Winter yucca palm: when, how & where?

The beautiful exotic needs special protection in winter. Everything you need to know about wintering yucca palms is explained in this article.

Yucca palms (Yucca), often also called palm lilies, are extremely popular house plants with us. What is less well known, however, is that some types of yucca can also overwinter outdoors. But no matter whether in the house or in the garden - the right protection is important so that the palm trees can survive the winter well. Therefore, in this article, you will learn whether the yucca palm is hardy, when it starts to get too cold and how to properly overwinter the yucca indoors and outdoors.

In this country, the yucca palm is a sought-after houseplant that often ensures a good indoor climate in living rooms or offices. No wonder, since the palm tree is considered to be easy to care for and robust and can reach impressive sizes of up to five meters in height. But the palm lily not only cuts a fine figure as a houseplant. Yucca palms can also be grown outdoors - not only in pots, but even in the garden bed. But palm trees in our garden - is that even possible? That's fine! If a few tips and tricks for the right winter storage are taken into account, you too can enjoy snow-covered palm trees in the wintry garden.

Is the yucca palm hardy?

To understand whether the yucca palm is hardy or not, it is first necessary to consider that there are around 50 different yucca species worldwide. Of course, not all of these have the same claims and characteristics. The yucca originally comes from dry to desert-like areas of the American continent. So you might think that the palm tree prefers to be warm all year round. But that is only partly true. Hardy and frost-tolerant species can be found among the yucca palms. A total of around ten Yucca species are considered hardy. We have briefly summarized below which of these are particularly suitable for cultivation in our home gardens.

Hardy Yucca PalmTypes at a glance:

• Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata): Hardiness down to -25 °C
• Blue-green yucca (Yucca glauca): Frost tolerance down to -18 °C
• Yucca Filament (Yucca filamentosa): Minimum temperature is -25 °C
• Candle Yucca (Yucca gloriosa): Frost tolerance down to -20 °C
• Short-leaf yucca (Yucca brevifolia): Frost tolerance down to -20 °C
• Soapwood Yucca (Yucca elata): Hardy to -20 °C

Apart from these, the other yucca species are not hardy and must therefore be overwintered indoors. So that you can be sure which yucca palm you are dealing with, it is best to pay attention to the exact species and variety of the plant when you buy it.

When does the yucca get too cold?

Even though most yucca palms are indoor plants, they too enjoy a summer outdoors. The fresh air and the higher incidence of light are good for indoor plants. But if the temperatures drop below 20 °C, it's time to bring the yucca indoors. Of course, the situation is different with the outdoor yuccas. Depending on the species, they tolerate temperatures down to -25 °C and can therefore spend the whole winter outdoors.

Summary: When does the yucca get too cold?

• Room yucca: temperatures below 20 °C
• Yucca in the bed: -18 °C to -25 °C
• Yucca in a pot outdoors: -18 °C to -25 °C

Winter yucca palms indoors or outdoors?

So whether your yucca palm should be wintered outside or inside depends on the species. Varieties that are not hardy must definitely be overwintered indoors. Hardy species in beds will survive the winter outdoors with the right protection. For actually hardy species in the pot, it depends on the age of the plant. If the plant is younger than three years, overwintering indoors is recommended. After three years, the plant will eventually be big enough to survive the winter outside in a pot.
How to overwinter yucca trees outdoors, whether in beds or pots, and indoor plants , you will now find out in detail in the next section.

Winter yucca palm outside in the bed

In order to prepare the yucca palm for winter in good time, stop fertilizing in the fall. The last fertilizationshould take place at the end of July, at the latest at the beginning of August.

The biggest challenge when overwintering palm trees in the garden is moisture. The yucca originally comes from desert areas and therefore finds it difficult to cope with the increased humidity in winter. That's why moisture protection is the most important thing. If the palm tree is still young, it may be advisable to provide it with a small canopy for the winter. It is important that the air can circulate sufficiently despite the roof. Alternatively, you can also tie the tuft of palm together with some raffia. In this way, the sensitive heart of the palm is protected from moisture and frost. Young plants can be additionally secured by wrapping fleece or a jute sack around the palm. Here again, good moisture protection is absolutely necessary so that moisture does not accumulate in the material. To protect the roots from frost, spread a layer of mulch at least 20 centimeters thick around the plant. Bark mulch, leaves or fir branches are suitable for this. Your palm will survive the winter unscathed. It is important that you remove the antifreeze quickly after the last frost, otherwise too much water can collect on the roots and in the palm tuft.

