How To Propagate Yucca? 5 Easy Ways
Propagation by Seeds
Propagation by seeds is a very popular method and highly successful for plants in Yucca family. Seeds can be kept up to 5 years in dry storage and even longer if frozen. Once the seed are out of storage or freshly gathered it germinate within 1-3 weeks of sowing.
To propagate yuccas, put seeds in flat dish and cover lightly with cactus-type soil. Keep moderate watering and avoid over-moist to prevent seedlings from rotting. Partial or indirect sun is required until plants mature. Most yucca species grow faster if the soil temperature is above 80°F.
It takes up to 5 months for yucca seedlings to grow young leaves in full. Yuccas become mature with thick adult leaves and established root system in 1-3 years and begin to bloom in 5-7 years.
Transplanting
Yucca seedlings tolerate transplanting well when very small. However, it’s better to grow them together for at least 2 months while they are developing strong roots. After first transplanting, seedlings grow fast and require often transplanting to develop steady growth. Young plants should be able to handle full sun after reaching 5-6 inches in height and growing in separate pots.
Vegetative Propagation
Vegetative propagation of many yuccas is an important method in plant cultivation. There are several vegetative approaches can be used depending on the species. The most popular technique for yucca family is the removal of offshoots.
Offshoots
There are some species of yucca family developing new pups from root buds. They are known as offshoots and look like baby plants.
Offshoots can be removed at any time from parent plant by digging around the pup and carefully pulling until the offshoot comes free. The small plant must have their own rhizome established by the time they grow greenish leaves. Baby yucca pups can be potted directly into sand mixture. In Yucca gloriosa and Yucca elephantipes newly developed plants can be propagated from the stem.
While growing near original yucca plant, offshoots becoming asymmetrical or bent by other pups. This imperfection will be corrected quickly after planting it individually.
Cuttings
Transplanting stem cuttings is another easy method of vegetative propagation. Cuttings should be taken during the growing season and set in sand mix until roots appear. Root formation can last 2-3 months. Moderate moist is required to prevent rotting.
Stem cuttings can be cut with leaves also. All you need to do is remove bottom leaves and plant the stem as described before. This method is great when using in humid climates but less successful for yucca plant in dry areas.
For trunked yuccas, baby plants grow at the base of trunk and can be used for plantings as stem cuttings.
Bulbils
Bulbils are tiny bulbs settled on the axillary buds between leaf and stem. They are mini copies of parent plant. Bulbil formation is common for Yucca elata and can be removed at any time before falling on the ground for developing root system. Although small plant grow much faster if they have at least 4-5 leaves before pruning. For better results, try to use the largest and the healthiest bulbils for propagation.
Place the bulbils in sand mixture with shaded and semi-moist area. New plants set roots very fast during couple of weeks and ready for planting to pots after 6-8 weeks when they have roots established and doubled their height.