Yucca garden - beautiful evergreen from the Asparagus family, which came to us from the tropical and subtropical semi-deserts of America. In Russia, yucca has been known and grown for more than a century. At the end of the 19th century. this “exotic” with lanceolate leaves pointed at the ends, collected in a dense rosette, could be found in park ensembles of palaces and garden compositions of large private lands. Today, anyone can place a lush beauty in their garden plot and even in a city apartment! Today we will tell you how to grow yucca and provide the plant with proper care.
Despite all the overseas beauty of yucca, the culture cannot be called capricious. The plant, accustomed to sudden temperature changes and the arid climate of semi-deserts, has successfully adapted to weather conditions middle zone Russia. However, for a successful winter, yucca needs to be well protected from frost and snow, and the climate of the southern regions allows the plant to be grown without any restrictions at all. There are two types of yucca that are most suitable for keeping in open ground: filamentous and glorious. Distinctive feature Yucca filamentosa is considered to have long hairs that hang down and curl slightly along the edges of the hard leaves. In Russian gardening, it is the filamentous type of yucca that is most often found, since it is more winter-hardy.
Yucca filamentosa
Yucca nice
Yucca: a brief description
The yucca leaf is large and tough. Its width reaches 3–6 cm, and its length varies from 50 to 70 cm. During the growth process, the lower row of leaf plates withers and, drying out, takes on the appearance of a kind of skirt framing the trunk. Thanks to these large bluish-green leaves, decorated with white or yellow stripes, yucca cannot be confused with any other shrub.
At good care, which eliminates freezing and waterlogging of the plant, yucca will delight the owner with pompous flowering every year. First, a strong peduncle up to 1.5 m in height appears from the rosette in the form of a branched panicle, and then it dresses up in a white, yellowish or pink robe of 80 - 150 bells up to 6 cm in diameter. The sight of blooming yucca will not leave anyone indifferent.
Planting Yucca
Yucca can rightfully be proud of its endurance, because it is not afraid of drought, heat and wind. The main danger for the tropical beauty lies in excessive moisture and heavy soil in which moisture quickly stagnates.
The ideal place for planting yucca is a spacious sunny area where the plant will be well ventilated. But the lowlands and heavily shaded corners of the garden plot are completely unsuitable for her. Growing yucca in partial shade is a rather controversial issue. Insufficient lighting has a bad effect on the appearance of the plant: its leaves lose their elasticity, become limp and thin, and the trunk becomes more elongated. As a result, yucca looks sloppy even with comprehensive care.
Soil composition is not of great importance for this plant. The main thing is that the soil allows air to pass to the roots of the bush and does not contribute to stagnation of moisture. To protect the plant from stagnant water, before planting it in areas with black soil or clay, sand is added to the ground to backfill the planting hole. A drainage layer must be installed at the bottom of the pit, and the soil depleted of nutrients must be enriched with humus. In addition, the possibility of water stagnation at the yucca roots can be eliminated if the plant is planted on a sunny slope.
Yucca: care rules
After planting, the plant needs to be watered moderately, withered leaves and flower stalks removed, fed and pruned.
Watering yucca should be the same as for other plants whose leaves are collected in a rosette: water is poured only at the root. If moisture gets into the rosette core, the crown of the bush may rot and the plant will have to be saved by drastic pruning.
The soil under the yucca needs to be loosened regularly, eliminating weeds and dead leaves, then the roots of the plant will actively “breathe” and putrefactive processes will never affect them. If yucca recently planted in the soil does not take root well and there is a suspicion that seat If the choice is not the most suitable, you can still fix everything - the plant can be transplanted to another area before it reaches 3 years of age.
Features of yucca transplantation
With the arrival of cold weather, the evergreen yucca “falls asleep”, gaining strength before the new growing season. next spring. This is the most suitable time to transplant a bush - slow biological processes in tissues will help the plant quickly adapt to a change of place of residence. When replanting yucca, special attention is paid to its roots - if possible, they should be left untouched and slightly moistened. After transplantation, the bushes are not fertilized for a month, and the yuccas that remain in their original places are fed with the arrival of spring, in the summer, before the yucca blooms and after flowering has completed.
Yucca blooms only in sunny areas
Having reached 3–4 years, yucca begins to bloom – elegantly and for a very long time. The decorative appearance of the racemose inflorescence lasts up to 1 month! The yucca flower is a fragrant bell, with a smell vaguely reminiscent of the aroma of expensive soap. The fruits of the plant appear only in conditions wildlife and are round boxes up to 5 cm in diameter. At this time, the plant is supported by fertilizer with complex mixtures, in which nitrogen predominates. Feeding is stopped 1 month before the arrival of autumn. This measure will allow the plant to prepare for the cold and survive the winter safely.
How to protect yucca from freezing
The evergreen bush takes the sudden appearance of snow in autumn or spring calmly, provided that the snowfall disappears within a couple of days. But at a consistently low temperature in a snowless winter, the yucca may die.
