Yucca is a stylish and durable plant that is very suitable for organizations and offices; even you can have it in your home and apartment. This beautiful plant has large, green sword-shaped leaves. This beautiful plant belongs to the family of family Asparagaceae, and its scientific name is Manihot esculenta. Yucca growth is usually slow and is widely planted in groups because of its attractive appearance and large leaves. Yucca is one of the most resistant apartment plants that can grow in different conditions. Some varieties of this plant are suitable for planting in the garden or terrace where they give white bell flowers and some for storage in apartments and offices. Of course, both species can be kept in both the apartment and the free space. Following we are going to introduce yucca and how you can grow it indoors.
Appearance of the Yucca plant
Yucca is a plant with large, long, sword-shaped leaves. As the age gradually increases, the lower leaves shed and bare stem will appear. These plant leaves are translucent and waxy when young and the leaves grow rough as the plant ages. In the tropical regions of the flowering stem, appears every few years and produces white and creamy flowers in large, small bell-shaped bumps, but less often in the florets. Some varieties are fragrant. By removing the terminal bud of this plant, the plant becomes 2 or 3 branches, which are beautiful in appearance.
Suitable Temperature for Yucca
The optimum temperature of the yucca is between 13 and 27 degrees Celsius. Some varieties of this plant are cold-resistant, but in winter they should be kept at 7 to 8 degrees (cold greenhouses). In summer it is necessary to keep them outside in the yard or on the balcony. Same as a fiddle leaf plant, this plant requires outdoor indirect light other than direct sunlight.
Relative Humidity of Yucca plant
Yucca varieties require almost dry air (10% humidity or more). Irrigation should be done once in two to three days in summer and once in ten days in winter.
Reproduction of Yucca
It can be reproduced by both the basal shoots and the root cuttings. It is best to plant cuttings in the sand.
Suitable soil for Yucca
The suitable soil for yucca is alight soil with excellent drainage that is a mixture of pit moss and coconut. The compost soil is the most suitable soil for the better growth of yucca. While changing the soil notice the following tips:
- The most suitable soil for yucca cultivation is light and sandy soil containing 50% organic substance.
- In general, this plant requires medium to large pots with complete drainage and high-quality soil.
- Replacement of this plant pot is recommended every two years in spring.
- When making pots, make sure the soil is fully compacted.
- The older plant does not need much fertilizer, but in young plants, it is necessary to feed them with fertilizers once a week according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
The appropriate time for pruning the Yucca
As with most plants, the best time to prune the yucca is just before the plant begins to grow. It will be early spring. Although the ideal time for pruning is spring, the yucca can be pruned at any time. Just make sure that the yucca plant receives enough light during its repair.
Pruning the stems of the Yucca
Although this is not pruning in the true sense, most people are confused about removing the stems of the plant after they fade. The plant stem can be pruned at any time even before flowering is complete. Easily cut the stem using sharp pruning scissors or a cutter, about 7.5 to 10 cm above the area where the plant stem is separated from the main stem of the plant. Like any other work on the yucca plant, it is very easy to care for and prune. This may sound a bit difficult, but I can assure you that it is very simple and easy to do in the case of this plant.
Pests and Diseases of Yucca plant
Like human beings, plants may get sick also. Following are some of the diseases of the yucca and how you can cure your plant.
- The leaves of your yucca may dry during winter which is due to the warm air and atmosphere of your indoors. It’s better to move your flower to a cooler place and spray it.
- In the case of inadequate light yellow color can occur underneath leave, in order to solve this problem move the plant to a lighter place.
- Another problem that can occur is due to Flaky mucus. This type of mucus can cause white cotton cover. In the case of facing such a situation, it’s better to spray insecticides to relieve symptoms.
- In the case of watering too much, the blackness of the leaves of a branch may occur. The solution for this problem is to reduce the amount of irrigation to dry the pot surface and control the drainage of the pot.
- In some other cases, white spots may occur on the surface of the yucca especially in the greenhouse in this case you may use fungicides to relieve symptoms.
- Brown spots on the stems and under the leaves are caused by a pest, spraying the underside of the leaf or rubbing insecticide with a cotton swab once a week can be effective.
- If your new leaves have no roots they need artificial nutrition; if you feed them regularly, it may be due to the cold weather, re-check the conditions and what has caused the failure.
- The yucca leaves may turn pale in the case of high direct light especially at noon.
- Rust-like spots appear on the yucca leaves which indicate that you have used brighteners, clean the leaves with a cloth or a damp sponge.
- Gray mildew on the leaves is caused by the Botrytis, which is caused by cold and humid, spray the plant with a fungicide spray, move it to a warm place and reduce irrigation.
- The plant is now in an upright position anymore which is due to the undeveloped roots, move the plant to a smaller pot and compact the compost around the root, take the pot to a lighter place.
How do you take care of your yuccas? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
