plant in the spring and summer with a controlled release or liquid solution.
Yucca plants can be attacked by common plant pests likeaphids, spider mites, and mealybugs.
Insecticidal soap can help you deal with an infestation.
Fungus can also grow on yucca plants, creating black spots on your plant.
you’re able to treat your plant with neem oil to help fight the fungus.
Humans also react poorly to saponins, though reactions tend to be milder.
A yucca houseplant will likely only last five years.
But outdoors, yuccas can live for much longer.
As long as they’re well cared for under appropriate conditions, yuccas will thrive.
Agave is often confused with yucca because of its spiky appearance, but it’s part of thesucculent family.
Other plant families, including Dracaena, Cordyline, and Dasylirion are also often mistaken for yucca plants.
ENH-831/ST675:Yucca gigantea: Spineless Yucca.
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Rodgers J.Joshua Trees - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service).
Alexander R, Pond F, Rodgers J.Yucca L.: yucca.