Yucca

About 40 species of evergreen shrubs and low trees belong to the genus Yucca (Yucca) of the Agave family (Agavaceae). They are characterized by stiff long prickly pointed (sword-shaped) leaves and paniculate or racemose inflorescences of white bell-shaped flowers, which, however, rarely appear in plants grown indoors. Most often, elephant yucca or Guatemalan yucca (Yucca elephantipes, Y. guatemalensis) is grown as a houseplant. Its stiff leaves are gathered in a dense crown on the tops of lignified stems. They have a pointed shape, a glossy green surface, there are no spikes. Sometimes the plant is formed in such a way that the leaves, in young specimens erect, grow directly from the surface of the soil. In late summer, in rare cases, you can see inflorescences of fragrant bell-shaped ivory flowers. Yucca glorious (Y. gloriosa) is a stable species with rather slow growth; linear dark green leaves are gathered in a dense rosette at the top of a lignified stem. Bell-shaped white-cream flowers in dense panicles up to 2 m long bloom in late summer in the 5th-6th year of cultivation.

About 40 species of evergreen shrubs and low trees belong to the genus Yucca (Yucca) of the Agave family (Agavaceae). They are characterized by stiff long prickly pointed (sword-shaped) leaves and paniculate or racemose inflorescences of white bell-shaped flowers, which, however, rarely appear in plants grown indoors. Most often, elephant yucca or Guatemalan yucca (Yucca elephantipes, Y. guatemalensis) is grown as a houseplant. Its stiff leaves are gathered in a dense crown on the tops of lignified stems. They have a pointed shape, a glossy green surface, there are no spikes.

Sometimes the plant is formed in such a way that the leaves, in young specimens erect, grow directly from the surface of the soil. In late summer, in rare cases, you can see inflorescences of fragrant bell-shaped ivory flowers. Yucca glorious (Y. gloriosa) is a stable species with rather slow growth; linear dark green leaves are gathered in a dense rosette at the top of a lignified stem. Bell-shaped white-cream flowers in dense panicles up to 2 m long bloom in late summer in the 5th-6th year of cultivation.

Cultivation

Elephant yucca is quite easy to grow indoors. In summer, the plant can be put on the terrace or balcony, but in September it should be removed back. In mild climates, it grows well in the open ground, in the garden. A liquid complex fertilizer is periodically added to the water for irrigation at the rate of 5 g per bucket. There are other unpretentious species, such as yucca nice, which can be grown outdoors, but if the climate is not particularly mild, they need a fairly sheltered place.

Elephant yucca is quite easy to grow indoors. In summer, the plant can be put on the terrace or balcony, but in September it should be removed back.

In mild climates, it grows well in the open ground, in the garden. A liquid complex fertilizer is periodically added to the water for irrigation at the rate of 5 g per bucket. There are other unpretentious species, such as yucca nice, which can be grown outdoors, but if the climate is not particularly mild, they need a fairly sheltered place.

Location

Yucca species - both indoor and grown in the open ground - prefer a well-lit place. Container yucca elephant, putting in the summer in the garden, can be placed in a sunny place. Species grown in the open ground especially need good lighting.

Temperature

In winter, elephant yucca does not tolerate high air temperature. The plant is kept in an unheated room, at a temperature not lower than 5 °C. The optimal winter temperature is in the range of 12-15 °C. If the specified temperature values are exceeded, it is useful to increase the humidity in the room where the plant is located. In summer, yucca elephant generally does not have any problems, because at optimal humidity, it tolerates an increase in air temperature to 28 °C or more. Yucca species in the open ground can withstand a temperature drop of up to 5 °C or less.

In winter, elephant yucca does not tolerate high air temperature. The plant is kept in an unheated room, at a temperature not lower than 5 °C. The optimal winter temperature is in the range of 12-15 °C.

If the specified temperature values are exceeded, it is useful to increase the humidity in the room where the plant is located. In summer, yucca elephant generally does not have any problems, because at optimal humidity, it tolerates an increase in air temperature to 28 °C or more.

Yucca species in the open ground can withstand a temperature drop of up to 5 °C or less.

Watering

Elephant yucca absolutely does not tolerate stagnation of water, while it can rot the trunk very quickly. In summer, watering should be relatively frequent, but not excessive. It is necessary to check the humidity of the soil with your hand and, depending on this, conduct irrigation. In winter, they are watered less often, and if the air temperature exceeds 15 °C, then the humidity should be relatively high, and in summer the air should be constantly humid. Species growing in open ground require good soil drainage; plants are able to tolerate dry periods quite well.

Transplant

Stem specimens should be transplanted annually in March, because the overgrown crown of the leaves makes the plant unstable, and it can tip over. The new pot should be 1-2 sizes larger than the previous one. It is filled with fertile and very well-drained soil. After a few years, when the volume of the pot reliably ensures stability, it is recommended to continue to update the surface layer of the soil (approximately 3 cm thick).

Reproduction

Open-ground yucca species are propagated by stem offspring, less often by sowing seeds. But for reproduction of the trunk form of elephant yucca, you can use dividing the trunk into fragments of approximately 10 cm in length, placing it in a protected place for rooting in the spring at a fairly high temperature (26-28 °C) and using a soil mixture of sand and peat taken in equal parts. To stimulate rooting, it is recommended to use phytohormones (they are commercially available). It is important to make sure that the lower section of the trunk section is not close to the bottom of the container. Keep the soil moist at all times, but don't overdo it.

Open-ground yucca species are propagated by stem offspring, less often by sowing seeds. But for reproduction of the trunk form of elephant yucca, you can use dividing the trunk into fragments of approximately 10 cm in length, placing it in a protected place for rooting in the spring at a fairly high temperature (26-28 °C) and using a soil mixture of sand and peat taken in equal parts.

To stimulate rooting, it is recommended to use phytohormones (they are commercially available). It is important to make sure that the lower section of the trunk section is not close to the bottom of the container.

Keep the soil moist at all times, but don't overdo it.

Diseases

If the yucca trunk is rotten and the leaves are yellow, it means that the plant is over-watered. Such an instance is difficult to save. Yellowing of the leaves can be caused by a lack of light. In this case, it is enough to move it to a place with intense lighting and remove the yellow leaves. Gray spots that sometimes appear on the leaves indicate a disease of gray rot of vegetable crops (the causative agent is Botrytis cinerea). Use the most effective of the fungicides to control gray rot. Chervets are disposed of using a rag or cotton swab soaked in alcohol, after which the plant treat with an anticoccidal drug. When affected by mites, specks appear on top of the leaves, which tend to connect with each other, and cobwebs form on the reverse side of the leaf plates. Treat with the appropriate acaricide preparation and continue to maintain high humidity around the plant.