The most vulnerable point of the bush is the growth point, hidden in the center of the rosette; the second place in terms of weak resistance to cold is occupied by the vegetative roots of the plant. To prevent damage to the yucca, before the arrival of winter, a frame shelter is prepared for the tropical crop in the form of a spacious box with a height of equal in size adult plant specimen. Before hiding the bush, its leaf plates are bent upward and collected into a large bundle using strong twine. Then the plant is covered with a box, which is laid on top with spruce branches or a thick layer of fallen leaves. The entire structure is wrapped with covering material and sealed with tape for reliability. Such a shelter will help the yucca to comfortably overwinter and meet spring in all its glory.
The box is removed from the bush when the danger of unexpected frosts has disappeared. If the above-zero temperature is stable, you cannot delay the release of the yucca, otherwise the plant will begin to actively absorb oxygen and prepare for the growing season in a confined space, and this is fraught with the appearance and rapid spread of mold spores.
To prevent the snow from breaking the bush, the yucca is covered for the winter.
Yucca propagation
The yucca in the photo you see below blooms magnificently and beautifully, however, in the conditions of the middle zone this bush will not produce seeds. However, in domestic gardening there are several ways to propagate this exotic beauty without using seeds.
To obtain a young independent plant, you will need a daughter rosette, which is formed at the foot of an adult bush. For propagation to be successful, the cuttings must have developed roots. Thanks to their own root system, the “kids” will be able to quickly acclimatize and quickly grow in a new place. Layers can be easily separated when transplanting an adult yucca, and after detachment they require the same care as the mother plant. The only caveat is that the cut sites on the “babies” are very vulnerable to pathogens of all kinds of infections. To protect the daughter rosettes from infection, they are dried and sprinkled with crushed charcoal or cinnamon powder.
In the spring, when transplanting, several cuttings 5–10 cm in size are cut from a healthy yucca root. After treatment with charcoal, they are planted in a greenhouse, sprinkled with an important mixture of sand and peat. After some time, the dormant buds give rise to young shoots.
There is another way by which you can not only get offspring from yucca, but also rejuvenate the mother bush if it has grown greatly with age and lost its compactness. This effect is achieved by pruning - a simple procedure will give the adult bush a more well-groomed appearance and will allow you to obtain a lot of high-quality planting material.
How to prune yucca correctly
Yucca is a plant that awakens in early spring, so pruning is best done at this time of year. Yucca has a single growth point, so cutting the stem completely stops the vertical development of the bush. Nevertheless, the life of the flower does not fade away - the buds that have been dormant until this moment awaken on the stem, from which new rosettes will begin to form. By pruning, the plant can also be rid of leaves damaged by rot or frost. 2 days before pruning, the yucca is watered for the last time.
The operation itself is carried out as follows: using a clean and well-sharpened knife, carefully cut off part of the plant so that the cut site remains intact - without splitting the stem or exfoliated bark. In this case, you need to ensure that the cut is made at a distance of 8 - 10 cm from the growth line of the leaf plates. Dried “wounds” on the top and trunk are sprinkled with a fungicidal agent and charcoal powder. On the top of the stump that formed after pruning, you can apply protective layer garden var. After 2 - 3 weeks, new shoots will appear on the old plant. If the yucca is very strong, with great potential, it will produce from 3 to 5 buds, but small bushes can grow only 1 to 2 buds.
"Children" of garden yucca are ready for planting
There is no need to throw away the cut top - you can get a new garden yucca from it. First, the seedling needs to be rooted in a greenhouse, while the moderate humidity of the sandy substrate must be controlled and condensation prevented.
Yucca garden: pests and diseases
If yucca long time is in waterlogged soil and is at risk of attack by root and stem rot. For the same reason, the plant’s immunity decreases and it becomes a target for fungal and bacterial diseases. If the yucca leaves become limp and the trunk is covered with dark spots, you can rest assured that the bush is sick. It is necessary to immediately remove the affected areas, and treat those that survive with a fungicidal agent. While the plant is recovering, watering is reduced and spraying is abandoned altogether. Unfortunately, in most cases it is not possible to eradicate rot, so it is easier to cut off and root the healthy top of the yucca, and immediately get rid of the damaged part of the plant.
How to care for yucca at home
Many gardeners grow this evergreen tropical beauty at home. Yucca sitting in a pot can reach a height of two or more meters without losing its decorative value.
You can buy ready-made yucca at any flower shop– Today the plant is very popular. The graceful tree will need some time to acclimatize to its new conditions. When the plant is finally established, it needs to be replanted from store-bought soil into complete, nutrient-enriched soil. About the peculiarities of transshipment of yucca in new pot will tell the video:
Indoor filament yucca will feel best near southern, brightly lit windows. In summer, a pot with a plant can be placed on the balcony so that the yucca can bask in direct sunlight. If the possibility of temporarily relocating a domestic “palm tree” to open air no, the room needs to be regularly ventilated in spring and summer, making sure that the yucca does not stand in a draft.
