Yucca - care at home. Why does yucca die? Pruning and forming a lush tree

Yucca is true unique plant. Not only does it bring beauty and freshness to the home, but it is also a very multifunctional plant. In addition to the listed, fairly standard properties, yucca can be used for food and in technical production.

She is very unpretentious in care, but you still have to make an effort to get a decent result. Yucca itself comes from North America, few people know about the fact that the first jeans contained fibers from this amazing plant.

Yucca will easily fit into the interior of any home and you will be amazed at how harmoniously it turns out.

How to choose suitable variety, how to care for it and much more you will learn further.

Description of Yucca

Yucca (lat. Yucca)– perennial tree-like plants native to the subtropical zone of North America; It belongs to the agave family and has up to forty species. In the homeland of yucca (Yucca), it is used in various fields. Juice with a high sugar content is obtained from cut yucca flowers.

• Yucca filamentosa produces very strong fibers, from which the first jeans were made, even before the use of cotton.
• Although in the USA, yucca fibers are still added to jeans to this day, which makes them more durable and resistant to wear.
• In addition, paper and rope ropes are produced from yucca fibers, and in addition it is used in medicinal purposes.

Yucca- These are evergreen plants with a low stem that either does not branch at all or branches slightly. In some species, the stem is practically invisible, and large, beautiful leaves arranged in a spiral rise immediately above the ground.

The inflorescences are erect, large, up to 2 m long, emerge from the center of the rosette of leaves and look like panicles. Drooping flowers (up to 7 cm long) are bell-shaped and white in color. The 10-centimeter fruit is a box with black seeds (up to 1 cm in diameter).

IN room conditions It is best to place yucca in spacious rooms or hallways, because it grows up to 4 m in height. Externally, yucca looks like a false palm.

Homemade yucca will bloom with white flowers that look like bells, but this will not happen soon, because flowering is possible only in adult specimens.

Indoor yucca is very often used to decorate the interior, and specimens with several growth points - in which the trunk branches - are of particular value.

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Types of Yucca domestica

Yucca indoors.

Indoor yucca is grown as an ornamental plant, and it can also be used for medicinal purposes. The plant is similar to a palm tree, its height can reach 4 m, so it is suitable for placement in large halls.

• Planting this type of yucca requires a deep pot with good drainage.
• In summer, yucca is taken out to open air, in winter they are kept in a room with a cool air temperature and sufficiently bright lighting.
• Indoor yucca will bloom with white flowers after many years.
• It has green, slightly bluish, sword-shaped, linear leaves, collected in a bunch at the top of the trunk.

An incredibly beautiful decorative yucca decorates a flowerbed with its sharp evergreen leaves in the shape of a sword, and during flowering it attracts with a tall peduncle with large white bells.

It can be grown in pots without much difficulty, where it looks very impressive. Young specimens of three years of age are placed in three-liter pots; for an older representative of the agave genus, a ten-liter container is suitable.

Yucca aloefolia.

This is the most popular yucca among amateur plant growers. Its main difference from other species is that it does not have side shoots.

On its tree-like trunk, planted with notches left over from fallen leaves, grow rather hard, green leaves with a bluish tint, collected in the form of two or three sparse rosettes.

They are very sharp, you can even cut yourself on them, so it is better not to keep such plants in places where people move. When choosing this type, you must comply correct mode watering, and then you will be able to grow a healthy and beautiful tree.

Yucca filamentosa.

The inhabitant of eastern North America takes root well at home because it is resistant to pests and tolerates heat and drought well.

This is a stemless plant with bluish-green leaves with a pointed apex, with edges covered with numerous white, thin, curling threads.

A flower panicle, composed of yellowish-white, drooping flowers, grows approximately 200 cm in height. The fruit has a round shape. The plant grows quickly and likes to produce shoots (stolons). Under the conditions of the botanical garden, breeders managed to obtain several varieties of this species.

Yucca elephant.

This is the most interesting view, its height reaches 10 m. Amazing plant, care for which consists of performing some simple rules, is widely used in industry and medicine.

Rope is made from strong fibers, and the juice of the leaves of the plant is used as a basis for some hormonal preparations.

The native places of growth of this indoor plant are Mexico and Guatemala. The imported stems are cut into fragments, planted in flower pots, they can be bought at any flower shop.

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The soil

This plant needs soil whose acidity ranges from 5.7-7.4 pH. It is difficult for yucca to absorb many microelements from alkaline soils. There are two soil recipes for this representative of palm trees.

To prepare the first mixture, you need to mix one part each of compost, sand (perlite), turf soil, and humus. To prepare the substrate according to the second recipe, you need to mix one part of pebbles or dolomite crushed stone (fraction 1.2 cm), pine bark (2 cm), coarse peat, coarse perlite, charcoal (1 cm), pumice, and 0.1 parts of bone meal.

This composition ensures very good water drainage and prevents soil salinization. It is better to use slowly dissolving granular fertilizers as a fertilizer for yucca. It is better to apply them once a year in the spring.

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Lighting

Yucca requires a lot of light and sun. The best place for it is windows facing south, southeast and southwest.

• Good lighting is especially important for young plants to ensure their proper formation. Wherein young plants are more sensitive to sunlight than adults, so in the hottest time they need to be shaded or moved away from the window.
• Lack of light has a detrimental effect on the plant. The shoots stretch out and bend unsightly. The leaves become thinner, turn pale, begin to turn yellow and fall off. The plant is weakened and pests may appear on it, for example, mealybug or spider mite.

Yucca needs enough light in winter too, therefore, during this period it is advisable to organize additional artificial lighting for the plant, increasing the daylight hours to 16 hours a day.

Temperature

During the growing season (from March to September), the comfortable temperature for yucca is 20-24 degrees. In hotter conditions, increased air humidity is necessary (spraying, placing on a tray with wet expanded clay). The higher the air temperature, the higher its humidity should be..

• The problem when caring for yucca at home is the need to keep the plant cool in the winter (from October to February), at a temperature of 8-10 degrees Celsius.
• It's good if there is one in the house suitable premises, for example, a heated loggia where you can place the yucca at this time.
• If not, then place the pot on the windowsill, moving it closer to the glass, and periodically open the window slightly, and if the design of the windows allows, open the doors for winter ventilation.

It must be remembered that yucca tolerates sudden changes in temperature and drafts painfully and sometimes dies from this.

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How to water yucca?

The answer to this question is given by yucca itself. The size and age of the plant, the type of pot and soil, and the time of year affect the frequency and volume of watering.

On average, you need to water a flower once a week. Leaves and soil serve as watering indicators. Leaves bent down in an arched manner indicate that the plant does not yet require watering.

The leaves begin to curl into a tube around the center line, and the ground becomes dry by 5-7 cm - the yucca needs to be watered. Timely watering can be abundant, but the water must be completely absorbed and not flow into the pan.

• If the air in the room is dry in winter or the plant is taken out into the open air in summer, then it can be sprayed about every other day.
• The flower drinks water through its leaves and drops of moisture imitate dew and its natural habitat for it. In any case, sensitive leaves should occasionally be carefully wiped to remove dust.
• Feed the plant only with settled water at room temperature.

Do not allow excess moisture in the soil. Increased soil moisture can lead to disease in the form of grayish-brown spots on the leaves. Diseased leaves will have to be removed, and the flower itself will have to be sprayed with a fungicide.

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Air humidity

Yucca does not require spraying the leaves, but sometimes it is necessary to wash it so that the plant does not become dusty and does not lose its attractiveness. In summer, outdoor rainfall is sufficient. If in winter the yucca is kept in a room with central heating, then it is advisable to spray it at least once a day.

• When yucca is sprayed in the sun, spots from sunburn may appear on its leaves.
• For better decorativeness, the plant must be washed from time to time in the shower or under running water, making sure that water does not get on the substrate (for example, cover the pot with polyethylene).
• The most common types of yucca in indoor floriculture - elephant yucca (Yucca elephantipes) and aloe yucca (Yucca aloifolia) - do not require spraying.
• Yucca does not require too much water. In summer, you can water yucca only once a week.

