The Yucca Weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus) mainly attacks the cane of the yucca plant. Yucca Benefits. Yucca plants need to be fertilized about once a month. Appying feed can also be done once a year, preferably around spring time. In terms of feeding, yuccas don’t need much fertilizer. Blue Yucca (Yucca Rostrata) Drought tolerant plants can be beautiful, just look at the evergreen Yucca Rostrata. Cyanide is lethal, so much so that it can cause the death of dogs as well. Though it is often called yuca in Spanish America and in the United States, it is not related to yucca… TYPES OF YUCCA PLANTS. Yucca elephantipes is not picky about soil. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates. 30, No. Weevils. Scales feed on the plant and attract ants with their sweet-scented excretions. D. Journal of Applied Nutrition. Their caterpillars feed on the seeds, but leave some behind so the plant can re-seed itself. Answer Save. Native to hot and dry regions, they can be found in rocky deserts, badlands, prairies, grasslands, and mountainous areas of the Americas and even in the Caribbean, in coastal sands and subtropical zones. Use an appropriate potting mix and place a 5 cm layer of pebbles in the bottom of the pot for optimum yucca care. These pests generally appear as immobile, wingless bumps on the yucca. Yucca plants prefer to be on the dry side and are considered drought-tolerant plants, which makes sense given their desert origins. A yucca is a plant that complements a Southwestern look in your home or office. Yucca plant should be grown indoors as a houseplant in pots of different sizes, such as 10, 14, or 17 inches. 3 & 4, 1978. To ensure your indoor yucca plants get enough sun you need to position them in a window that gets southern, western or eastern sun exposure. The appropriate time for pruning the Yucca . Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Of course, a little whisk every now and then will not hurt your yucca plant. 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. Yucca Plants are very top heavy and should always be set into a heavy clay or ceramic pot to prevent them from toppling over. I see that this site's Kristi Waterworth wrote an article about pests and yucca plants, however, it didn't address a pest's antics I'm dealing with. A once a year feeding is sufficient as Yuccas survive well in areas of low nutrients and are light eaters. I have one in the same boat as you, and I'm transplanting it to a brighter spot at the end of april . Yucca is high in natural wetting agents called saponins. Yucca plants are pretty cool. General care tips please. Yucca plant also contains cyanide. Feed your Yucca Cane plant once a year in the spring with a liquid fertilizer diluted to 50% strength. Swipe to view slides. Follow the right watering schedule to prevent it from occurring. With D.H. Harris, M.D. Historically, Native Americans found many uses for this versatile plant, including fabric dyes, soap, shampoos and diet. Should I feed a yucca plant? They feed by sucking fluids out of the plant with a straw-like mouth part. Vol. and Tom Laga, Ph. Yucca plants are great at sequestering and using water. This will help you to avoid skipping a feeding. Problems associated with Inadequate Care. Yucca plant wilting can be the first sign of rot, which we will discuss below in a moment. Yuccas like sandy, well-drained soil. These pests suck out plant juices. Yucca plant – what kind of plant is it? Feeding. It is recommended to use heavy pots for growing this plant, since it becomes heavy at the top when it grows. Thrips are tiny, skinny insects that feed on yucca leaves, causing them to curl. Therefore, ceramic or clay pots are preferred over the wooden or plastic ones. It will be early spring. The Yucca or also called Spanish Dagger because of its sword-shaped leaves is a timeless plant. As with most plants, the best time to prune the yucca is just before the plant begins to grow. If you are aiming for the perfect soil mix, you might want to enrich your potting soil with coarse sand and perlite.This will ensure excellent drainage. Yucca Plant Indoor Care . In general, allow about the top half of the soil to become dry before watering. Sedum, Ceratostigma, Coreopsis and many types of grass provide an excellent contrast with the spiky leaves and bristles of the Yucca plant. As long as you are using well-draining soil, you should be fine.A soil pH between 6 and 7 yields the best results.. Yucca plants fare best in bright light situations. If they’re squishy or black, your culprit is likely the rot. Yucca contains natural steroidal-like saponins that are effective anti-inflammatories and anti-spasmodics which are known to reduce pain associated with arthritis. Description: A yucca plant is a type of shrub known for its tough, sword-shaped leaves and large white flowers. These tiny critters feed on plant fluids and may also cause visible marks on the leaves of your plant. More specific watering requirements will depend on how much light your yucca plant receives. Yucca Plant Diseases and Other Growth-Related Problems. Yucca elephantipes plant care basics . Favorite Answer. Do not put a catcher or plate under your yucca’s pot. But even though they're native Also known as Mojave yucca, this flowering evergreen succulent is a hardy plant that thrives in sun and requires little water. 