At home, the tropical plant feels great at a temperature of +8 - +25 0 C. Drought-resistant yucca does not need regular spraying, but this procedure cannot be completely abandoned, because it good way clean its leaves from dust. It is important to ensure that the sockets do not fill with water and not to spray the plant in direct sunlight, otherwise burns may appear on it.
The signal that it is time to water the yucca is when the top layer of soil dries out. In the warm season, watering can be plentiful, but in winter it should be kept to a minimum. A large yucca loses more moisture, and therefore needs more water than a small palm tree.
Indoor yucca is fed once every 3 weeks from spring until the end of summer. Diluted fertilizers are suitable as fertilizers. mineral compounds and organics based on cow or horse manure. The houseplant does not need feeding in winter, during illness, or immediately after transplanting and rooting.
Yucca is not a supporter of frequent transplants. The plant is sent to a new pot when it is already cramped in the old one (the roots have grown through the holes), and also if it is necessary to save it from too moist and acidified soil.
A new container is selected a few centimeters larger than the previous one, and the yucca will quickly grow. To stop growth indoor palm tree, ¼ of its roots are cut off and the plant is planted in an old pot filled with new soil. Too large specimens are not replanted, but only the top few centimeters of soil are renewed once a year, replacing the old soil with new one.
The owner of an indoor yucca may encounter several common problems for this plant:
- The palm trees are drying out lower leaves. There is no need to worry about this, since this is a regularity. But if the top leaves of the yucca wither and dry out, most likely it lacks moisture, so the watering program needs to be reviewed and adjusted.
- In rooms where it is too dry, yucca can be attacked by hordes spider mites. The leaves of the plant dry out and become covered with cobwebs, and their surface is disfigured. yellow spots. To get rid of pests, a weak solution of tobacco, onion and garlic infusions are used to treat palm trees. Using the chosen product, rub the yucca in the direction from the trunk to the leaves.
- When shield aphid larvae appear, laundry soap is used. A solution is prepared from it and the leaves are treated with it. You can also use a soap solution with the addition of tobacco, kerosene and a small part of denatured alcohol. The plant is sprayed with this product.
- In the cold season, when there is not enough natural light, it is difficult for yucca to stay in rooms with central heating. Palm leaves react to such conditions by turning yellow. To stop the destructive process, the plant is removed away from the radiators and provided with as much natural light as possible.
Despite such nuances, yucca is recognized as one of the most undemanding indoor plants. Subject to elementary rules By caring for it, you will decorate your home with an exotic colorful palm tree.
Yucca filamentous: cultivation, care and reproduction. Video
Yucca- a beautiful evergreen plant with a tree-like stem from the Agave family. The family includes just over fifty species of these palm-shaped plants, but the varieties popular among our gardeners include 5-6 ornamental room options and several garden ones. Despite the fact that domestic yucca is very reminiscent of a miniature palm tree, nevertheless it is absolutely not related to palm trees (as well as dracaena marginata, which is very similar in appearance to yucca). Lovers of indoor plants value yucca for its graceful trunk, on the top of which beautiful long leaves of bluish or dark green color grow.
Depending on the type of “miniature tree,” the narrow leaves can be either drooping or erect, and the tree-like stem can have several growth points and branch beautifully. The shape of the trunk and the degree of branching can be adjusted by annual pruning of the shoots. Caring for the unpretentious yucca at home does not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners, but it is important to strictly follow the few rules for growing this indoor plant, which we will discuss below. Photos of popular home species of yucca will help you choose the appropriate option for decorating a room or office space. Interior designers often choose yucca to create a composition along with such popular flowers as phalaenopsis orchid, house violets (Saintpaulia), gloxinia with bell flowers, decorative potted rose, European or Persian cyclamen.
Blooming yucca- quite a rare occurrence among similar indoor plants. Even if you organize the cultivation of this miniature tree at home according to all the rules, you will not be able to see yucca flowers very soon - usually flowering occurs no earlier than 5-7 years from the moment the plant is planted in the summer. Experienced flower growers stimulate the formation of flower buds by organizing a cold dormant period in winter (12-14°C), when the plant reaches the required age. Yucca flowers are collected in panicle inflorescences and look like small white bells.
With an unpretentious home care Elephant yucca (Yucca elephantipes) or aloe yucca (Yucca aloifolia) get along well in one container with some dryness-resistant indoor plants (for example, flowering Kalanchoe or homemade geranium pelargonium), which can be used to form interesting composition in phytodesign of residential premises.
- photo of species of yucca domestica -
In addition to the above-mentioned ivory and aloe-leaved domestic species of yucca, our country practices the cultivation of such varieties as Yucca whipplei with a crown of grayish-green leaves in the shape of a prickly ball, Yucca glauca with drooping long leaves on a short stem , as well as southern Yucca (Yucca australis) with densely spaced dark green leaves and a branched trunk. In open ground (in the garden or on a personal plot), you can grow filamentous yucca (Yucca filamentosa) with dark green leaves that form a rosette with lateral shoots.