Overwintering the yucca palm in the bed:

• Last fertilization: July/August
• Install moisture protection
• Or tie palm tufts together
• Protect with fleece or jute bag if necessary
• Apply mulch layer
• Winter out early after the last frost

Tip: If, despite all protective measures, your yucca palm tree has suffered frost damage, all is not lost. As long as the roots have not been damaged, the yucca will sprout again.

Winter yucca palm outdoors in a pot

Even with yucca palms in pots, the most important thing is to protect them from too much moisture. The advantage of potted plants is their mobility. In autumn, therefore, place your yucca in a bucket in a sheltered place, such as a house wall, where it will also be partially protected from the rain. The second step is then to install a wet protection from below. This can be a wooden board or a plexiglass pane on which the pot is placed. Now the bucket is insulated by wrapping it several times with insulation material such as jute bags, coconut fibers or bubble wrap. This will prevent the roots in the bucket from freezing to death.Finally, cover the substrate in the tub with a layer of mulch at least 20 centimeters thick.
When winter is over and no more frost is to be expected, it is also important to remove the frost protection from the potted plant in good time.

Overwinter the yucca palm outside in a pot - in short:

• Move to a sheltered spot in autumn
• Provide moisture protection from below
• Insulate Bucket
• Cover substrate with mulch layer
• Winter out early after the last frost

Winter yucca palm indoors

Palm lilies in the room should first be prepared for the winter by stopping the fertilization. The last application of fertilizer is therefore in October. From November, the plant can then move to its winter quarters. Although the yucca palm could also hibernate in a warm living room, a cooler place is better, because the palm feels most comfortable in winter at temperatures between 5 and 10°C. Another important factor is light. The winter quarters should be as bright as possible, but not exposed to the blazing sun. Yellowed lower leaves indicate a lack of light.

A humidity of 50 to 60 percent is ideal for overwintering. If your air is dry, you can also occasionally (not too often) spray your yucca with water. The watering decreases in winter. You should definitely avoid too much moisture, otherwise the roots could rot. Therefore, before watering, it is better to check the substrate with your finger and determine the moisture. Leaves turning yellow and later turning brown can indicate either too much or too little moisture.

You shouldn't fertilize at all in winter. The room in which the plant is located should be ventilated from time to time. It is also crucial to regularly check the palm for pests. Especially when the conditions for hibernation are not optimal, the yucca is particularly susceptible to this. Spider mites (Tetranychidae) and scale insects (Coccoidea) then often plague yucca palms. In order to be able to react in time and fight the pests, regular checks are essential.

If the winter is over, the plant can move back to its original place in the home or office in spring. It can also be used at temperatures above 20°Clike to be put outside again.

Step-by-step instructions: wintering the yucca palm indoors:

1. Last fertilization in October
2. Put in a bright and cool room from November
3. Ideal temperature: 5 - 10 °C
4. Humidity 50 - 60%
5. Alternatively spray from time to time
6. Water moderately
7. Do not fertilize
8. Airing now and then
9. Regular pest control

Caring for Yucca Palm Trees After Winter

If your yucca palm survived the cold season well, it will receive more light and warmth in spring so that it can grow undisturbed. You can read all about the proper care of yucca palms here.

You can remove frozen and dried-up plant parts in the spring. Spring is also a good time to repot the palm tree if necessary. In the spring it is time to increase the watering again, but you should still not overdo it and remember that the yucca is a desert plant. From spring onwards, the yucca is again supplied with nutrients every three weeks. An organic liquid fertilizer is best suited for this. Our Plantura Citrus & Mediterranean liquid fertilizer releases its nutrients gently and is therefore the best choice for your yucca palm.

Summary: How to care for yucca palm after winter?

• Remove frozen or dried plant parts
• Possibly repotting
• Pour more again
• Start fertilizing again

If you want to learn more about overwintering palm trees, you can find everything about overwintering palm trees in general or overwintering hemp palm trees in our article here.