The perennial yucca tree is part of the Agave family. This genus unites about 40 species that are naturally found in the subtropical zone of North America. In the homeland of such a plant, it is used in various fields. From cut flowers, juice is extracted with a high sugar content. Strong fibers are made from filamentous yucca, they were used to make the first jeans, and then cotton replaced them. However, even today in the United States, yucca is added to the fabric used to make jeans, making it stronger and more durable. In addition, yucca fibers are used to make rope and paper.
Yucca is an evergreen plant with a low stem, which may have little or no branching. When grown at home, the tree is recommended to be placed in a hall or a large room, because it can reach a height of about four meters. Such a plant looks very similar to a false palm tree. It should be borne in mind that flowering is observed only in an adult yucca, during which white flowers appear outwardly similar to bells. Such a plant is often used as a decoration for a large room, while those bushes that have several points of growth (branching trunk) are of the greatest value.
Light
Needs bright diffused light.
Temperature
In the spring-summer period, the plant feels comfortable at a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees (68-77 F), in autumn and winter, the room should not be warmer than 12 degrees (54 F).
Watering
Immediately after the top layer of the substrate in the pot has dried to a depth of 50 mm, the plant is watered abundantly.
Air humidity
Air humidity requirements depend on the type of yucca. Some species need systematic moistening from a pultilizer in a regular warm shower, and it is also recommended to pour moistened expanded clay into the pallet. However, some of the species grow under normal air humidity typical of living rooms.
Fertilizers
In the spring-summer period, feeding is carried out 1 time in 15–20 days. For this, a mineral complex fertilizer is used in half the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. The seamy surface of the leaf plates is moistened with a nutrient solution.
Transplantation
It is carried out only if necessary after the root system becomes very cramped in the pot. This procedure is best carried out in the spring, while in the summer it is transplanted only when absolutely necessary. It is not recommended to replant very large bushes, but they need to replace the top layer of the substrate in the container every year.
Soil
The substrate should be neutral with a pH of 6.0–6.5. If possible, then it is better to buy a ready-made soil mixture for yucca, while adding 30 percent of the sand (of the total volume) to it.
Reproduction
Trunk sections, cuttings and seed method. Harmful insects. Whiteflies, spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs.
Diseases
If the plant is improperly looked after or not provided with suitable conditions for growth, then its foliage may lose its decorative effect.
When grown indoors, yucca should be provided with very bright lighting, since it is photophilous. However, despite this, the flower should be shaded from the direct rays of the sun, especially if it stands near south-facing windows. If natural lighting is too scarce, then the bush should be illuminated for at least 16 hours a day with fluorescent lamps. In the warm season, if desired, the yucca can be transferred to the street, while for it you need to choose a place that will be protected from direct sunlight, as well as from rain. If in the summer it is in the room, then it should be systematically and quite often ventilated.
In the spring-summer period, watering should be abundant, it is carried out immediately after the top layer of the soil mixture dries out to a depth of about 50 mm. If the weather is hot in summer, then watering should be more frequent, but still between them, the surface of the soil mixture should have time to dry out. If the yucca is cool, then the amount of watering is reduced, otherwise liquid will stagnate in the soil mixture, which will cause rot on the plant, and this can lead to its death.
Some yucca species when grown at home must be systematically moistened from a sprayer. To do this, use boiled water at room temperature. To maintain high air humidity, moistened pebbles or gravel can be poured into the pallet. When wetting the bush, it should be protected from direct sunlight, otherwise burns may form on its surface.