♦ WHAT IS IMPORTANT!
Location and lighting.
It is advisable to place the pot of yucca on sunny place, well lit during the day. The most favorable location for this house plant- window sills or floor stands near the window on the east or west side of the room. If the yucca is placed next to a south-facing window, then be sure to shade the glass in the summer and on sunny spring days so that diffused light falls on the plant. In autumn winter period Yucca may lack natural light. Therefore, it is advisable to place fluorescent lamps next to the plant (at a distance of 50-60 cm) as additional lighting. If possible, place the pot with the plant on the balcony or near the house in the summer, slightly shading it from direct sunlight.
Temperature conditions.
The optimal temperature in autumn and winter is 10-14°C. Problems may begin as soon as heating season- at temperatures above 16°C (especially in low or insufficient lighting), the leaves become elongated, thinner, and turgor weakens. If possible, place the plant pot on glassed balcony or install an air conditioner near the plant, and ventilate the room more often. Comfortable temperature for homemade yucca in summer is 18-25°C.
Air humidity.
The best option is a moderate level of humidity in the room (40-50%). But dry air will not harm the plant if you regularly spray the yucca with settled, boiled and warm water from the sprayer. In summer, you can wash the leaves of the plant several times in the shower so that water does not get into the substrate. In hot weather, you can place a pot with a plant on a tray with wet river sand or expanded clay, and place a wide container of water nearby to increase the humidity level.
Watering.
In summer, yucca is watered generously after upper layer soil (4-5cm) dries completely. It is important not to allow water to stagnate at the level of the earthen clod - immediately pour all excess water out of the pan. In the autumn-winter period, water the plant very rarely (once every 10-15 days). Yucca tolerates drought quite calmly, but overwatering can cause rotting of the root system, as well as damage to the plant by diseases and pests. Some novice gardeners use a special moisture indicator to determine the degree of drying of the soil layers.
Earth mixture and fertilizing.
You can prepare the soil mixture for your yucca yourself. If the plant is young (up to 4 years), then mix turf soil, leaf soil, coarse sand and humus in a ratio of 2:2:2:1. Mixture for planting an adult plant: turf soil, leaf soil, river sand in a ratio of 3:2:2.
For feeding, you can use diluted mineral fertilizers or prepare them yourself (for example, horse infusion or cow dung with leaf humus). Can be additionally sprayed with diluted mineral fertilizers leaf plates from the bottom side. In spring and summer, fertilizing is applied once every few weeks. It is not recommended to fertilize the soil in winter and autumn.
Transfer.
Transplanted homemade yucca as needed (given that the plant grows very slowly) in the spring approximately once every two years except emergency cases if the roots begin to rot severely. It is advisable to use the transshipment method when transplanting into a ceramic pot in order to preserve earthen lump whole. Carefully inspect the yucca root system and, if necessary, remove rotten roots.
Trimming.
Pruning can significantly improve appearance yucca, make it a “lush palm”, using the beginnings of new shoots to grow additional tops. It is desirable that the height of the plant be 60-70 cm and the diameter about 6 cm. The procedure is performed in March-April, watering abundantly a few days before. Use only sterile pruning tools and thoroughly disinfect the sharp knife with alcohol. We choose the place of the cut, retreating 7-8 cm from the lower leaves. We grab the leaves with our hands and sharply cut off the trunk in one movement. Then the cut area is sprinkled with crushed activated carbon. After a few weeks or earlier, apical buds (from 2 to 5 pieces) will appear in the upper part of the cut trunk. If the trunk thickness is less than 5 cm, then leave 2 buds and cut off the rest. And if the thickness is 6-8 cm, then we leave 4 buds, from which the tops with new leaves will grow.
Reproduction.
Yucca is propagated by seeds, stem sections and apical cuttings.
Cuttings. Usually done during pruning (to improve the decorative qualities of the plant). Using a sharp knife, cut off the top and sprinkle the cut area with crushed activated carbon. Within a few hours, the cut site will dry out and you can plant the cuttings in clean, damp sand. After 2-3 weeks, roots will appear and the sprout can be transplanted into the prepared substrate.
Sections of the trunk. In summer, cut (or saw off) several pieces (20-30 cm) from the trunk. Sprinkle the cut areas with crushed charcoal, and cover the cut points on the parent plant with garden varnish. Pour a mixture of peat and clean river sand into a container, moisten it and plant parts of the trunk in the mixture (the cut point is in the substrate). Cover the container with film and support it temperature regime- 20-25°C. The substrate must be moistened regularly. After a month or more, roots will appear.
Seeds. Sow in a mixture of leaf soil, turf soil and sand in equal parts. Cover with a glass container. The earth mixture must be moistened regularly and ventilated daily. After about a month, sprouts will appear. A few months after the sprouts appear, we plant the seedlings in pots with prepared soil mixture.
♦ ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR BEGINNING FLOWER GROWERS:
Question: What should I do if the leaves curl and become too soft and lose their tone?