In winter, the number of waterings can be reduced to once every 10 days. In general, the basic rules for watering are as follows: From spring to autumn, the soil is constantly kept in a moderately moist state; it is better to dry out the plant a little rather than flood it.

In winter, the soil should be moistened from time to time, depending on the temperature. The frequency of watering yucca depends on many factors: the size and material of the pot, the size of the plant, the characteristics of the substrate, temperature and humidity.

In the warm season, yucca is watered abundantly - but only after it dries upper layer soil to a depth of about 5 cm. In hot summers, yucca is watered more often; but do not forget that the soil in the pot should dry out between waterings. Yucca at home should be kept in a nutrient mixture. In this case, a thick layer of drainage should be poured onto the bottom of the pot.

Top dressing

Feeding: once every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer, with an interval of two to three weeks, with a diluted solution of mineral fertilizers. This plant responds well to feeding with infusion of mullein, horse manure, and leaf humus. top scores give foliar feeding (spray the leaves from the underside with a solution of mineral fertilizer).

• You cannot feed the plant immediately after transplantation, or if the yucca is sick.
• In general, it should be taken into account that fertilizing is required only from May to September, i.e. during the period of rapid plant growth.

But in winter, the plant should not only be left alone, but also taken to a cooler room. The optimal temperature for wintering the plant will be 10°C.

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YUCCA TRANSPLANT

Replanting a houseplant is done once every two years. When a plant has more than one trunk, it needs to be replanted. And this manipulation is performed in this way:

1. The trunk is divided into several parts along with the root.
2. All cut areas are sprinkled with crushed activated carbon or covered with garden pitch.
3. Each sprout resulting from division is planted in a separate pot.

You can replant indoor yucca at any time of the year. But the most optimal time will be spring. The plant needs to be prepared for transplantation. To begin, cut off a third of the foliage and immerse the root in warm water for a couple of hours.

It is imperative to ensure that the root system is not damaged during replanting. Yucca loves vitamin supplements; they are applied directly to the new soil.

Important. If you follow all the rules of care and planting, a luxurious beauty will grow from a small yucca, which will become the most beautiful decoration of your home.

AFTER THE PURCHASE

When purchasing a plant, it is replanted within two days. A new pot for yucca is chosen a few centimeters larger than the old one.

• The best pots for the plant are considered to be clay or ceramic pots, due to their natural origin and drainage hole of a suitable size.
• Although containers made of plastic are also successfully used, after making an additional hole in them to drain excess water.
• This type of container is more affordable, and is no worse in use than clay ones.
• When the pot is chosen, planting begins.
• Drainage is poured into the bottom of the container, in the form of fine gravel or red brick broken into pieces.
• Then the prepared soil is poured over the drainage.
• It can be purchased at a specialty store or prepared with your own hands. The main thing is that there is sand.

Carefully remove the yucca from the old pot. The earthen lump present on the root cannot be removed. The plant is placed in a new pot and covered with substrate on the sides, compacting it with a spatula. The planted plant is watered abundantly.

Next, the pot with yucca is transferred to a dark place. And maintain a temperature regime of +25°C. For a week, the yucca is sprayed three times a day with water. After a week of adaptation, a sunny corner in the room is chosen for the flower, and it is moved to permanent place residence.

For compliance with all conditions, the yucca will thank the owner with luxurious beauty. And it will delight you for many years.

POT SIZE

Every time the time comes to transplant a yucca, you should be guided by one rule when choosing a pot. The old container fits freely in the new container. And in order not to make a mistake with the size, the ideal distance between the pots is no more than three centimeters in diameter.

Yucca grows slowly. And if you choose a larger pot, the plant’s growth will stop for a long period until the root system becomes denser. And first of all, the crown will suffer. After all, the root will take all the nutrients for itself for growth.

TRANSPLANTING YUCCA IN AUTUMN

As described above, indoor yucca can be replanted at any time of the year. But it is better not to replant in the fall, but to give the plant the opportunity to prepare for the rest period.

After all, planting it in a new pot will not give the yucca full sleep, but will force it to give up all its strength to take root in its new place of residence. This will lead to flower disease.

They have been replanting yucca since February. The main thing is to adhere to strict rules so that yucca pleases with its beauty and not with diseases.

Concerning garden plants. Such specimens are planted only in the spring in order to take root well and get used to new conditions.

Yucca cannot be planted in autumn. By frost, it will not have time to grow a root, and may die in frost. And even good insulation won't save her. The main thing for yucca is to observe a period of its slow adaptation to new conditions.

TRANSPLANTING GARDEN YUCCA

Garden yucca, after purchase, is immediately planted in a flowerbed. Choose a site with good lighting and protected from drafts. Planted early in the morning or in the evening, after sunset.

Dig a hole 60 cm deep and 80 cm wide for the young plant. The recess is made 10 cm larger if the plant is mature. The soil for planting is prepared in advance, for this you will need:

• fine gravel;
• sand;
• compost;
• black soil

All components are mixed in equal parts and moistened. Part of the substrate is poured into the prepared hole, where the yucca is placed and the rest of the soil is poured on top, compacting it with a shovel. Next, a small hole is made around the plant. Settled warm water is poured into it. In the first week after planting, the plant is sprayed daily.

Basically, garden yucca does not bloom in our latitudes. But sometimes exceptions happen. In the first year, the plant will not produce flowers; during this period, the yucca gets used to new conditions. The plant becomes ready for flowering in the third year.

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Yucca care in winter

Caring for yucca in winter is significantly different from summer care. Yucca is a light-loving plant and in winter, when there is insufficient light, it can lose its lower leaves.

So in winter you need to choose the most illuminated place in the apartment for it. Caring for yucca in winter is significantly different from summer care.

• It is necessary to water the plant only when adding the top layer of soil in the pot, but you should remember that yucca does not like excessive watering.
• The presence of excess moisture in the pot is completely detrimental to its root system.
• Often, excessive watering leads to rotting of the root system and death of the entire plant.
• Watering should only be done around the circumference of the pot, and when watering, you should avoid getting water into the outlet and between the trunks of the plant, as this can also lead to rotting of the trunks.

In winter, yucca does not need additional spraying and dry air is not harmful to it, although spraying itself does not cause any harm to the plant.

But spraying the plant in direct sunlight is highly undesirable; this can lead to burns on the leaves of the plant; when spraying, it is also necessary to ensure that water does not get inside the rosette of the plant, this can lead to its rotting and death.

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Reproduction methods

Why is the yucca flower propagated? Often in order to acquire a new copy of this beautiful plant or give it to someone.

You can also propagate elephant yucca, for example, to plant several plants different sizes in one pot so that they create a very impressive composition in the form of several tiers of lush greenery.

It should be remembered that the soil for young yucca rooted using one of the methods described below can be made independently from: leaf soil (2 parts); turf land (2 parts); humus (1 part); sand (2 parts). You can also buy ready-made soil in the store.

It is important to provide the plant with good drainage at the bottom of the growing container, and also do not forget to add up to 30% coarse sand to the substrate. Experienced gardeners recommend propagating yucca using one of the following methods: suckers; rooting of the apex; stem cuttings; seeds; air layering.

Reproduction by offspring

With proper care, yucca can have children in the first year of life. Separating root or stem shoots from a false palm tree is even useful - for normal growth and development, you need to ensure that there are no more than five shoots on the plant at the same time.

The process of rooting children is as follows: it is advisable to sprinkle the cuts on the parent tree and on the offspring itself with crushed charcoal; separated shoots must be planted in containers with moist, clean sand, watered and covered glass jar or plastic bag; It doesn’t hurt to provide young plants with good humidity and a temperature of at least 20 °C.

It is very important to ventilate the “greenhouse” daily and water the plant as needed; root formation will occur in a period of approximately two months; When the yucca has taken root, you need to transplant it into a permanent pot with good soil and pieces of charcoal in it.

Reproduction by rooting the apex

Yucca does not really like to branch and therefore most often grows with one trunk. An adult plant that is well rooted and at least 30 cm high can be forced to branch. To do this, you need to perform the following steps.

In spring or at the very beginning of summer, it is necessary to cut off the top of the yucca, 5 to 10 cm long, with a sharp and clean knife or blade. It is best for the plant to do this during the growth of the moon. It is important to leave as many leaves as possible on the trunk of the yucca that continues to grow in the pot.

