When you’re starting to miss the smell of the sea and sand in between your toes, there’s no better indoor plant than the Yucca to bring some beach vibes into your home. This widely popular plants are native to hot and dry parts of the Americas and the Caribbean. They are a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae.
They have a reputation for being a low-maintenance plant, they’re also considered as one of the top air purifying indoor plants. The produce creamy white and pink flowers.
They are slow grower and extremely drought tolerant. Their growth is so slow that it will take years before they reach their mature size. Because of this, you’ll only need to repot them every 2-3 years. .
So how easy is it to take care of this plant? Let’s find out!
Caring for a Yucca
Given that they’re being cared for in the right conditions, they’re not really that hard to grow. In fact, the thrive better on a little bit of neglect opposed to getting attention 24/7. The only way to kill a Yucca is by giving it too much love via overwatering. If you notice that the stems are getting soggy, it’s a sign that you’ve given them too much water.
As a young plant, some varieties start off as spiky shrubs, somewhat similar to that of a spider plant. As it grows older, it will typically lose their lower leaves and you’ll be left with a tree-like appearance.
Light
These plants are native to one of the hottest and driest parts of the earth. Much like most cacti and succulents, these plants do best under full sunlight. However, they can also do well under bright indirect light. So the best places to put them are at a west facing window, the balcony or even your front door.
If the Yucca isn’t getting enough light, it will have fewer flower and thinner growth. If you prefer to keep your plants in a small size, you can grow them in the shade as it slows their growth.
Water
If you’re not careful, this plant is prone to overwatering. They are highly sensitive to waterlogging and would prefer to be watered when their soil is completely dry. Since these plants are known to be drought-tolerant, you can forget about them for a couple of weeks. Don’t leave it to dry for too long as it may attract plants
Always check the soil first before watering and discard the accumulated water in the catcher plate. If you let this plant sit in water for too long, you’ll leave them at risk to root rot. For extra precautionary measures, you can put them in a porous container like concrete or clay pots. They can absorb extra moisture and allow air to flow through which can help in drying the soil faster.
Temperature and Humidity
Being the dessert plant that they are, the Yucca plants have adapted well to a dry and hot habitat so they can survive just fine in most indoor temperature conditions. They thrive better in moderately humid conditions but they can do just fine with lower levels of humidity. It’s not suggestible to mist your Yucca plant as it may attract pest and fungal spores that may end up causing your plant to get sick.
Pests
These plants are pest-resistant so you don’t have to worry about them anytime soon. However, Mealy bugs scales may still plague this plant but you can easily fix this with a cotton bud dipped in alcohol or spray it with a neem oil solution.
Potting
The Yucca plant is easy to grow, and easy to root so even a cutting may grow in any beautiful pot of your choice. Since the plant grows vertically, it's much better to pot it in a tall pot for proper support and balance.
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Toxicity
The Yucca plant is considered toxic as they contains steroidal saponins in their leaves. When ingested in large enough quantities, the chemicals can cause intestinal irritation and central nervous system. This plant has a bitter taste so it’s less likely for your pets to eat in dangerous quantities.
However, if you suspect that your furry friends has been munching on their leaves, here are some symptoms that you’ll have to look out for:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Muscular Incoordination
If you find your pets experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to bring them to their nearest vet.
These plants aren’t listed to toxic to humans, however, some varieties of yucca plants have sharp spines that may cause skin irritation and may require medical attentions. If you have children around, it’s best to position them somewhere that kids won’t be able to reach them. You can also teach your kids not to touch the plant unsupervised.
Additional Tips
Wipe off the Dust on Your Yucca’s Leaves
As with many plants with large foliage, take some time to wipe off any dust on your Yucca’s leaf. This will allow their leaves to receive more light for photosynthesis.
Prune the Trunk
If you find that your Yucca plant is becoming too tall or too big, it’s time to give it a good pruning. All you have to do is to carefully remove it from its pot and determine which part of the Yucca plant you want to cut. After doing so, repot the bottom, rooted end from the trunk and water well.
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