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Yucca Plants | Complete Australian Grow and Care Guide

There’s nothing better than a problem-free, easy-care indoor plant. Yucca plants are the perfect choice for beginner growers who are considering an attractive, fuss-free plant.

Yucca plants include a range of perennial plants and shrubs, well-suited to growing in indoor conditions. Follow our grow and care guide to find out exactly what you’ll need to do to grow these incredible plants in your home. 

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What are Yucca Plants

What are Yucca Plants

Yucca plants are part of the Asparagaceae family, including over 40 different sub-cultivars. Native to Mexico and the Caribbean, these hardy plants offer an attractive indoor display and range in size from smaller plants to shrubs to trees. 

Yucca plants are incredibly slow growers, which makes them an ideal option for container growing. More so, as these plants are used to warm, drought conditions, they grow happily indoors without needing too much humidity and moisture.

The only issue with yucca plants is that the foliage can be toxic to pets, such as dogs, cats and even horses. Should you be planning on growing yucca plants with pets, it is perhaps advisable to keep them out of reach or in an area to which your pet does not have access. 

Types of Yucca Plants

Although there is a range of yucca varieties, there are only a few which are well-suited for indoor growing. The most popular chosen cultivars include: 

Spineless Yucca
(Yucca guatemalensis) 

This variety has a large bulbous base and long, sword-like leaves. This is the most common variety found in homes. 

Spineless Yucca (Yucca guatemalensis)

Source: identify.plantnet.org

Spanish Bayonet (Yucca aloifolia)

This variety has long, shard leaves and deep green, variegated foliage. This cultivar is not advisable for homes with children, as the leaves can be hazardous.

Spanish Bayonet (Yucca aloifolia)

Spineless Yucca (Yucca guatemalensis) 

Spineless Yucca (Yucca guatemalensis)

Source: identify.plantnet.org

This variety has a large bulbous base and long, sword-like leaves. This is the most common variety found in homes. 

Spanish Bayonet (Yucca aloifolia)

Spanish Bayonet (Yucca aloifolia)

This variety has long, shard leaves and deep green, variegated foliage. This cultivar is not advisable for homes with children, as the leaves can be hazardous.

How to Grow Yucca Plants

How to Grow Yucca Plants

In the right conditions, yucca plants are incredibly easy to grow. Before planting, your biggest concern will be ensuring the right kind of soil and sufficient sunlight for your yucca plant to thrive. 

Yucca Plants Sun Requirements

Yucca plants prefer full sun conditions. They tend to thrive most in bright, direct sunlight. However, it can also tolerate bright indirect light. As such, it’s a good idea to keep your yucca plants near a large window.

In insufficient sunlight, your yucca plant will have stunted growth and may lose colour in its leaves. 

Best Soil for Yucca Plants

As these plants are used to arid deserts, you’ll want to ensure well-draining sandy soil. As such, it’s a good idea to choose a potting mix with lots of perlites or cactus soil.

Don’t worry about finding an overly expensive soil mix. Yucca plants aren’t really fussy. 

Temperature

Yucca plants are used to high heat conditions, which also means that they are used to temperature fluctuations. You can keep these plants in most parts of your home.

Although they enjoy moderate humidity, it is not recommended to keep these plants in the bathroom. 

Propagating Yucca Plants

Propagating Yucca Plants

The most common method of Yucca plants propagation is through the division of offsets, which can be done fairly easily when repotting. As with succulents, yucca plants produce offshoots at the base of the plant. 

When repotting simply:

  • Remove the parent plant from the pot and gentle tousle the roots lose. 
  • Use a sharp blade to remove the side stems which grow off the base. 
  • At the base, you will want to leave a 4 to 5cm stem. 
  • Dip the offsets into a rooting hormone and plant into a porous potting mix. 
  • Keep your cutting in a warm and sunny spot. 
  • Water well without water logging or soaking the soil. 

Potting Yucca Plants

Potting Yucca Plants

Yucca plants are happy being pot bound, and generally grow slowly, and as such only need to be repotted every 2 or 3 years. However, with larger plants repotting can be a tedious task. 

In these instances, it is possible to simply remove the top layer of soil and replace it with fresh soil to replenish. 

Yucca Plants Care Guide

Although these plants thrive off a little bit of neglect, it is important to occasionally water and fertilise your yucca plants to keep them healthy and thriving. Pruning or other care won’t be necessary. 

Watering Yucca Plants

Yucca plants are definitely water sensitive, so when you water your plants, it’s important to regulate how much and how often.

During the spring and summer, you can water your yucca plant regularly, ensuring the soil dries sufficiently in between. During the winter, you can cut back on watering almost altogether. 

Fertilising Yuccas

During the growing phase, it is advisable to support your yucca plant with a little bit of fertiliser. A slow-release, granular fertiliser or liquid fertiliser is ideal. Fertilisation can be done as much as once per month. 

Also read: Complete Australian Garden Fertiliser Users Guide

Common Yucca Plants Pests & Diseases

As with other indoor plants, yucca plants are often susceptible to pests such as mealybugs and aphids. This is especially common when other plants seem to become infested. 

Agave bugs are also a common occurrence, which sucks the sap from the leaves and leaves larger brown scars. These can also be treated with insecticidal soap. Here are some garden pests control options to help you with your pest problems. 

Other issues you may experience are usually a cause of overwatering. In waterlogged soil, yucca plants tend to develop fungal diseases.

Yucca Plants FAQ’s

Types of Yucca Plants

Can Yucca Plants Be Planted Outside? 

Although often grown indoors, yucca plants can thrive in a warm sunny spot, like a patio outdoors. However, it is advisable to then bring your yucca plants back indoors during the cold. 

What Happens if You Get Poked By A Yucca Plant? 

As yucca plants contain a toxin called “saponins”, it can cause skin irritation when puncturing the skin. As such, when you’re working with your yucca plant, consider wearing a good pair of garden gloves. 

How Do You Know When A Yucca Plant is Dying? 

Excessive fertilising or overwatering can cause a range of issues, which may lead to your yucca plant dying. Signs your yucca plant is dying to include brown leaf tips, slow growth, sudden leaf drop and wilting leaves. 

How Often Do Yucca Plants Bloom? 

Although it doesn’t always occur, mature yucca plants produce an amazing flower stalk once per season. More likely, however, your yucca plant will only flower every few years. You will need to ensure your plants are receiving sufficient sunlight to bloom.

Are you looking for some other indoor plants? Take a look at our best indoor plants guide here.  

Wrapping Up Our Yucca Plant Guide

There are so many reasons to consider yucca plants in Australia, especially if you don’t have pets or children. If growing indoors, be sure to supply your yucca plants with sufficiently draining soil and plenty of sunlight. 

Yucca Plants Complete Australian Grow and Care Guide

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Author:

Gary Clarke

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