Answer: Typically this problem occurs due to the temperature being too low. In this case, you can place the pot of yucca away from the cold window.
Question: Why do the lower leaves of the yucca turn yellow and fall off?
Answer: This is normal during the growing season (spring-summer). In rare cases, the cause may be damage to the plant by pests (information about pests and diseases of yucca is below).
Question: Why did spots begin to appear on the outside of the leaves? Brown, but do the leaves themselves dry out?
Answer: This often happens in the summer, if the air is too dry, the room is not often ventilated and watering is rare.
Question: What should I do if light spots appear on the outside of the yucca leaves?
Answer: Most likely, the leaf plates received sunburn. You need to shade the window glass a little and move the pot a little further from the window (especially if the windows are south).
♦ COMMON DISEASES AND PESTS:
Garden yucca– a very decorative flowering crop. Nowadays, it is regaining its former popularity among gardeners, landscape designers, as well as gardeners of parks and squares. ABOUT garden yucca, planting and care in open ground and will be discussed in this article, supplemented by beautiful photo.
Description of garden yucca
Yucca is an evergreen plant belonging to the Liliaceae family. In nature, there are about 40 species of yucca, growing mainly in the Northern, Central and South America. Depending on the type and location of growth, yuccas can reach a height of up to 10 m. The stem of the plant is branched or slightly branched. The leaves on the stem are arranged spirally. This gives the plant additional decorativeness. The upper leaves of yucca are erect, and the lower ones are drooping and lanceolate in shape. The length of the leaf blade varies from 25 to 100 cm. The color can be green or bluish. On a wide pyramidal inflorescence, 200 white bell-shaped flowers can bloom at once. The peduncle comes out from the center of the rosette and reaches a height of 1.5-3 m. Flowers can be either white tone, and milky, up to 7 cm long and up to 5 cm wide. In open ground, a seed fruit is formed on the flowers.
Yucca garden planting and care photo of flowering
Planting garden yucca It is better to produce in spring and summer, when the daytime temperature reaches 20 degrees, so that the plant can form a good root ball for winter. Open areas well lit by sunlight are suitable for growing garden yucca. The composition of the soil is not important for the plant - it can grow in almost any soil. However, the flower achieves greater decorative value on well-drained soils with a soil acidity of no more than 7.5 pH.
Attention! The size of the planting hole for garden yucca should be twice the size of the root ball.
Place planting yucca garden Water generously and mulch with hay or sawdust to reduce moisture evaporation.
Caring for garden yucca simple enough. Mature plant Water only when the layer of soil covering the upper roots is completely dry. If, with this watering regime, the garden yucca begins to dry out the tips of the leaves, then periodically spray it with water.
Remember! Overwatering your yucca garden may cause the roots to rot, so don't water your plant too often.
Feeding yucca is as important as watering. Any complex mineral fertilizer is suitable for the plant. Fertilizing takes place in two stages: the first time fertilizer is applied in May, the second fertilizing is carried out after flowering.
Winter-hardy types of garden yucca easily tolerate winters in the middle zone, the main thing is to tie the leaves in a bunch and cover them with agrofibre. Some of the leaves are not covered plant at severe frosts may die.
As you can see planting and caring for garden yucca this is not too troublesome, but yucca flowers will not leave anyone indifferent, look at photo.
Reproduction of garden yucca
Yucca garden can be propagated in two ways - seed or vegetative. Vegetatively propagation of yucca garden perhaps by cuttings, root suckers or dividing an overgrown bush.
Garden yucca from seeds
In temperate climates, garden yuccas growing in open ground often set seeds. They have a round shape (look at photo), with a diameter of 0.5-1 cm, ripen in August. After collection, they are immediately planted in a mixture of equal parts of turf, leaf soil and sifted river sand. The emergence of seedlings will have to wait for a month. Seedlings with one true leaf are planted in separate cups with the same soil as when sowing.
Propagation of garden yucca by cuttings
For cuttings, cut off the upper part of the stem with a bunch of foliage, as in the photo. It is dried for several days, then planted in pots with sand or perlite. Over the next period of time, until rooting, the substrate is kept moist by spraying water from a spray bottle.
Propagation of yucca garden stem
A fairly common method is to root parts of the yucca stem. With this method (as shown in the picture), the stem is cut slightly above the root collar, slightly dried and planted horizontally on moistened perlite or river sand. At a temperature of 20-22 degrees and regular moistening of the substrate, sprouts will soon appear on the stem. As soon as they take root, the stem is cut into pieces, and each sprout should have its own small root. After this, they are planted in the soil mixture and watered moderately.
But perhaps the simplest method of vegetative propagation is dividing an overgrown bush. In the spring, in April or early May, dig up an overgrown plant, separate the daughter shoots (there are many of them on an adult bush), which have shoots and roots, and plant them on permanent place. At the same time, propagation by root suckers is important.
