Yucca Care Instructions

Yucca Care Instructions

The use of plants inside homes is becoming more and more common, as more contemporary house designs incorporate these natural elements in the interiors to add a layer of freshness. There are many plants that are being used for the purpose, and many of these are the ones that create a certain focal point in an indoor space.
One such plant is the Yucca Cane, which has a thin, slender stem on which long and pointed narrow leaves grow. This creates a point of focus and interest in any indoor space, and is a great way of using something natural to brighten up your home.
The Yucca plant belongs to the lily family and is originated from southern Mexico. There are more than 20 species of the plant that exist in the world today. Based on what variety it is, its coloration can be anywhere from green to bluish. The leaves of the plant are variegated in cream, yellow, and white colors as well.

Yucca plant care is fairly simple. All you need to do is put it in the right location and the plant will thrive. Most of the yucca plants grown indoors are kept in 10, 14, or 17-inch pots. It is very rare to see a pot larger than this. The plants usually grow to a height of 3 to 8 feet, while plants as high as 15 feet are seen as well. So you may need to be careful of where you keep your plant, as sunlight plays a large role in its growth.
The Yucca cane requires a good amount of sunlight to grow well. While the plants will grow well in direct sunlight, the tips of their leaves will be discolored. Therefore, it is wise to keep them in a bright but slightly shaded area for better colorization. It has also been seen that a yucca kept in brighter sunlight grows faster, so it may be strategic to keep it in a shady area so you don’t run out of room for it soon, given its height.
The yucca cane can handle most temperature variations, which makes it a good choice for an indoor plant. However, it is a good idea to grow it in movable containers as the plant cannot handle frost. This allows you to bring the plant inside during extreme winters. You can then take the plant back outside in spring and summer, placing it in an area where the gentle morning sun shines on it.

Watering and Fertilization
The Yucca cane does not need to be watered too often, being somewhat drought resistant as well. However, when you water the plant, it is important to let the top of the soil almost dry out before watering again. More importantly, do not leave your plant sitting in a puddle of water. This extra water will become the cause of root rot if the sun isn’t bright enough to evaporate it in time. The result will be a plant with collapsed foliage.
Fertilization is not necessary to have a fully grown yucca cane. However, it can help make the process a little faster.

The most important aspect of the soil holding the Yucca cane is that it should be strong enough to carry its vertical weight. The soil should also have good drainage, and be able to retain some water as well. A good medium to help grow the Yucca is three parts sand with one part peat.

Lucky for you, spider mites do not like the Yucca plant. The plant is generally free from pests but can be seen infested sometimes with scale or mealybugs. If this happens, use a light insecticide or just a fast stream of water to wash the insects off.
One common issue that arises with Yucca is the growth of a fungus that many people think to be scale. The owners of the plant may use pesticides to kill the ‘scale’ only to see it not working. The best way to be sure is to try and ‘flick’ this black substance off of the plant. If it is scale, it will come off with a flick and you can then use pesticide.
If however, it is not scale, you should remove the infected leaves so that the origin of the fungus is removed altogether and it cannot grow anymore.
The yucca plant has some offsets, known as pups, which can be used to get more plants. To do that, you will need to remove the plant from its container. This step is preferred to be done outdoors. The next step is to remove the pup with a clean cut. This pup can now be potted separately, and a rooting compound can be added to its soil. The adult plant will start appearing after some time. Like with a grown yucca, fertilization here is not necessary but can be helpful in having the plant grow better roots.

So there you have it. If you want a houseplant that looks different, with a bold form, and is high enough to create a statement in your room or your lounge, then the yucca cane is your answer. Growing one isn’t very hard, as it doesn’t need to fed or watered very frequently, and basically grows on its own.
The only thing you really need to be careful of is how much light the plant is getting, and you can be sure that this plant will become a focal point and a piece of natural beauty in your home.