All cuts must be sprinkled with charcoal powder. The apical cutting needs to be kept in the air for two hours so that the cut dries out a little. Then you need to plant the cutting in damp sand or place it in cool boiled water.

• To prevent the cuttings from rotting, you can add a little charcoal to the water.
• If the lower leaves of the cutting are rotten, an unpleasant odor will spread.
• These leaves need to be removed and the water needs to be replaced with fresh water.
• It is very important that the stem of the cutting does not begin to rot, so when rooting in the ground you need to water it very moderately.

When the cuttings grow roots, you can plant it permanently. A plant with a cut off top will grow new shoots from awakened buds. Helpful information about the propagation of croton flowers will help make this process fun and effective. The unpretentious fern can be propagated vegetatively and by spores.

Propagation by stem cuttings

Yucca can be propagated by cuttings taken from part of the trunk cut from a healthy plant with a bare stem. Next, you need to perform the following manipulations: A piece of yucca trunk must be placed horizontally on the surface of wet sand or loose soil in a pot.

The cuttings do not need to be sprinkled with soil; you just need to press them lightly into the ground. After some time, the dormant buds of the trunk will become active and release new shoots, growing roots along the way. Next, you need to remove the trunk from the sand, divide it with a sharp and clean knife into parts according to the number of shoots, and sprinkle the sections with crushed charcoal.

You need to leave the shoots in the air for a while to dry them a little. Then each shoot must be planted in a separate container with soil. You can also purchase a piece of yucca stem from a flower shop.

To determine the top and bottom, as a rule, the top of the cutting is filled with wax, which must be removed after planting.

Rooting

• Such cuttings root very easily and quickly as follows: to begin with, a piece of stem should be placed with the lower end in a solution of a growth stimulator for two or three days; “Heteroauxin” is perfect for this;
• Next, you need to plant the cutting with its lower end in the ground, lowering it to a depth of 3 to 5 cm;
• the soil in a pot with rooting yucca should always be moist, but not wet; after the first leaves appear, watering should be reduced; Then the yucca should be watered as the earthen clod dries out.

If the cutting purchased at a flower shop is not marked with wax, it must be rooted according to the scheme described above, placing it horizontally on the ground, and then separating the resulting shoots.

Propagation by seeds

In indoor conditions, yucca, as a rule, does not bloom. To form flower buds, the plant needs a long, cold winter outside. However, if the gardener is lucky enough to receive seeds from a flowering plant or purchase them at a flower shop, you can grow yucca from them according to the following scheme.

• It is very important to ensure the freshness of the seeds.
• You need to soak them in warm water for a day.
• Next, you need to prepare a substrate from the following components: 1 part of leaf soil; 1 part of turf land; 1 part coarse sand.
• The container with seedlings must be covered with glass or a plastic bag to create optimal conditions for germination - humidity and heat.
• Every day you need to ventilate the seedlings and wipe the glass with a dry cloth. A month after sowing, you can wait for the first shoots to appear.

Reproduction by air layering

In case of rotting of the roots of an adult and tall indoor yucca, if there are healthy light and hard areas, you can grow new roots for it and propagate it in the following way:

• On the healthy part of the plant 10 cm above the rotten part and at least 60 cm below the top, you need to remove the bark around the trunk in a strip 0.5 cm wide.
• The cut area and the area slightly higher should be covered with damp sphagnum moss and tied with polyethylene on top.
• It is necessary to regularly moisten the moss from a sprayer.
• After two or three weeks, new roots will appear above the bark cut.

For the next two weeks, you need to continue to grow roots in the same conditions, constantly moistening the sphagnum. Next, you need to cut off the top of the yucca with new roots slightly below the place where the bark was removed.

Then you need to sprinkle the cut with charcoal, dry it a little and plant the cutting in a pot with fresh soil mixed with sand. As you can see, propagating yucca is not at all difficult and even exciting.

Caring flower growers who spare no time and some effort can get healthy and beautiful yucca and even use it to create spectacular compositions that are pleasing to the eye and uplifting.

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Pruning and forming a lush tree

Trim the yucca before starting active growth at the end of winter - at the beginning of spring. It is worth remembering that after this procedure the plant trunk stops its growth. Therefore, it would be advisable to prune the flower when its trunk is at least five centimeters thick.

• For this procedure, use a sharp knife, previously disinfected in alcohol. The cut is made as high as possible from the surface of the earth.
• In order not to damage the growing points, the crown with leaves must be cut off along the entire diameter of the trunk, without breaking off. The cut is treated with crushed activated carbon to avoid the problem of trunk rotting.
• The trimmed plant is placed in a well-lit place with sunlight and systemic watering is provided. A leafless plant should not be watered so often - 2 times a week.

After about 3-4 weeks, dormant buds near the cut will begin to wake up. There can be from 2 to 5 pieces. The flower will begin to actively increase the thickness of new trunks.

On plants with a trunk no thicker than five centimeters, it is recommended to leave two buds. If the trunk is thicker, five buds are left.

The cut top can be rooted in a container with a damp substrate. This way you can get another plant.

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Diseases of indoor Yucca

Description of palm pests and diseases

There are many insects that can damage a palm tree. For example, among them:

• thrips;
• caterpillars;
• spider mites;
• scale insects;
• aphids and the like.

The main mistake that can cause infection is overwatering. To revive a palm tree, it is enough to remove the cause that provokes a decrease in natural protection, and also urgently treat the plant using commercial insecticidal preparations. They are used strictly according to the instructions.

Name of the most common Yucca diseases:

• stem rot;
• botrytis mushroom;
• bacterial burn;
• brown spotting;
• gray spotting;
• root rot.

Treating Yucca palm diseases can be difficult, so it's best to put efforts into prevention. It is often recommended to immediately destroy diseased plants without wasting time on their restoration. The absence of problems is a sign of proper care. At good conditions, the likelihood of diseases occurring is almost zero.

The trunk is rotting

Due to oversaturation with moisture, the lower part of the stem often rots. If the plant is affected by stem rot, then the entire trunk becomes soft and covered with red ulcers. Treatment is impossible; usually the palm tree is destroyed.

White spots

Light spots can appear on the foliage from too much light.

• If white mycelium is visible on the stem or adjacent soil, this is a symptom of bacterial burn.
• These are fluffy small formations of white color.
• Then they become hard and dark brown.

Correct agricultural technology is the only preventive method.

Why do the leaves turn yellow and dry?

It has been noticed that as the palm tree grows older, it naturally gets rid of its leaves from below. This manifests itself in the fact that the lower leaves turn yellow. This yellowness is normal. The fact is that there are also painful spots - they are initially yellow oval.

Then they change. After the yellow ones, you can see brown spots on the Yucca and this indicates brown spotting. To cure a plant from brown spots, you need to use purchased products, but first you will have to organize care.

Many people are interested in why leaves turn yellow in winter. This is due to frequent watering, which the plant does not require at this time of year.

• There is also a problem: the leaves of the Yucca palm dry only at the bottom of the plant. Apparently she's going to dump them. In most cases this is the norm.
• You need to think about why indoor Yucca is drying out if the leaves above are also suffering, since this may be a sign of a lack of lighting and a too hot climate.
• Dryness may occur along with yellowness. When dryness affects only the leaves at the tips, increase the humidity environment palm trees, as well as regulate care in general.

Falling leaves

The only normal thing is that the leaves fall at the very bottom. When a plant loses other foliage, it indicates improper moisture conditions. We advise you to review the watering schedule and eliminate errors. If the roots are not dead, then the plant can be brought back to life.

No flowering

The palm tree usually does not bloom in apartment conditions, just as certain species of animals refuse to give birth to captive conditions. Flowering can be achieved if Yucca is grown in ideal conditions, where everything is calculated to the smallest detail. All surrounding data should be as close to nature as possible. Then, perhaps, the palm tree will give its owner flowers - wonderful panicles with bells.