The use of garden yucca in landscape design
Only 10 species of yucca are used in decorative garden floriculture. They are grown as garden culture in group plantings, in the center of flower beds or as a tapeworm, for example, on the lawn. The plant is suitable for decorating slopes and for fixing sandy soils. Garden yucca is very impressive during the flowering period, although it is considered more of an ornamental deciduous plant.
Pests and diseases of yucca garden
Of the pests, garden yucca is most often affected by:
Shchitovka;
Whitefly;
Slugs;
Mealybug;
Spider mite.
They will help in the fight against the pests listed above. systemic fungicides. To cope with scale insects on yucca, wipe the leaves with regular vodka every three days for 1-2 weeks.
Moist, cool air, such as in autumn and spring, provokes fungal and bacterial infections on the leaves and stems of yucca. Therefore, it is very important to ensure good drainage when planting.
Often a planted plant does not want to bloom for a long time. This is quite normal - Garden yucca blooms only 3-4 years after planting. To force yucca to bloom, do not cut off the lower wilted leaves.
Varieties of yucca with photos
As mentioned above, there are many types of yucca, however, not all of them can be successfully grown in the garden. Below are some types of yucca that can be successfully grown in the garden.
The plant can grow up to 2 m in height. The trunk in the upper part is decorated with leaves collected in a bunch, 4-6 cm wide and 40-70 cm long. Young leaves in the center of the rosette are grayish-green. Flowering occurs in the second half of May and lasts until June. The inflorescence has a branched structure and reaches 1 m in height. The flower is 5-7 cm in diameter, white-cream in color. This variety of yucca is undemanding to soils, quite drought-resistant (tolerates temperature increases of up to 35 degrees) and frost-resistant. During the growing season it is capable of forming a large number of processes. This allows the plant to grow into large bushes in a short period of time.
Breeders have developed a number of forms of Yucca reflexifolia, used in landscape design. The most decorative ones are:
With border. The leaves of this form are green, but along the edges there is a small border 0.5 cm wide, light green in color;
Variegated form. There is a yellow stripe running down the center of the green leaf;
Elegant. The middle of the sheet is decorated with a red stripe.
An evergreen plant with a woody stem under the soil. Forms a large decorative bunch of bluish-green erect leaves, 25-30 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide, pointed at the top. Flowering begins at the end of June, July or August and does not last long, only 1 week. This type Yucca is the most frost-resistant in relation to other varieties. Able to withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees. This variety of yucca is not picky about soil. Grows well even on sandy soils. This type of garden yucca is drought-resistant and prefers sunny areas. The bush grows very quickly. In one place for many years it does not lose its decorative effect. In our climate zone, seeds are set on a flower only through artificial pollination. Valuable fiber is synthesized from Yucca filamentosa.
A small shrub with an evergreen crown, reaching a height of 5 m. The leaves are erect, leathery with a serrated edge. Bell flowers reach 7 cm in diameter, cream or white in color with purple spots. Flowering occurs at the end of May, blooming earlier than other types of yucca. Easily tolerates drought and midland winters. It does not require particularly nutritious soil; it can grow on rocky and sandy soils.
The following forms of this type of garden yucca are known:
- noble with bluish leaves;
- low-growing - has leaves with a bluish coating, the plant is up to 1.5 m tall;
- tall;
- powerful - folded leaves;
- folded.
Yucca gloriousa looks beautiful as a tapeworm surrounded by low-growing plants.
Evergreen tree plant, forming a large bunch of green leaves on the soil surface. The leaves are 25 cm long, 4 cm wide, and have sparse pubescence. A ribbed, spindle-shaped inflorescence reaches a height of 1.5 m. Strewn with numerous bell-shaped flowers. Their number on one peduncle can reach 200 pieces. Grows well on any soil. Calmly tolerates frosty winters with little snow. Drought resistant.
A tree-like evergreen and tall plant, reaching 3 m in height in nature. The leaves are greenish-gray, narrow, 0.6-1.2 cm wide and 30-70 cm tall. The edge of the leaf plate is decorated with a narrow light stripe. The racemose inflorescence, depending on the nutritional value of the soil, can reach a height of 1 m to 2 m. The color of the flowers is greenish-white. Blooms in May-June. Frost-resistant and tolerates drought well. Most often used for landscaping in open ground.
Sadovaya. The plant, similar to an exotic palm tree, looks very impressive and festive in the garden. IN Lately this decorative flowering culture has gained great popularity among landscape designs and gardeners. This article will discuss planting and the nuances of caring for garden yucca in open ground.
Description and photo of garden yucca
The exotic plant is perennial tree shrub and belongs to the Agave family. Its hard sword-shaped leaves form a dense rosette in which they grow in a spiral. The leaf blades can have a green or bluish color and grow up to 25-100 cm. A large panicle extends from the center of the rosette - a peduncle with drooping white or milky flowers. On each inflorescence, up to 200 bells, 7 cm long and up to 5 cm wide, can bloom during the season. By the end of the season, a seed fruit is formed on the plant.