3 Answers. Use a liquid fertilizer at half of the recommended strength. Yucca gloriosa ‘Bright Star’ Zones: 7-11. Relevance. Yucca plant and ants. Some common names for the Yucca plant include Soapweed, Spanish Dagger, ... Yuccas are not fond of being transplanted, so make sure that you will choose the right location before planting them. A member of the agave family, yucca features sharp, evergreen leaves that can reach over 2 feet long, and tall spikes of pure white flowers in the summer. Indoor yuccas should therefore be placed near windows to take advantage of natural light. Use a diluted cactus fertilizer every two to three months to feed a spineless yucca during the growing season. Caring for yucca plants is fairly simple. With its slender, blue-gray leaves, showy creamy white flowers in the summer, and low maintenance features, Yucca Rostrata or ""Blue Yucca"" is an ideal tree-like yucca plant perfect for use as a focal point in your Southwestern landscape or garden architecture. Height/Spread: Averages 1 to 2 feet tall, 3 to 5 feet wide. Raw yucca root contains cyanide, which is a poison for dogs. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers.They are native to the hot and dry parts of the Americas and the Caribbean.Early reports of the species were confused with the cassava (Manihot esculenta). The yucca variety you’re likely most familiar with is the yucca cane, also called the yucca gigantea, the spineless yucca elephantipes, the spineless yucca, and the giant yucca. The yucca plant--scientifically known as Yucca aloifolia, and also called Spanish dagger plant and the aloe yucca--is a spiky-leaved perennial shrub native to the Southwestern United States. Your Yucca houseplant will benefit from a monthly fertilizer feeding during spring and summer, though this should be stopped completely for the remainder of the year. Photo by: Garden World Images, Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo. Ikea has been selling them for years, too. Most Yucca plants that will be used for garden and home decoration are of the brush variety. Do remember to remove infected leaves and wilted flowery blooms. You never "need" to fertilize yucca. Feeding Stick Yucca Plants. These ants are tiny and seem to come from area hills. Yucca Plants are quite an easy plant to grow and during the summer months you will need to water frequently and I would also suggest liquid feeding with a general fertiliser. Pests & Problems: The leaves of Yucca Cane are prone to pests like armored scale insects, mealybugs, soft scale insects, and thrips. In order to flower well, they need to be in a lot of sunlight. A beloved medicinal plant, Yucca schidigera is indigenous to the deserts of southwestern America and Mexico. They're known for their pointy, sword-shaped leaves, and even though they look like typical houseplants, they're actually giant succulents. Bloom time: Late summer. Yucca plants can be a bush or a stalk plant. The Yucca became loved and popular because of its exotic appearance. If you choose to fertilize your yucca, select a low-nitrogen, balanced fertilizer. It’s possible that your dog eats some while running outside. You have to supervise your dog if you have yucca plants nearby. When older leaves die on a mature yucca plant, simply cut them away, usually in the spring. Outdoor Yucca plants can be fed once a year during growing season. One of the most popular subspecies is Yucca filamentosa, also known as Adam’s needle. I don't have much success.? Caring for yuccas like this helps the rest of the plant look nicer, and allows the newer leaves to grow. Water moderately around April to September when plant is growing. Excess watering can lead to yellow leaves with brown tips, dead leaves, and root rot. However, due to their slow growth indoors and their ability to thrive in poor soil, fertilization isn’t always necessary. You can likely find yucca cane plants easily these days in big-box garden centers like Home Depot and Lowes, as well as your local nurseries. The moisture that scales create also makes an ideal setting for mold to develop, so it’s important to check the plant for signs of an infestation. Indoor Yucca Plant, Yucca Elephantipes Tree – How to Grow, Care, Prune. The long, leathery, pointed leaves of a yucca plant are a foot or more in length and about an inch wide. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/fertilizing-yuccas-pots-32382.html When grown indoors, however, you may need to check soil texture when tending. Once my yucca sends out stalks and begins blooming, ants begin climbing up the stalks and eating the blooms. Your best bet is to check the roots of the plant. Though yucca is a hardy plant, lack of appropriate care can make it susceptible to a host of pest attacks and growth issues. White yucca flowers are bell-shaped, and they appear in the summer, from June to August. 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