So, let's summarize. Indoor Yucca loves temperatures from 8 to 20 degrees and grows comfortably in bright light and moderate watering. Prefers high air humidity and light, well-drained soil. We feed the palm tree in spring and summer, replant overgrown specimens, and propagate by stem cuttings. Flowering occurs rarely, so you can’t count on this miracle at home. That's all we wanted to tell you about home palm, grow it for health, it is very aesthetic and looks exotic in the apartment.

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Chemical composition and medicinal properties of yucca

The chemical composition of yucca is as follows:

• • steroid saponins– have antifungal properties, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic effects, anti-edematous effect, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood;
  • enzymes– take part in metabolism;
  • antioxidants– take part in metabolism, neutralize harmful substances in organism;
  • mucus– have an enveloping effect, a carrying effect, they are used for gastritis, ulcers, and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • anthraquinones– have anti-inflammatory, astringent and laxative effects on the body;
  • zinc– participates in the synthesis of proteins, enzymes, fats, increases the absorption of vitamin E in the body, regulates blood sugar levels, strengthens dental bone tissue, maintains healthy skin;

Vitamins

• selenium– has antioxidant properties, improves the absorption of vitamins E, C, protects nucleic acids from damage, and is beneficial for muscles and blood vessels. Increases immunity, helps in the fight against viruses, and in combination with iodine ensures normal functioning of the thyroid gland;
• vitamin A– participates in the synthesis of enzymes, sex hormones, rhodospin in the retina;
• vitamin C– improves immunity, participates in the synthesis of collagen, cartilage tissue and has antioxidant properties.

Yucca leaves contain large amounts of sapogenins and aglycones. In addition, they contain steroidal saponin in an amount of 1-2%; it is a stereoisomer of sarsapogenin.

Yucca flower extract contains zinc and selenium, steroid sapogenins, and carbohydrates.

The root of the plant has many saponins, which stimulates the production of cortisone in the body and is responsible for the anti-inflammatory qualities of the plant. The root also contains folic acid, vitamin E, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin K, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper.

Important! When grown indoors, yucca blooms extremely rarely. Therefore, when it becomes consistently very warm outside, it needs to be taken out into the fresh air. Over five years of observing this condition, the plant will accumulate the necessary substances to bloom.

How to prepare and store medicinal raw materials from yucca

• The yucca flower has medicinal properties, so different parts of it are harvested to later be used as raw materials for medicines.
• Yucca leaves have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. They must be harvested before and during the flowering of the plant.
• The cut leaves are laid out in a thin layer on the surface, leaving to dry in the sun. They need to be stored in a well-ventilated area.
• On an industrial scale, yucca harvesting is done mechanically. The collected leaves are dried on currents and stored in well-ventilated areas for up to 5 years.

Root

Yucca root has many useful substances, so it is also prepared. The root of an adult plant should be used to prepare medicine. When digging up roots, you must remember that they go 50-70 cm into the ground. You need to dig them as deep as possible so that the yucca root system is not damaged.

Yucca blooms in the 3rd year of its life. This occurs between late June and August. At this time, you can collect the flowers of the plant to harvest raw materials for medicine. Dried yucca flowers are stored in a ventilated area.

Did you know? In order for yucca to overwinter and survive, when cold weather sets in, you need to tie its leaves into a bunch. With this technique, the top will not freeze, and the leaves will not break under the wet snow. The roots of the plant go deep, so they are not afraid of either cold or heat.

The use of yucca in folk medicine for diseases

The range of effects of yucca on the body is very wide. This plant is used for the treatment of a large number of diseases: arthritis, gout, intestinal polyps, prostatitis, flatulence, low blood pressure, etc.

IN folk medicine Yucca is used to combat problems such as dry itchy skin, eczema, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, lichen planus. For viral rashes, the juice of yucca leaves is effective.

Important! People suffering from urolithiasis and cholelithiasis are contraindicated to take medicines from yucca.

Inflammatory processes

Yucca is useful for inflammatory processes such as arthritis, arthrosis, gout, bursitis. For this purpose the following is used recipe:

• crushed yucca roots - 1 tablespoon;
• water – 500 ml.

The crushed roots are poured with water and boiled for 15 minutes. The decoction should be left for an hour, after which you should drink half a glass 3 times a day.

Eczema and psoriasis

To treat psoriasis, eczema and neurodermatitis, yucca should be taken according to the following recipes:

• fresh yucca leaves – 50 grams;
• water – 3-4 liters.

The leaves are poured with water and brought to a boil. After cooling, the decoction is applied in the form of lotions to the affected areas of the skin..

• Fresh yucca leaves – 10 grams;
• rendered lard – 100 grams.

Mix melted lard with leaves, heat the mixture in a water bath for 5-6 hours. Filter through cheesecloth and pour into a jar. After cooling, the ointment is applied to the affected areas of the skin.

Gastrointestinal tract

Yucca has a good effect on the body for peptic ulcers. For treatment apply leaves of the plant - 10 grams; they are filled with water - 500 ml. The mixture is brought to a boil. This decoction should be drunk 3 times a day.

This way you can cure peptic ulcer, gastritis, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease.

Diabetes

With the help of yucca, diabetes is treated. Preparations containing extracts of this plant are sold in pharmacies. You can also prepare a decoction of yucca at home.

For the yucca decoction at diabetes mellitus will be needed plant root and stem. You can also use flowers as they contain zinc.

Raw materials in the amount of 50 grams are poured with 3-4 liters of water, boiled and the broth is allowed to cool, after which it is taken orally.

Prostatitis

To get rid of prostatitis with the help of yucca, you will need to prepare mixture, which includes:

• crushed yucca roots;
• burdock;
• Aralia Manchurian;
• hydrangea.

Take 2 tablespoons of the mixture, add 500 ml of water, bring to a boil, and boil for 15 minutes. The decoction needs to be left for 1-1.5 hours and drunk 3 times a day, half a glass. Treatment lasts a month.

Use in cosmetology

Extracted from yucca extract, which has a healing, bactericidal effect. The flower extract of the plant is rich in zinc, selenium, sapogenins, so it is added as an ingredient to some cosmetical tools for skin and hair care.

How is yucca used in industry?

Yucca is used in light industry in the USA. Filamentous yucca is grown as a technical plant for the production of strong fibers. These fibers are added to cotton to make denim. Yucca fibers make jeans more durable.

• The fibers of this plant are also used in the production of ropes, brushes, fishing tackle, burlap and in the production of paper.
• Yucca leaves contain steroidal sapogenins, due to which the plant is used in the manufacture of hormonal corticosteroid drugs.
• There are diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, and yucca, due to its pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, is used as a raw material in the latest drugs for the treatment of joints.
• Also included in medications for the treatment skin diseases– fungi, acne and other lesions.

Thus, yucca is used in industrial medicine.

Another industrial application plants - A natural red dye is extracted from the root.

Contraindications for use

Yucca contains substances that break down into simple connections, which can cause harm to humans. One such connection is hydrocyanic acid, which, with prolonged consumption of yucca as food, can lead to myelopathy and parasthesia.

A single consumption of 400 grams of yucca roots provides a lethal dose of hydrocyanic acid for humans.

Possible by-effect Yucca when taken and used:

• nausea;
• vomit;
• stomach upset;
• diarrhea.

Yucca is an evergreen tree plant. Its homeland is considered to be North and Central America. Here yucca is widely used. The flowers are rich in sugar and the fibers are highly durable and are used to make clothing, rope and paper. Currently, the geography of distribution of yucca is extensive: Mexico, the United States of America, South America, Europe. Some species grow in the Caucasus. At home, with proper care, it can be grown anywhere.

The decorative palm tree, the photo of which you see, grows up to four meters in height. Therefore, it is often used to decorate halls, offices and large rooms. The combination of these plants of different heights in one flowerpot is very appropriate and looks amazingly beautiful. At home, the palm tree does not bloom so quickly; you need to wait until the plant becomes mature.

Description of the species

Yucca palm belongs to Its tree-like stem is highly branched and topped with large green or bluish leaves collected in a bunch. Their edges are different: smooth, jagged, with threads or sharp spikes at the ends. It depends on the species.

There are usually many flowers on a tree. They are bell- or bowl-shaped and colored White color with cream or yellow shades. The flowers do not grow singly, but are collected in a large panicle. Yucca fruits are a dry capsule. Some palm species produce juicy, edible fruit. At home, this plant blooms very rarely.

