The yucca palm is an integral part of every living room. We have put together all the information about the popular house palm for you.
Yuccas (Yucca) (also known as palm lilies) are reliable indoor plants that thrive in your own four walls with little effort. Despite its misleading name, the palm-like plant is not actually a palm tree, but an agave plant (Agavoideae). In this article, we will tell you how to successfully care for, propagate and cut your yucca in your own home.
Yucca palm: origin and characteristics
The plant, originally from the deserts of Central and North America, has found its way into our homes and is very popular because of its exotic appearance. The giant palm lily (Yucca elephantipes) is particularly common in living rooms. But in addition to indoor plants, there are also a number of yucca species that are also suitable for outdoor cultivation in Germany and survive the cold winter in this country. All species are characterized by their pointed and hard leaves, which emerge from the center of the plant like spikes. Because of this, careful handling of the prickly agave plants is required.
Is the yucca palm poisonous?
There are always myths about the toxicity of yuccas that are not easy to answer. At least one thing can be said: the palm-like plants contain so-called saponins, which are secondary plant substances that can lead to stomach and digestive problems, especially in babies and pets. How poisonous yucca palms really are cannot be fully clarified. Another aspect, however, is the risk of injury from the sharp-edged leaves of the plant.
Note the following aspects of yucca palms:
- Leaves and stem contain saponins
- Potential to cause discomfort in babies and pets
- Injuries can occur from sharp-edged leaves
For more information on this topic, see our article “Is the yucca palm poisonous?”.
Buy yucca palms: what to look out for when buying
The first step in getting a yucca palm indoor or outdoor is buying the right plant. In general, it is advisable not to buy the yucca in the supermarket, despite the low prices, as there is often a lack of quality there. Instead, use specimens from nurseries or a garden center. In any case, a preliminary check on plant he alth is important. He althy yucca palms should be a rich, green color, but depending on the species, it's normal for the leaves to droop.
Yucca palm: Which location is best?
Usually, yuccas are kept indoors as a normal houseplant. In this case, you should always pay attention to a bright location in the house, ideally place the plant near the window. Cool temperatures in the house during the winter usually don't bother the exotic plants much. However, only a few people know that some species of the agave family can also grow outdoors in our country, which is why we present the optimal garden location below.
The Yucca Palm Tree Outside
As a desert plant, yuccas also bring a southern flair to the garden, which can even be maintained during the winter. Several species such as the thready palm lily (Yucca filamentosa) or the candle palm lily (Yucca gloriosa) are hardy and can therefore be cultivated in our country for a long time. These species can also impress outdoors with their large, white bud sites. Due to their sunny origins, the following applies to both the ground-level scaly palm and the higher candle palm: the plant needs a full sun, sheltered from the wind and a warm place if it is cultivated outside. For example, the south side of the house wall or a wall is ideal for this.
Yucca palm: The right soil
The right substrate is an important factor for the yucca, as the greatest damage is caused by too much water. Yucca - whether outdoors or in pots - do not tolerate waterlogging and therefore thrive best on loose and nutrient-rich substrate. The earth should alwaysbe permeable, so in pot culture a drainage layer of expanded clay is a good idea at the bottom of the container. If the substrate is too compacted, mixing in sand can help.
These aspects need to be considered when choosing the right location:
- As a houseplant: brighter choice of location
- Outdoors: full sun, sheltered from the wind and warm (south side)
- Porous and nutrient-rich soil
Caring for Yucca Palms: Professional Tips
Yucca palms are considered to be very easy to care for, which makes them particularly popular as houseplants. However, some points should also be considered with the agave plant.
Watering the Yucca Palm Properly
Yuccas are very sensitive to excessive amounts of water, so in principle less than too much should be poured. You should still water it from time to time so that the plant does not sit dry all the time. When cultivating in pots, always make sure that not too much water collects on the saucer.
