It might also be Yucca weevil larvae gnawing at the roots causing the plant … Remove the severed flowering stalk and discard. Though it’s more deliberate, cutting is categorized under pruning in the yucca care department. Prune your indoor yucca early in March, right before it enters the growing cycle if it has grown too tall. Left unpruned, the fronds will eventually fall off but it will take awhile. Yucca is a genus of highly drought-tolerant evergreen perennials that grow either as shrubs or small trees, requiring minimum care. Pruning yucca. Consider using cacti and palm soil blends, though they are not required. % of people told us that this article helped them. Plant in an area that will accommodate mature size. If over-watered, the leaves will die or become discolored. Leaves shouldn’t bump against the window since sunlight can cause burning Pruning will improve the appearance of your yucca and encourage trunk development but is not critical for plant health. During the winter, cut back on the moisture for your yucca soil in between each watering. This way, you avoid any cross contamination. Yucca trees are low maintenance and easily adaptable, making them widely popular houseplants. Before pruning outdoor yuccas, put on protective gloves and goggles to protect yourself from the sharp blades and spikes. Yucca plants can live in all seasons and many climate zones. Generally, this can be done by gently pulling off or cutting the base leaves. Pruning a yucca may look harsh, but it is an excellent way to not only keep your yucca plant manageable but propagate the plant. While the plants are recovering, continue caring for the yucca plants as you normally would. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. To prune a yucca plant, all you’ll need is a knife or some pruning shears. Instructions. As with most plants, the best time to prune the yucca is just before the plant begins to grow. Other than pruning a Yucca plant it pretty much cares after itself. Dried flower stalks can be removed. Pruning photo by Jann Huizenga. After your yucca blooms, cut the flower stalk about 4 inches from the end. Dig down and cut a 3-inch section from the existing root structure. In What Type of Soil Should You Plant a Yucca? Last Updated: February 20, 2020 Removing old flower stems keeps the plant’s energy focused on vigorous growth instead of seed production. When the roots were half a cm I potted it. It will be early spring. Dusting and Pruning Your Yucca Plant. Look for a mature part of the stem,the bark will be dark colored. The spineless yucca plant, a native of Guatemala and southeast Mexico, is an ideal easy care houseplant. This will be in early spring. Fertilizer is not necessary, either, but it can help boost growth when applied in the spring and summer months. Pruning a yucca plant is not necessary, but you can if you want to remove any dead or damaged leaves. After you have marked the trunk, cut off the leafy top. You can even use the cut-off portion of the trunk to propagate your plant (just be sure to mark which end is the top). If you prune, do so in the spring and only remove what you absolutely need to. Although the ideal time for pruning is spring, the yucca can be pruned at any time. You can cut these leaves away as desired. "I trimmed my outdoor yucca plants as you suggested, and they look great with a healthy look.". Support wikiHow by Water the plant thoroughly the day before transferring the plant. There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. It will be early spring. Make the pruning cut at the very base of the stem. Yucca gloriosa, also known as Spanish dagger, palm lily and mound-lily yucca, is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with erect, sword-shaped leaves. In the cooler zones like Victoria, take cuttings from December to May. Yucca doesn’t need very rich soil, and particularly likes sandy soil. Pruning Yucca Plants Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) is a grass-like ornamental often grown as an accent plant in the home landscape. Is the Red Yucca plant poisonous? The Yucca plant grows very slowly and should rarely, if ever, need pruning. Cut the flower stalk 3 to 4 inches above the center of the rosette with sharp pruning shears. You can also find shrub […] Next, get a saw or a pair of loopers and simply cut at the desired mark. Unlike most plants, where pruning means the cutting of branches and blooms, the yucca is a cane plant, and thus pruning means cutting the trunk. Yucca plants develop a “skirt” of lower leaves much like palms trees. Make sure that you are still providing your plant with cooler temperatures, just not freezing. They are native to warm, dry areas, but many species adapt well to urban environments and cold climates. Start by trimming the leaves at the bottom, which are known as the yucca skirt. Once they bloom, you can cut them immediately or wait for the flowers to fade. While early spring is the ideal time, a yucca can be pruned anytime. Just make sure the yucca plant gets plenty of light while it is recovering. Keep the yucca plant away from sidewalks and high traffic areas so they don't cut anyone. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. My yucca has root rot. It will grow as the one in your picture.In nurseries they cut the stems/stalks into pieces then use each chunk to form new plants for resale. If the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) feel dry, lightly water the plants. The low-growing desert shrub grows about 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and wide. The halfway mark can be a rough estimate rather than an exact measurement. How to prune yucca plants: Prune dead, brown leaves. Cutting away damaged leaves is especially helpful if the yucca plant is struggling. Pruning a yucca plant is easy but uncomfortable. The US native plant has numerous species and assortments that develop well (e.g., Yucca Aloifolia, Yucca Filamentosa, Yucca Gloriosa). And, like most drought-hardy plants, red yucca will need virtually no pruning during its lifetime. References. Yucca plant wilting; Yucca plant wilting can be the first sign of rot, which we will discuss below in a moment. For tips on how to replant a trimmed yucca plant, read on! When your yucca plant becomes too tall for... Propagating a Yucca Plant. Yuccas that grow in tree form can be pruned to cont… They need to be trimmed back. Yes, the new shoots are very hardy. Yucca elephantipes—also called spineless yucca, stick yucca and yucca gigantea—is a type of shrubby plant with thick cane stems and sword-shaped leaves.Yucca plants grow outdoors in hot arid climates. Read About Houseplants and Fiddle Leaf Fig. Red or yellow yucca Hesperaloe parviflora Pruning is not recommended. When older leaves die on a mature yucca plant, simply cut them away, usually in the spring. Yucca is a perennial shrub characterized by its robust, sword-shaped leaves. TIP: The best time to prune yuccas is in the early spring, just … The plant also has white flowers you can spot from a distance. Then return the lower part of the plant into the pot. She co-owns a pet-sitting company, providing her the experience to cover pet care and small business. Remove unwanted leaves from both indoor and outdoor plants, or shorten your potted yuccas. Remove the plant slowly from the old pot and detangle the roots carefully with your fingers. Cut them off as close to the plant as possible and until you get about halfway up. Removing Spent Flowers. But Where Does Yucca Grow? It should be cut at half the length of its stalk, as it provides the plant with plenty of room to grow properly. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/aid9800239-v4-728px-Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"