Yucca plant is also called a tree for indoors. If you like to grow tree-like houseplants that required less care and maintenance. Then you should go for the yucca plant.
It has beautiful and sharp green spike-shaped leaves. In some parts of North America, it is also known as the razor leaf plant.
Yucca is an evergreen plant it can easily handle high temperatures and dry conditions. This makes it an excellent drought-resistant plant.
If you are interested in growing this plant then you must read this guide to speed up the growing process. Below is my experience with this plant.
About the Plant
Yucca plants can easily grow up to 10 feet in height with a leaf size of 2 to 2.5 feet in length. It is native to Mexico and naturally found in dry places.
Its thick stems store a large amount of water in them for a long time. This reduces the watering application and your workload.
No doubt it is a slow-growing plant but you can speed up its growth with the below-written techniques.
To keep it under a manageable height you have to practice pruning at least once a year.
In its active growing season use a saw or loppers to cut the overgrown stems. Spring and summer are the two best seasons for pruning this plant.
Do not trim it in the winter and rainy seasons. This will result in stunted growth and fungal infections.
Light Needs
Too much sunlight can burn the plant but this does mean you cannot put it outside in the sun.
Find a place where it can get enough sunlight in the morning time. You have to protect it from afternoon sunlight.
Because between 12 pm to 4 pm, our sun emits very hot rays. These light waves can damage the plant.
The internal plant tissues are soft and contain a high amount of moisture. When the hot sun rays strike on stems the water gets evaporated and the plant gets burned.
When growing indoors you have to place it in a bright place. You cannot use grow lights to grow yucca. Because grow light cannot fully fill the light needs of a 10 feet tall plant.
Potting Soil
It does not need any kind of special soil but the yucca potting soil must contain some important ingredients and qualities.
To keep your plant alive, you need to choose the soil that drains the water in a few seconds. A fast-draining soil can protect your plant in overwatering situations.
Lightweight soil is not recommended because this plant is a tall plant. Therefore, it needs support when growing in large pots.
Slightly compact soil can hold the plant roots and their structure and prevent them from falling over.
My personal favorite is regular soil + Sand + Peat in a ratio of 2:1:1.
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Watering
Yucca plants do not need much water to grow healthy. It likes to live on the little dry side. This will keep the plant healthy and young.
Do not forget that overwatering can kill your plant in a few days. From overwatering, I mean frequent watering per week.
The general watering rule for this plant is to let the top 2 inches of the soil dry before watering application.
You can insert your finger in the soil to check soil condition.
There is a device called a soil moisture meter you can use if you are new to gardening. It is easily available on Amazon.
This inexpensive device will tell you the water percentage in the soil in digital form.
Reading and using a soil moisture measuring meter is quite simple and easy.
Fertilizing
The mature yucca plant does not need fertilizers to grow further. But you can fertilize the young plants that are in their initial stage of growth.
This will help them to get all the essential nutrients that are required by the plants to grow and to produce leaves.
Any brand general purpose liquid fertilizer is best to use.
If your matured plant is demanding nutrients then spring and summer are the two seasons.
Fertilizer mature plants once in 30 days for 3 times a year.
Temperature & Humidity
In general, it likes to live above 45 degrees F. If the temperature drops below 45 degrees F your plant tissues will start freezing. This will break them and it will fall over.
To make your plant comfortable keep the indoor temperature between 45 to 80 degrees F.
There are some yucca plant varieties like yucca glauca that are hard enough to tolerate freezing cold. Choose one of them to grow outside even in the winter season.
For humidity, you do not need to make any change. The general home humidity is enough for the plant to stay healthy.
Toxicity
Yucca plant is toxic to humans and pets. Please keep your pets away from this plant. the sap of the plant contains poisonous chemicals.
Ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea.
Whenever you see these symptoms in your pets immediately call the doctor. Also, take care of children. teach them not to ingest the parts of the plant.
Repotting
As it gets matured the top of the plant becomes heavy and this creates unbalance of weight. This will result in tipping over the pot if you use lightweight pots.
Therefore, repot your plant once in 2 years or when you feel that it needs a bigger pot.
Spring is the best time for repotting the yucca.
Propagation
You have two methods of propagation both equally effective and spring is the best time for them.
The first method of propagation is to use pups that are naturally found on the stems of the plant. Take a sharp knife and cut from the main stem.
Then plant them in different pots to speed up the rooting process you can use the rooting hormone.
You should only cut green color pups they have more chances of rooting.
The second technique is dividing the rhizomes and planting them in different pots. Then follow the regular care routine.
Conclusion
Yucca is a perfect houseplant you can grow it indoors as well as outdoors. There are many varieties of it some of them are hard.
This decorative plant looks beautiful both indoors and outdoors.
Its leaves and fragrance are its real beauty give it good care and it will stay healthy for years.