Fertilize the Yucca Palm Properly
The following applies to the nutrient supply of the palm-like plants: Outdoors, the slight incorporation of compost annually is completely sufficient, with pot culture additional nutrients should be added due to the limited soil volume. A first step is to change the substrate about every two years. As an ecological method, nettle manure is also a great fertilizer, but should always be diluted with water. Use tap water rather than rainwater as it contains more of the lime that is important for yuccas.
Yucca Palm: Common Diseases and Pests
If handled properly, a yucca palm usually does not face any major problems, as these are often caused by overwatering. Nevertheless, in some cases diseases and pests can settle in, which you should definitely get rid of. These include fungal diseases such as mildew or animal pests such as spider mites. While the latter feel particularly comfortable in dry air, fungal diseases and rot are favored by excessive (air) humidity. For more detailed information on Yucca diseases, click here.
Caring for Yucca Palms: What can go wrong?
The leaves of the agave plant may change from time to time. We examine the reasons and what you can do about it.
Yucca palm has yellow leaves
One of the most commonProblem is the discoloration of the leaves to a yellowish tone. In most cases, the reason for this is excessive humidity or an oversupply of water, to which the plant is sensitive. If you can rule this out as a cause, a lack of light may be an option. The discolored leaves in the upper part of the plant are always a sign of improper care.
Yucca palm: leaves have brown tips
Brown tips on the elongated leaves, like a yellowish discoloration, can indicate an oversupply of water. On the other hand, strong sunlight or very dry air in winter (e.g. next to the heater) can result in sunburn or dehydration. Especially with the yucca as a houseplant, pay attention to a bright but not too sun-exposed place and only provide additional moisture in the air in winter.
Yucca Palm Losing Leaves
All of the care mistakes mentioned above can ultimately lead to the leaves falling off the plant if they are not corrected. Leaf fall can be particularly serious if additional parts of the plant become soft and rotten. This can either be due to waterlogging or a bacterial or fungal disease. In this case, remove the affected areas immediately.
But beware: If leaves fall off the lower part of the plant from time to time, this is usually a natural process, as the trunk is growing and new leaves are formed on the crown become.
Discolored and falling leaves can indicate the following problems:
- Water supply too high/humidity too high
- Too little/much light
- Air too dry in winter
- Bacterial, fungal or viral infections
Cut Yucca Palm Tree
Palm lilies can grow very expansively with their prickly shape and tolerate pruning well. We show when and how to prune a yucca.
When is the best time to prune the Yucca Palm?
Yuccas sprout again after a short time if they are cut. It is therefore advisable to prune the plant in spring during the growing season, giving enough time until winter. In addition to cutting off parts of plants for reasons of space, thinning out is also possibleor cutting off diseased parts of the plant can be good for the yucca palm.
How to cut the yucca palm correctly?
Crooked and densely growing leaves can be easily removed at the base with sharp scissors to give the plant and you more light and space again. In addition to smaller cuts, the trunk can also be easily cut without causing major damage to the plant. Due to the thickness, use a saw to cut. Ideally, after cutting, the wound should be closed with tree wax to prevent infections and the plant from losing moisture.
Note: It is easy to injure yourself when pruning yucca palms due to the sharp-edged leaves. It is therefore always advisable to wear gloves when cutting.
Propagate Yucca Palm yourself
Yucca palms are excellent for growing new cuttings and offshoots. In this way, the desert plant can be propagated in a very short time, especially if it has to be cut anyway. Proceed as follows to take cuttings from yucca (with taller growth):
- Either cut off individual shoots or, if you are pruning the trunk harder, take part aside. Cuttings should only be cut from spring to early summer.
- Place the part of the plant in a growing medium made of soil and sand. Leaves should not be in the ground.
- Keep the soil moist, the pot should be in a sunny and warm spot.
- After a few weeks, new roots will form in the substrate and the yucca can be repotted.
By the way: In the case of low-growing species such as the dwarf palm lily, propagating the yucca by dividing is also a good idea.
You can find out more about the proper care of yucca palms here.