Types of garden yucca
Two types of yucca are grown in open ground:
- Yucca gray is distinguished by leaves up to 90 cm long and a short trunk. Its thin greyish-green leaves have lighter edges. Yellowish or greenish-white flowers form narrow, finely branched inflorescences. The peduncle can grow up to three meters. The plant is not demanding on the soil and can even grow on sand. Blue yucca tolerates drought and frost well, but can die if over-moistened.
- Yucca filamentosa is a bush with sword-shaped leaves up to 70 cm long. Its leaves can grow from 3 to 10 cm in width. They are framed along the edges by protruding threads and slightly bent at the top. The 2.5 m long peduncle consists of beige-white drooping flowers. Yucca filamentosa is very unpretentious plant, which can withstand frosts down to -20C.
Yucca garden: planting and care, photo
It is not recommended to plant the purchased plant immediately in open ground. First it needs to be hardened. To do this, in the first days the bush take out to Fresh air for an hour or two. The time spent outside gradually increases, and after about two weeks the yucca can be planted in a permanent place.
This exotic plant loves light, so well-lit, elevated areas are suitable for it. When planted in shade, or even partial shade, the rosettes become loose and thin out. In variegated species, the leaves turn pale.
Landing Features
For young bushes, not much is required big holes, but taking into account their growth. For a three-year-old large plant, the hole in girth should be from 70 to 100 cm. Their root deepens by 40-50 cm.
It is recommended to dig up the ground and prepare a hole for planting yucca in the fall. The site should be well drained and non-clayey. Garden yucca grows best on clay-stony, sandy, calcareous soils and black soil. The plant does not like waterlogging, so there should be no groundwater near its planting site.
Coarse gravel or sand and two handfuls of ash are poured into the bottom of the hole. The bush is carefully planted and its roots are covered with earth. The soil is pressed slightly with your hands and watered with water at room temperature.
The plant is planted in the spring, after night temperatures have settled at least +10C. It is recommended to wear gloves when planting a bush, since the dense leaves can prick or cut your hands.
Watering and subcortex
The tropical plant does not require excessive care. When growing it in open ground it is necessary regular but infrequent watering. It should be carried out only after the top layer of soil has dried thoroughly. From time to time, the leaves of the bush can be sprayed, especially if they wither or dry out. Spraying is done in the evening or early in the morning.
Twice in a time active growth Garden yucca is fed with complex mineral fertilizers for succulents. The first feeding is applied at the beginning of the growing season, which begins in May, and the second - after the plant blooms.
Transfer
growing in one place for a long time, overgrown exotic tree requires a transplant. In a new place, the garden yucca will grow with renewed vigor and bloom spectacularly. However, it is not advisable to replant the plant too often.
- Replant in spring or late summer.
- Dig out the plant very carefully so as not to damage the roots. It is necessary to take into account that in an adult plant they can go to a depth of up to 70 cm.
- If a shoot appears near the bush, then it needs to be separated and planted as an independent plant.
- The new landing site should not be much different from the old one. The area should be well lit and protected from drafts.
After two weeks, the transplanted garden yucca is fed with special complex fertilizers. It will bloom a year after transplantation.
Do I need to dig up yucca for the winter?
Many people wonder - Do I need to dig up a tropical plant?, or can I just insulate it before the onset of cold weather? If filamentous or bluish yucca grows in the garden, then this frost-resistant plants, which easily tolerate short-term drops in temperature. In regions with harsh winters, it is recommended to insulate garden yucca. In the first two years, young plants are insulated on any open areas. There are several ways to cover garden yucca for the winter:
Insulate the plant for the winter follows in late October - early November. Remove protection only after the last threat of frost has passed.
Reproduction of garden yucca
The plant can be propagated in several ways:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- stem;
- dividing the bush.
Dividing the bush is the most in a simple way propagation of garden yucca, which can be carried out when transplanting it. An overgrown bush is dug up in April or early May, and sprouts with roots and shoots are separated from it. The cuttings are planted in a permanent place and watered. They demand special care, which consists of careful infrequent watering, shading the plant from direct sunlight and fertilizing after rooting.
When propagating by stems, a piece of the trunk is cut off slightly above the root collar, which must first be dried, and only then planted horizontally in river sand or perlite. Rooting should occur at room temperature. The substrate around the stem is kept moist. As soon as sprouts with roots appear, the stem is cut into pieces and planted in the ground. Each segment should have its own sprout.
To obtain a cutting you need cut off the top of the stem, on which there should be a bunch of leaves. Cuttings are planted in pots with perlite or coarse sand only a few days after drying. Caring for them involves spraying the substrate with water at room temperature.
Garden yuccas growing in open ground often set seeds, which can be collected at the end of August for subsequent propagation of the plant. You can buy seeds at almost any flower shop. They have a round shape and reach 0.5-1 cm in diameter. Sowing is done in an earthen mixture, which should consist of equal parts:
- leaf soil;
- turf land;
- coarse sand.
The first seedlings should appear in about a month. When two true leaves appear, they are produced. picking in separate cups. Well-established and mature young plants are planted in large pots or open ground. Yucca grown from seeds will bloom only in the third year after planting.