Yucca indoor elephant

The yucca palm, the photo of which you see, grows as a bush. But with age, the lower leaves die off, resulting in the formation of a thick trunk, similar to Hence the name. Since the homeland of this species of yucca is the arid desert regions of Central America, growing indoors it prefers warmth.

If you provide proper and regular care, there is no need to worry about pests. The tree will grow healthy and delight its original form. The indoor palm (yucca ivory) has become a popular indoor plant. It is used to decorate small rooms and large halls. A composition of several plants, but different in height, looks impressive.

Yucca aloe vera

Houseplants, the names of which can be listed endlessly, lift your spirits and bring joy to your home. They are loved for their beauty and variety, which never gets boring. One of these indoor plants is aloelia yucca. Its hard, sword-shaped leaves form a ball-like bush. When the plant matures, the old leaves dry out, fall off, a trunk forms, and it becomes like a palm tree. However, this palm is smaller in size than the elephant and shortleaf palm.

Where is the best place to place a palm tree?

Yucca is considered unpretentious plant, perfectly adaptable to home conditions. It reacts calmly to dry indoor air, which is not typical for all indoor flowers. In summer it can be placed on the balcony or taken out into the garden. First put it in the shade, and when it gets used to it, choose a sunny place for the plant.

The yucca palm loves the sun and is not afraid of direct rays. In winter, it is better to set aside a corner for it on the south side so that the palm tree receives more light. And in summer - from the east or west, to avoid exposure to refracted rays of the sun, which can cause burns on the leaves.

How to water yucca correctly?

Plants are provided with watering. This must be done with a sense of proportion: the top layer of soil should always dry out to a depth of several centimeters. In excessively moist soil, the roots and base of the trunk will begin to rot, which can lead to the death of the plant. In summer and spring, it is enough to water the flower once a week.

Spray the palm tree in extreme heat with warm water every other day. There is no need to spray the plant in winter; just wipe it off after washing in a warm place. soapy solution. The room where the palm tree grows should be maintained at a moderate temperature.

Winter care

How to care for yucca in the cold season? During this period, the apartment is usually cooler, so the palm tree needs to be watered less often, every other week. She does not like drafts, especially in winter, they can destroy her. The temperature in the room should not be more than 10 degrees. At high temperature air and poor lighting, the palm tree will lose its decorative effect: the leaves will lighten and become thin, and pests may appear on the plant.

Top dressing

When indoor yucca comes out of hibernation in the spring and begins to actively grow, it needs to be fed twice a month with flower fertilizer, rotted leaves or peat. In summer, feeding is carried out every ten days, and in winter - every twenty: in a bucket warm water add 1 tbsp. spoon of granulated and liquid fertilizer for flowers. They are available in the store in a large assortment. As soon as autumn arrives, fertilizing will not be required, since the palm tree stops actively growing and goes into a dormant state.

Palm tree transplant

How to care for yucca during transplantation? Special care at this time the plant does not require. The palm tree is rarely replanted, after two or three years, with the onset of spring. To do this, use a deep pot with a heavy nutrient mixture. The leaves of the plant are cut off in half. The roots are soaked for an hour in boiled, cooled water, to which crushed coal is added. After planting, the yucca is well watered. There is no need to feed the plant during transplantation. Do not forget that for each subsequent transplant you need to take a larger pot. The size of the overgrown roots should be taken into account.

How does an indoor palm tree reproduce?

At home, reproduction occurs by offspring, the removal of which will only benefit the tree. If you care for your yucca correctly and regularly, it will produce new plants in the first year. For normal palm development, up to five shoots are left on the trunk. If you plant the removed shoots in wet sand, they will form roots within a couple of months. In this case, there should be high humidity and a temperature of at least 20 degrees.

Very often the yucca palm tree, the photo of which you see, has one trunk. To achieve its branching, in spring or summer you need to cut off the top so that the leaves remain on it. The length of the cutting should be 5-10 cm. The cut area is immediately sprinkled with crushed coal. This prevents the spread of bacteria. After some time, shoots will grow on the trunk. Over time, they will get stronger and turn into trunks.

The cut cuttings are rooted. To do this, its cut is dried, leaving it in the air for two hours. Then they are planted in wet sand or cooled boiled water. When the roots appear, the yucca can be planted in a pot of soil.

A yucca palm tree can grow from a small piece of trunk. To do this, place it horizontally in a pot of wet sand. After some time, they will wake up on the trunk and new shoots with roots will grow from them. They are planted in separate pots.

Palm diseases

Improper cultivation of yucca leads to its disease.

• If the leaves at the tips have dried out and changed color to brown, this indicates dry air in the apartment, insufficient watering or draft.
• If indoor yucca grows in a room with low air temperatures, its leaves will begin to curl, their edges will turn brown and dry out, and the leaf blades will be soft. The plant needs to be moved to another, more warm room.
• Dry light spots on the leaves indicate burns. They were hit by the sun's rays refracted through the glass. It is necessary to allocate another place for the yucca. She loves the sun, but not the refracted rays. This needs to be taken into account.

• Rotting of the roots and trunk occurs due to abundant and frequent watering. You need to remove the palm tree from the pot, remove all the rotten roots, clean the trunk well, dry it and treat it with crushed coal. Only after this, plant the plant, but in a different pot and new land. Most importantly, do not water the transplanted palm tree for several days. Then resume watering and make sure that the trunk does not get wet. And in the future, strictly follow the watering regime if you want to see the plant healthy.
• Leaves and rosettes may begin to rot if the yucca is placed in a cold room. It is enough to place the palm tree in a warm room with normal air humidity. And no watering until the top layer of soil is completely dry!

Yucca pests

The yucca palm is damaged by pests. To save the plant, you need to fight them.

• Scale insect - it feeds on cell sap. It can be detected by brown plaques on leaves and stems. The leaves change color, dry out and fly off. To combat this pest, each leaf must be wiped with a soapy swab. Then the entire plant is sprayed with Actellik at the rate of 1-2 ml per 100 ml of water.
• Spider mites can appear if the air in the room is very dry. The stems become enveloped in cobwebs, the leaves lose their juiciness and fall off. The plant is wiped with a soap swab and placed under warm shower. If there are a lot of pests, the palm tree is sprayed with the same actellik.
• Mealyworms - leaves, shoots and even flowers suffer from them. Measures to combat this pest are the same as for spider mites.

If you notice rotting roots and dark spots on the trunk, do not rush to say goodbye to the tree, it can be saved. Rooting is done, the cutting is planted and a new plant is obtained.

• Select an undamaged part of the stem and remove the bark from it in a strip five centimeters wide. Wet moss is placed on this place and tied with film on top. After three weeks, roots will appear. The moss does not need to be removed for another six months. When the roots grow and become strong enough, you need to cut off the plant below the point where the bark was removed. The cut is treated with crushed coal, dried a little, and then the rooted plant is planted in a separate pot.
• The healthy part of the stem is separated from the diseased one. The cut is treated with charcoal, dried and the cutting is planted in wet sand. The top of the planting is covered with a jar. When the roots appear, the rooted cuttings should be planted in a pot.

Indoor yucca is a beautiful and rather unpretentious plant for household use; it has taken up permanent residence in city apartments. If you like her, we will tell you about all the features of care and maintenance, and you can decide whether you need such a pet in your home.

Yucca belongs to the lily family and, despite its external similarity to the palm tree, has nothing to do with it. Its stem is tree-like, it is crowned with green or bluish leaves, as if collected in bunches. Depending on the type, its leaves can be smooth or covered with thorns along the edges.

The palm tree blooms with large, cup-shaped flowers; as a rule, the flowers do not come out one at a time, but are collected in large inflorescences. However, it is not a fact that you will get to see this spectacle - yucca blooms at home very rarely. The fruits look like a dry box and are of no aesthetic interest, although in some species they are edible.

Select the desired type

Although there are about 30 varieties of yucca, in urban apartments only two are usually grown - ivory and aloe vera.

