Did you know that… the Yucca can produce edible flowers in its natural environment? These taste like bitter artichokes and can be used in dishes such as salad or soup. On this page you’ll find all information on Yucca care, from the ideal spot until repotting instructions. Follow these Yucca care guidelines and help yours live a long and healthy life.
The Yucca, more commonly known as Palm Lily, is a strong indoor plant with narrow, pointy leaves. These leaves grow directly from the soil or from the trunk and are completely green or green with yellow-white stripes. The Yucca belongs to the Beaucarnea family and originates from desert areas in the southern United States, South America and the Caribbean. The Yucca is therefore quite sturdy. It won’t mind a bit of drought or direct sunlight, making this indoor plant very easy to care for. Read on for all Yucca care tips.
Yucca light requirements
Place the Yucca in a very light spot. After some time, the plant can also be placed in direct sunlight. If you’d like to place it in a sunny spot, you should allow it to get used to sunlight gradually. Move it a bit closer to the window every week. Do make sure not to place it in direct sunlight during hot summer days.
Yucca care: water
A Yucca does not need much water. Allow the potting soil to dry before watering it again. Especially during winter, the Yucca can go without water for a long time. It will then only need water once a month. During spring, summer and fall, the Yucca needs regular watering. Do make that you never give too much water in one go. Give just enough to moisten the potting soil without making it wet, as too much water can cause the roots to rot.
The Yucca doesn’t mind a low humidity, which is why it’s not necessary to mist it. However, misting the Yucca is advisable to maintain the ornamental value of the plant, as regular misting prevents dust formation on the leaves. Misting also helps to keep pests at bay.
Repotting tips
Repot the plant once every 2 years, during spring. Be careful not to damage the roots too much when repotting. Use a pot that is at least 20% larger than the current pot, allowing the roots plenty of room to grow.
We recommend placing a layer of hydro granules at the bottom of the pot when repotting. That way, it won’t matter if you overwater the plant, as the hydro granules provide drainage.
Fertilizer requirements
Once you receive the Yucca, it will not need any fertilizer for the next 2 months. This is because the plant can still obtain sufficient nutrition from the fresh potting soil. When the two months have passed, you will only need to apply fertilizer during spring and summer.
For the specific amount of plant food, have a look at the instructions on the packaging and never use more than recommended. This can cause damage to the roots. The plant doesn’t need any fertilizer during fall and winter.
Is the Yucca a poisonous plant?
All outdoor and indoor plants on Plantler have a decorative purpose; they’re not fit for consumption – unless it is explicitly stated that they are (i.e. a fruit tree). The Yucca is poisonous to humans and animals. Make sure to protect small children and/or pets from them.
Yucca care: Particularities
Brown leaves:
Do you notice the bottom of one or a few leaves turning brown? This is nothing to worry about: it’s part of the plant’s natural process. You can easily remove these leaves. This will allow the plant to direct all of its energy into its healthy leaves.