Thanks to tropical plant on his own garden plot you can create an exotic corner. Very beautiful, colorful, and at the same time easy to care for, yucca will make your garden unusual and will delight you for many years.
Evergreen yucca has up to forty plant species. Each of them has its own differences in the shape of the leaves (smooth, jagged, with spikes, with threads, in the shape of a sword), their color (gray, green, brownish) and the shape of the buds (bell, bowl).
Unfortunately, indoor yucca rarely blooms at home, but many achieve this.
Optimal conditions for keeping yucca in the house
Yucca is a southern plant, optimal conditions for her it means good lighting, warmth and moderate humidity.
Location and lighting
If you have a heated balcony, the yucca will feel good, it will be provided with maximum amount Sveta. On the window sill in the room, the plant should not fall under direct Sun rays, it is better if they are located at an angle.
In winter, the flower will require additional artificial lighting. If there is a lack of light, the plant develops poorly, the leaves turn pale, and the trunk may become deformed.
Temperature
For indoor flower During the growth period of yucca, the desired temperature is about +25 degrees. During the dormant period in winter, the temperature can be gradually reduced to +10 degrees. A uniform, without changes, decrease in temperature stimulates the formation of flower buds.
One of the flowering conditions –This is compliance with the temperature regime. Yucca, like any southern plant, easily tolerates high temperatures, but reacts poorly to sudden changes from heat to cold and vice versa.
Comprehensive care for yucca at home
No less important criteria care than the temperature regime are air humidity, soil and lighting.
Watering and air humidity
Yucca easily tolerates drought and does not require frequent watering. In the spring-autumn period, the plant is watered as the top layer of soil dries. In winter, watering yucca is reduced: no more than once every two weeks. Stagnation of water in the soil can cause rotting of the roots and provoke plant diseases.
Many varieties of yucca prefer dry air; they do not need to be sprayed; you can wipe the leaves to remove dust.
Yucca, which loves moisture and regular spraying, should not be placed in direct sunlight after moistening. Wet leaves can cause severe burns.
All types of plants love water procedures in the form of a shower; after such irrigation, before putting the yucca in place, dry the leaves.
Important! Remember that yuccas do not tolerate drafts, and after watering or water procedures a draft is dangerous for a plant.
Feeding and fertilizing yucca
During the growth period, yucca needs feeding. It is advisable to feed the foliar method with mineral liquid formulations, diluting with twice as much water as indicated in the instructions for the drug. Spray with the preparation bottom side leaves - the plant responds well to this.
In the spring-summer period, fertilizing is applied once every three weeks. In autumn and during the winter dormant period, the plant is not fertilized. You can also use organic fertilizer for yucca at home, for example, an infusion of cow manure with leaf humus.
Yucca pruning
If your plant begins to grow and loses its decorative appearance, cut off the branch, leaving two or three buds. Treat the cut area with crushed activated carbon. After three to four weeks, the buds under the cut will awaken and send out young leaves.
Do not throw away the cut branch; it can be used as a cutting. Trimming yucca at home will rejuvenate the plant and give it a well-groomed appearance.
Did you know? The Indians of both Americas ate yucca flowers. They were used to cook soups, bake meat and vegetables, and prepare drinks. Yucca fruits are similar in appearance and taste to bananas, which is why they are called “Spanish bayonet”.
Replanting and soil composition
Yucca grows, and along with it, its root system. For normal growth and development, the plant is replanted. There are several nuances on how to plant yucca correctly. Transplantation is carried out in the spring so that the plant has time to get used to the new place.
Young intensively growing plants require replanting every year, adult specimens - once every four years. The starting point for replanting will be the yucca root system that has grown throughout the entire space of the pot.
Properly repot the plant by moving it from the pot to minimize root damage and stress to the yucca. Suitable for transplantation universal primer with the addition of perlite. The yucca pot should be larger than the previous one and have drainage so that water does not stagnate at the bottom of the pot.
Attention! The basic rule of replanting: within a month after the procedure, the plant does not need to be fed, pruned or cuttings. During this period, he needs rest to adapt.
Yucca propagation at home
There are several ways to propagate yucca.
For sowing seeds prepare light soil for yucca - this is a mixture of turf and leaf soil with sand. The seeds are sown in a box with moistened soil and covered with glass. Crops are regularly ventilated and soil moisture is checked. When the seeds sprout (in a month), they are transplanted into separate pots.
When propagated by shoots The daughter side shoot is carefully separated from the adult plant. For rooting, it is placed in a container of water or wet sand. When roots appear on the shoot, you can transplant it into a pot with prepared soil.
Cuttings obtained by cutting the trunk of a plant into individual shoots up to 10 cm long. The top is planted in a mixture of turf soil and sand, creating a greenhouse effect. The remaining shoots are deepened into the soil horizontally, lightly sprinkled. When new shoots appear at the cutting sites, the cuttings are taken out of the soil, the shoots are separated and transplanted into pots. 