1. Yucca ivory got its name because of its trunk, which with its wide, massive base resembles the leg of the animal of the same name. The plant is very unpretentious to external conditions, does not require special knowledge and is ideal for living even in the most cramped conditions.
2. Yucca aloe leaf is less common; caring for it requires theoretical training. An adult palm tree, growing, takes the shape of a ball and has wide, leathery leaves.

Yucca elephant Yucca aloefolia

Both of these types of indoor yucca will decorate your home. Which one to choose is up to you, but remember that regardless of your choice, both palm trees are unpretentious in care and will take up the minimum of your time.

There's a new tenant in your house

The first thing a flower’s life in your home begins with is proper acclimatization, because new conditions are stressful for the plant. Experts recommend transplanting it into a new pot immediately after purchase. larger diameter than the one in which it was sold, and completely change the soil. It is better if the new container has high walls so that you can provide a sufficient level of drainage - at least 5 cm.

Particular attention should be paid to the soil. You can make the soil for the plant yourself or purchase ready-made soil in the store; in this case, give preference to mixtures for palm trees and dracaenas. If you prefer purchased ones, choose soil with a neutral acidic environment.

It is not difficult to prepare the soil yourself. You need to take one part of humus, two parts of sand and the same amount of turf and leaf soil. It is better to use coarse sand to ensure even better drainage effect.

Before immersing yucca in a container intended for the plant, you need to line the bottom with gravel or expanded clay. The stem must be planted to a depth of no more than 3 centimeters; immersion to greater depths threatens the stem rotting and the death of the plant.

Features of the existence of a palm tree at home: lighting, watering, ambient temperature

Since yucca is a native of hot countries, an important question you will ask yourself is how to care for your indoor yucca palm.

Lighting, humidity

First you need to install it in an area of ​​the apartment with sufficient lighting. It is especially important to have constant access to light for young plants. At the same time, you should protect the plant from direct sunlight.

With the onset of the warm season, it is advisable to place the palm tree on the balcony or on open terrace. Be sure to ensure that it is not exposed to sudden temperature changes and is not in a draft.

In winter, you can notice how the plant bends, turning its entire body towards the light source. To avoid deformation of the stem, it is recommended to additionally illuminate the yucca starting around September. By the way, experts attribute the fact that the plant blooms extremely rarely to the lack of light in the cramped conditions of city apartments.

The optimal choice of place to place the yucca is a floor stand so that it is approximately level with the window sill. Be sure to ensure that it does not overheat due to the action of the radiator central heating. It is not recommended to place a pot with a plant on the floor due to insufficient lighting, and also close to window glass due to the possibility of hypothermia.

For normal life, it is necessary to ensure the humidity of the apartment microclimate at a level of at least 40%. If the air in your apartment is dry, it is recommended to additionally moisten it around the plant using a spray bottle; spray the plant a couple of times a day, especially in winter.

In its usual homeland, the palm tree exists in subtropical and temperate climates. The temperature in summer should not exceed 26 degrees, in winter – 20 degrees. The main thing is to try to avoid sudden changes in temperature, for example, opening windows at night to ventilate them, because this can lead to the death of the plant in a short time.

If you want to get a palm tree and are hesitant, know that the yucca palm tree requires minimal care at home; even a beginner in plant growing can handle it without any problems.

Watering

Irrigation features depend primarily on the time of year. The palm tree is quite resistant to arid climates, so the intensity of watering should be influenced by the size of the pot and the palm tree itself, as well as its age. For example, a small palm tree that you just brought home needs to be moistened every day, but little by little, and mature plant in a floor planter, it needs watering once every two to three weeks.

In the summer from May to September, with an average daily temperature of 22 degrees, you need to water the yucca approximately once a week; the colder it gets, the less often it needs watering. If the room temperature has stopped at 18 degrees, you only need to moisten the soil a little more often than once a month.

Pay attention to the condition of the top layer of soil in the pot. It must be dry before watering. With the help of a wooden stick stuck into the pot, you can assess the moisture content of the soil and below, in the interval between waterings it should dry out by half or even two-thirds of the total height.

It is important to know some features of watering and always pay attention to them.

1. Do not allow water to stagnate in the tray of the pot, where it can drain during watering. Always empty the tray, otherwise the roots may begin to rot from excess moisture and the plant will die.
2. If the top layer of soil remains wet for several days after watering, it means that it has become very hardened and water is not penetrating into the pot. You need to loosen the soil using a handy tool, for example, the wooden stick mentioned above.
3. Pay attention to the condition of the soil during periods when the humidity level in the apartment changes. At this time, it dries much more slowly, maintaining the usual watering regime, you risk ruining the roots of the plant.

Top dressing

The palm tree does not need any special feeding. Fertilizers are applied between April and August; it is best to use a special liquid product for this, which is sold specifically for feeding palm trees and dracaenas. In winter, the plant does not need feeding.

Remember that you do not need to feed the plant immediately after purchase or after replanting, as you need to give it time to recover and not expose it to additional stress. If, when replanting, you used special balanced soil for palm trees, then for about a year the yucca does not need additional nutrition.

Video “How to care for your home yucca palm tree”

Yucca transplant

Yucca, like any other plant, requires replanting in addition to care. It is recommended to carry out this procedure no more than once every two years, each time replacing the pot with a larger one and partially replacing the soil. There are no special restrictions on the time of transplantation, but the spring months are considered the best.

When removing the plant from the pot, try not to injure the roots, otherwise after replanting the palm tree will hurt for a long time, and the adaptation process will drag on for a long time, if it survives it at all.

Before replanting the yucca, you need to place at least 5 centimeters of drainage at the bottom of the new pot. If it seems to you that the soil has not lost its nutritional properties, the palm tree should be replanted by transferring an earthen ball with roots to a new pot. The space between the lump and the walls of the pot is filled with new suitable soil. It is better if it is the same soil mixture that you used for the previous transplant, in this case the stress time will be reduced.

Trimming

The palm tree is pruned in order to rejuvenate the plant and give it a beautiful shape. If the yucca is strongly stretched upward, pruning is also carried out.

The procedure is best carried out in the spring, when the plant stops growing. Before trimming indoor yucca, tools must be disinfected with alcohol.
The cut should be completed to the end, and not break off branches with leaves, so as not to touch the growth points. The cut areas must be treated with crushed coal to prevent the process of rotting. After the operation, the plant is returned to its usual habitat and watered according to existing climate conditions. The cut parts of the plant are not thrown away, but are used for propagation.

Video “Yucca propagation”

Diseases

The main indicator that something is wrong with the plant is the leaves. Any change in their color and shape should alert you. Yucca room sickness tolerates it quite easily, it is only important to know their symptoms so as not to cause damage.

1. If you notice that the yucca leaves are suddenly covered with large brown spots, this is evidence that a fungus has settled on them, caused by waterlogging of the soil or air. Diseased leaves must be removed to prevent the fungus from spreading. After this, you immediately need to change the plant’s place of residence, moving it to a drier part of the apartment, and stop spraying the air around it.
2. A more serious type of fungal infection is stem rotting. This is again due to waterlogging and lack of fresh air. After taking the measures described in the previous paragraph, a partially diseased plant can still be saved by cleaning the festering areas of the stem. If the rotting process cannot be stopped, the palm tree should be disposed of along with the pot so that the disease does not spread to other house plants.

As you already understand, yucca is not particularly capricious, is extremely unpretentious and, with proper care, is practically not susceptible to diseases.

Pests

1. A plant affected by false scale insects cannot be confused with anything. It looks as if it has withered without watering, the leaves wither and fall off, and without treatment the yucca may die. In stores specializing in house plants, you can easily find a product called Actellik, which will help get rid of this scourge.
2. The symptoms of tick infestation are similar, as is the treatment; in addition, it is necessary to increase the level of air humidity, since ticks only grow in rooms with a dry climate.
3. Aphids are difficult to control, so insecticides are used. Together with them, you can wipe the leaves of the plant with a solution with the addition of ordinary laundry soap.

Yucca and family environment

The plant requires moderate humidity and constant temperature, and this will benefit the other inhabitants of the apartment. You will never forget to maintain a healthy microclimate in the apartment, and if it ceases to be healthy, the palm tree will tell you about it with its appearance so that you can take action in time.

Now you know how home plant– Yucca is just a godsend. Keeping it at home is a pleasure; in addition to all the advantages described in the article, such as unpretentiousness, minimal required care, it also looks very beautiful and impressive and is part of the interior of the apartment.

Yucca, thanks to its exotic appearance, has firmly taken its “place in the sun” not only in gardens, but also in indoor floriculture.

For its long spear-shaped leaves it is called the “Spanish dagger”, “Adam’s needle”.

About 40 species of yucca are known.

The most popular for growing indoors are:

Yucca aloefolia– a tree-like plant, in natural conditions reaching 4-6 m in height. The leaves are hard, sharp-serrated along the edges, up to 45 cm long, dark green in color with a bluish bloom;

yucca elephant- in nature, this is a branching tree up to 8-10 m high. It got its name for its thick trunk, reminiscent of an elephant’s leg. The leaves are light green in color and have spines at the ends, leathery to the touch. A peculiarity of this species is the direction of the leaves in the rosette: the lower ones are drooping, and the upper ones are directed upwards.

These species have a pronounced trunk, topped with a “cap” of long leaves. For such appearance they are often called false palm. Despite their subtropical origin, yuccas are unpretentious; they are quite easy to grow at home, subject to simple maintenance rules.

Yucca: care at home - soil, lighting, temperature and humidity

The soil

The soil for growing yucca must be loose and permeable, because... This plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture. It can be prepared from equal volumes of turf soil, humus, coarse sand (fraction more than 3 mm) or perlite. It wouldn’t hurt to add pumice (slag), pebbles or crushed stone, and charcoal (1:1:1) to it. There are no strict requirements for soil acidity: yuccas grow well in the pH range of 5.6-7.5. If it is not possible to select components for the soil mixture, then you can buy ready-made soil for growing yucca, for example, from the Seliger-Agro series, Gardens of Babylon, Biud, Flower Paradise, Botanist's Dream, etc.

Lighting

For good development, yucca needs bright lighting, especially for young plants. However, to avoid leaf burns, it must be shaded during the midday hours from direct sunlight. The optimal placement would be on windows facing western or eastern directions. In winter, to achieve the required 16-hour daylight hours, you can use additional illumination with daylight phytolamps. In summer, the yucca can be taken out into the open air, providing it with diffused light and protecting it from precipitation.

Air temperature and humidity

During the warm season optimal temperature air for keeping yucca will be +20-25oC. If the plant is on the south side, it may overheat. In this case, it must be moved to the shade to cool, and then sprayed with water. In autumn-winter, yucca should be provided with +8-12°C. At higher temperatures and lack of lighting, its shoots become very elongated, the leaves become smaller, lighter and droop.

Some types of yucca require spraying with warm water, which is carried out before sunrise or after sunset. Otherwise, sunburn may occur on the leaves. To increase air humidity, the pot can be placed in a container with wet expanded clay, gravel, or moss.

Yucca: home care - propagation, transplantation

Reproduction

At home, yucca is propagated by seeds and vegetatively.

From seeds Growing a “Spanish dagger” is much easier than getting these seeds: firstly, when kept indoors, the false palm blooms very rarely, and secondly, it does not set fruit (except for Yucca aloelia) in the absence of its symbiont pollinator - the yucca moth. Yucca seeds have a rather long germination time (from a month to a year), so to speed up this process they need to be scarified - rub each seed emery cloth. Sow the seeds in a bowl with a mixture of turf soil and sand and place it in a greenhouse. You can keep the seeds in a moistened material (sponge, cotton pad, gauze, etc.) until they hatch. For seed germination, it is necessary to maintain an air temperature of +18-24 ° C and periodically ventilate. The emergence of seedlings from seeds sown immediately into the ground can take from a month to a year. After a pair of true leaves grow, the seedlings are planted in separate cups. Young plants must be replanted annually.

Simpler and quick way propagate yucca - rooting cuttings. It is good to combine this with planned pruning of an overgrown plant, which is done before the active growing season begins. The top of the yucca is cut off with a sharp, disinfected knife, leaving a few lower leaves on the trunk (new shoots will subsequently grow from their axils). The sections are dried and treated with charcoal powder. The cut off “apical” cutting is rooted in water, adding activated carbon to it to prevent the development of putrefactive processes, or in a soil mixture. On the remaining trunk - the “stump” - dormant buds will begin to grow side shoots. They can be thinned out or left all to form a lush “cap” of leaves.

Rooting apical cuttings yuccas in the ground

You can grow yucca from pieces of trunk. You can buy them in flower shops or cut them yourself from an existing plant. It is also common to sell such yucca cuttings as gifts at southern resorts - a living “magnet” to remember the holiday. When purchasing this planting material you need to pay attention to its appearance: it should be elastic and juicy, without signs of drying out or wet rot, the upper and lower ends should be marked (the upper end is “sealed” with wax). Such cuttings are rooted in sand, vermiculite, or a mixture of peat and sand. The lower end is stuck into the prepared substrate and placed in a greenhouse. Rooting occurs at a temperature not lower than +20°C for 1-2 months.

If the purchased cutting does not have ends marked (it is not clear where is the top and where is the bottom), then in this case rooting carry out horizontally. The cuttings are placed on a moistened substrate, lightly pressed down and placed in a greenhouse or covered with glass. When sprouts with roots appear on the upper side of the cuttings, the stems are pulled out of the ground and divided into parts, each of which is planted in a separate pot.

Rooting yucca with pieces of the trunk: 3 – vertically (if the ends are marked), 4 – horizontally (if it is unclear where the upper and lower ends are)

Another way to propagate yucca is air layering. This method can be used if the plant dies from overwatering. To do this, a strip of bark in the form of a ring 5-15 mm wide is cut off on the trunk, at a distance of at least 60 cm from the crown. The wound should be wrapped with sphagnum moss and a film on top, leaving a small hole in the upper part for further moistening of the moss. This binding is left on the yucca until roots appear and develop (3-4 weeks). Then the rooted top of the plant is cut off a couple of centimeters below the place where the bark was removed, and, after processing the cut, it is planted in a pot.

Rooting by air layering

Transfer

Young plants need to be replanted annually, and adults every 2-4 years. It is better to do it in the spring. Healthy specimens are simply transferred (without destroying the earthen ball) into a new pot with a drainage layer of 3-4 cm. This method allows you to reduce trauma to the root system to a minimum and shorten the adaptation period. If the roots of the yucca begin to rot, then they must be freed from the old soil and the rotten parts must be cut out. After this, the plant is transplanted into a fresh substrate and not fed for a month. It is necessary to replant yucca purchased in a store (after 2 weeks of adaptation to a new place), because The soil in the transport pot is not suitable for long-term growing of plants.

The new pot is selected so that its diameter is 2-3 cm larger than the size of the old container.

Yucca: care at home - feeding and watering

Watering

The frequency of watering a false palm tree depends on factors such as the size of the plant, the size and material of the pot, soil properties, temperature and humidity. In the warm season, yucca is watered abundantly, and the soil in the pot should dry out at least 5 cm deep between waterings. It is important not to allow moisture to stagnate in the soil, otherwise the root system will rot and the plant will die. In winter the strait is reduced.

Feeding

Fertilizing begins in the spring at intervals of 2-3 weeks and continues throughout the entire active growing season. Taking into account the fact that at home yucca blooms very rarely, it is optimal for it to use fertilizers for ornamental leafy plants or special ones for palm trees (Absolut, Pokon, Garden of Miracles, Biopon, Zdraven turbo, Stimovit, Florovit). When foliar feeding, the leaves from the underside are sprayed with a solution of mineral fertilizers.

Why does yucca die?

Most often, yucca dies from improper care. Excessive soil moisture leads to rotting of the root system and trunk: the leaves droop, softened and dark spots appear on the trunk, the bark peels off or swells. In this case, if there are healthy areas left, you can try to save the plant (by rooting the crown or parts of the trunk).

Yucca may shed some of its leaves when transplanted or when conditions change. This is a completely normal plant reaction to stress. If massive leaf fall occurs, the cause may be hypothermia or drafts.

Yellowing and falling of leaves occurs due to the following reasons:

Natural process aging;

Waterlogging of the soil;

Hypothermia.

With a lack of lighting, yucca leaves turn pale and droop.

Browning of the tips and edges of the leaves indicates low air humidity in the room or poor watering.

Frequent spraying, low temperature and high air humidity, excess watering and nitrogen lead to the development of fungal and bacterial diseases. Common ones are:

cercospora- characteristic development of brown spots on the leaves, which increase over time;

brown spot caused by the fungus Coniothyrium concentricum. The main symptom of this disease is small, colorless spots on old leaves. As the disease progresses, the spots turn yellow and then turn brown. In the center of them the black mycelium of the fungus develops;

marginal necrosis appears most often on old yucca leaves. The edges of the leaf blades become yellow-brown, subsequently these areas die off;

fusarium rot caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium. The leaves begin to rot at the base. The pathogen persists in the soil for a long time and is easily transmitted by contact;

bacterial rot the lower part of the plant is affected. The development of the disease is accompanied by a putrid fishy smell. It cannot be treated; the affected yucca will have to be thrown away;

white rot is provoked by Sclerotium fungi, which most often affect the lower leaves: they become colorless and watery, with high humidity is formed on them white mold. The disease manifests itself acutely at low air temperatures or during sudden changes and high humidity.

If you suspect fungal disease the plant must be treated with a fungicide solution (Topaz, Vitaros, Fundazol, Ridomil Gold, Previkur), and the affected parts must be removed. In some cases, treatment does not bring positive results and it is better to throw away the plant along with the soil.

Yucca - beautiful plant with lush, long leaves. Scientists have proven that the tree belongs to plants of the Agave family. However, recently some flower gardeners believed that yucca was a lily plant. Amateurs still call yucca a palm tree, even though it has nothing to do with it.

Yucca is native to areas of Central America and Mexico where it is not rainy. There are approximately thirty plant species in total. In the wild, the tree can grow up to twelve meters tall. In a house or apartment, yucca grows no higher than two meters.

This noble tree will serve as an excellent decoration for a spacious office or apartment. An interesting fact is that the plant does not bloom in captivity. In the wild, yucca produces large white flowers. By setting up a flower garden in a warm place in winter, it is possible that small flowers will appear on the tree, but this rarely happens.

Interestingly, the first denim material was made from yucca flowers, which is why the plant is often called the denim tree.

Features of caring for homemade yucca palm

At home, flower growers grow varieties of trees that are accustomed in nature to dry climatic conditions and the scorching sun. Such varieties tolerate temperature changes well, are not picky about the composition of the soil, and are not afraid of dry air. And yet, the seemingly hardy plant has weaknesses.

Lighting, temperature and humidity

In nature, yucca loves the sun. In an isolated room, the flower does not tolerate extreme heat. The best temperature is 24-26C above zero. In winter, the tree needs coolness, so the thermometer should not rise above +20C.

Do not place a yucca plant that is too large on the floor if it does not fit on the windowsill. Arrange a small table for it right next to the window so that the tree can receive light all day long. Since it is difficult to find the right place for yucca in winter, it is important to protect it from the hot air of the radiator and add lighting using LED or fluorescent lamps.

The plant loves humidity. Make sure that it is not below 40%, otherwise the yucca will have to be sprayed twice a day.

Watering and spraying

The frequency of watering when caring for yucca at home depends on a number of factors. This includes the volume and material of the flowerpot, plant size, humidity, air temperature.

In summer the flower is watered a lot. Large tree at a temperature of +17-19C, water once a week. It is preferable to use distilled or settled water. From late autumn to early spring, watering is reduced to prevent the roots from rotting. Improper watering will affect the leaves of the plant in the future.

If we talk about spraying, then yucca does not need it. Sometimes the leaves are washed in the shower to remove dust. In this case, you must ensure that water does not get inside the outlet. After the shower, the plant is dried before being placed in the sun. This is done to avoid burns.

Soil and fertilizing

Fertilize your home palm tree once every 3 weeks in spring and summer during intensive growth. You can buy fertilizer at any store.

Remember, you cannot fertilize the plant after replanting until it gets used to its new home. It is also better to refrain from feeding if the tree is sick. In winter, yucca is not fertilized.

How to replant yucca at home: step-by-step instructions

In order for the tree to be large and developed, it is necessary to replant on time. There are no special requirements in this matter, but it is still recommended to adhere to certain rules. The plant can be replanted all year round, however, the optimal season for such manipulations is in the spring.

The roots are playing important role in flower development. Therefore, they must be treated with care. If you disturb one of the root processes, the risk of yucca disease will increase or it will take a long time to get used to the new place.

Before transplanting the plant, you need to study the step-by-step instructions:

• The new pot for the tree should be slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the roots.
• must be made of durable material (ceramics, plastic).
• The depth of the yucca pot should be 2 times the size of the internal diameter.
• The bottom of the pot must be lined with drainage. Sometimes it is replaced with river stones, crushed bricks, expanded clay, and gravel. After this, the pot is filled with soil. If the old soil is not depleted, it can be reused.
• There should be no air bubbles inside the flowerpot.
• After transplantation, the yucca is not watered for 2 days.

When choosing soil, give preference to a mixture of peat with a neutral water balance. If you prepare the soil yourself, then you need to mix coarse sand with peat turf or leaf soil. If the yucca is young, add a little humus to the mixture.

Difficulties of growing a domestic palm tree

As with all houseplants, caring for and growing yucca at home can be difficult. What do flower gardens face, and what are the ways to solve problems with palm trees?

Yucca leaves curl up

If the house is cold, the leaves of the plant will begin to curl. Remember, perhaps you ventilated the room or forgot to close the window? Solving the issue of drafts and lighting will help cope with the disease. You can also feed the plant.

If the edges of the leaves begin to dry out, check the humidity of the room and read again about the rules of watering.

The leaves began to lighten greatly, turn yellow, or turn almost white at the base, and the palm tree was driven uphill? Pay attention to the lighting in the room; perhaps the flower feels a lack of light.

Yucca leaves are actively falling

If a tree's leaves are falling off, then the problem lies in the tree's moisture. Learn all the rules of watering. If the roots have not yet died, the plant will eventually return to its previous appearance.

The trunk becomes soft and bends, the leaves wither

If the yucca leaves have not yet completely drooped, turned yellow or blackened, you should try to revive the plant by removing the affected tissue. If one trunk has rotted, cut it off. If the trunk of the plant has become soft and the leaves have turned black, becoming a gray-dirty color, the tree can be thrown out along with the soil.

To restore the plant from wilting, remove it from the pot and soak it in a fungicide, after removing the rotten roots. After the procedure, it is recommended to replant the tree in fresh soil and not water it for several days.

Yucca pests

The most famous plant pests are:

1. . Settles under leaves. Because of the insect, the leaves turn yellow and white spots appear on their surface. Damaged yucca leaves wither and fall off. The insect starts in rooms where the air is dry.

To combat the plant, spray and wipe the leaves with Actellik.

Popular types of yucca for home cultivation, photos and descriptions

As we already mentioned, there are 30 species of this extraordinary plant. Numerous photographs on the Internet speak for themselves. Below we will look at some types of yucca for growing and caring for at home, captivating with their beauty.

Elephant yucca is the most popular among flower growers. In wild places, the plant is characterized by a powerful stem, respectable height, leaves up to 75 cm long and 5-8 cm wide. In a room, a palm tree of this species grows up to 1.5 m tall.

Blue yucca is a plant without stems. The length of its leaves, colorfully colored in a bluish-green hue with a dark frame and curly threads along the edge, reaches 70 cm.

Aloe yucca is a perennial tree with a straight trunk. The leaves are elliptic-lanceolate, up to 55 cm long, arranged in a spiral. Olive color.

Filamentous yucca is a plant with almost no stem. It grows horizontally due to the special structure of the root ridges. The roots of the flower are deep, which is why they make this type of yucca the most resistant to wintering. Can withstand severe frosts down to -20C. The leaves reach a length of 70 cm and are green.

Yucca is hardy perennial. Caring for yucca at home is not a troublesome task. Thanks to its leaves and bright colors, the tree will become an irresistible object in the home interior. With a little effort, you can have the same miracle of nature in your home.