During the period of my work as a landscape designer, I have gained enough experience to competently advise this or that plant.
There are specific plants that are rarely used for landscaping gardens, but there are universal plants that fit well into any landscape. It is such a universal plant that I consider the garden yucca - I will tell you about planting and caring for it in the article.
Yucca - tree shrub, which belongs to agave. The leaves of the plant have a characteristic structure: they are very coarse, elongated, xiphoid. The leaves are arranged in a circle, in the middle of which a flower rosette is formed. Photo of the plant on the site.
The color of the foliage has a bluish or calm green tint. In the center is a peduncle: rather large, with pinkish or white flowers.
Yucca flowers are very beautiful - they look like large bells and are located on the plant in multiples. After flying around the flowers, an achene fruit is formed in their place. From 80 to 170 flowers bloom per season on one plant.
Views
About 30 types of yucca have been discovered by modern science. Among them there are real giants, growing more than 10 meters in height, there are also compact herbaceous bushes. Most species can only grow in southern or tropical climates, so in Russia yucca is represented by only two varieties:
- gray;
- filamentous.
Let's talk more about these types.
Filamentous
Of the two varieties presented, this one is more popular. In addition, on the basis of filamentous yucca, many interesting and very decorative varieties plants.
This plant has practically no stem. The rosette is located almost flush with the soil, surrounded by large, hard leaves sticking out in different directions. Very similar to the fan of a palm tree, only without a trunk.
Yucca filamentous blooms: flowers are lush, cream-white, multiple. The shape of a yucca flower resembles a bell.
Sizaya
Outwardly resembles the previous variety. However, its leaves are narrower and longer, resembling needles in shape. The foliage is faded, as if faded, a little bluish.
Peduncles are tall, covered with yellowish tender bells. Externally flowering plant resembles a candle - very beautiful, decorative. Flowering can be seen in the second part of the summer season.
Landing
Let's consider the main features of rooting.
Hardening
It is undesirable to plant a plant on the garden right away. It is recommended to harden the yucca first to allow the plant to adapt.
To do this, the yucca is taken out for a while outside, making the procedure longer every day.
Seat selection
We recommend choosing a bright area in the garden, on a hill for the yucca. It is undesirable to plant a plant in the shade and in the lowlands, since in such conditions the decorativeness of the yucca suffers greatly. With a lack of light, the yucca foliage is strongly stretched, and in variegated varieties it turns pale.
Yucca can grow without any problems in the sun itself - where more delicate garden plants cannot be. Therefore, if there is such an unused area in your garden, feel free to plant a yucca there - and the landscape will be transformed.
The site should be protected from drafts - the southern plant does not like cool breezes. In addition, the fragile peduncles of the yucca break from strong gusts.
The soil
The soil on the site should be loose and not too clayey. Calcareous, chernozem, sandy and stony soils are best suited for this plant.
Dense, clay soil in this case will not work. But if the soil in your area is clay, you can make it looser by adding sand, peat.
Garden Yucca does not like excessive waterlogging. Therefore, it is undesirable to plant it in places with a close occurrence of groundwater. In a low-lying area, it is recommended to raise the yucca flower bed.
Temperature
The plant will feel good without sudden temperature changes, in conditions of stability. Optimum temperature for the cultivation of garden yucca, the range is from +15 to +22 degrees. However, yucca is able to withstand temperatures up to +35 degrees and very dry air.
Site and pit preparation, planting
If the plant is young, a small hole is pulled out, but with a margin. If the plant is three years old, the parameters of the deepening should be from 70 to 100 cm on one side. A hole is dug 40-50 cm deep into the hole.
Plot for spring planting it is necessary to start cooking in the fall. At the bottom of the dug hole, a drainage layer of coarse gravel and two handfuls of wood ash are poured.
It is better to land in May, since by this time average daily temperature reaches +10 degrees in most regions. The plant is placed in a hole, its roots must be straightened and sprinkled carefully with soil.
Important: the root collar of the plant should be flush with the edge of the groove.
Water the plant and cover the root circle with dry soil. The measure will help keep the soil moist for a longer period, as well as rid the yucca of weeds.
Follow-up care
We will learn how to care for a yucca in the garden.
Watering
Moistening the soil is necessary regularly, but not too often. The plant does not tolerate an excess of moisture. Therefore, it is recommended to water only if the upper soil layer is thoroughly dry.
You can also spray the leaves if the weather is too dry. Perform this procedure in the evening or in the morning to avoid damaging the leaves.
Loosening, mulching
After watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil in the garden bed to make the soil more permeable. At the same time, remove the weeds that have appeared. Keep in mind that yucca will grow much worse in dense and weedy soil. Mulch so that moisture evaporates less. Sawdust and foliage are used as mulch.
Top dressing
Additional feeding is carried out twice during the growing season. Mineral complexes for succulents should be used.
The first time feeding is applied at the beginning of the growing season in May, the second time after the yucca has bloomed.
Transfer
If the yucca is already for a long time grows in the same bed, she needs a transplant. A change of place of residence has a beneficial effect on the growth and flowering of the plant.
Usually transplanted after 3-4 years of growth in one place. It is undesirable to carry out the procedure more often. To understand that the time has come, you can external appearance plants: the leaves turn pale, the rosette becomes wrinkled.
Plant the plant in a place that is similar in terms of conditions to the old one. It is recommended to perform the procedure either in the spring or late summer. It is necessary to dig it out extremely carefully so that the roots do not suffer.
Why doesn't it bloom after transplanting? Because the flowering of the plant after this procedure occurs only in the next growing season.
Wintering
The plant is quite frost-resistant, despite its southern origin. Without shelter, yucca can withstand short-term frosts down to -25 degrees. But if in your region frosts in winter fall lower, for example, in the Moscow region, you should prepare the plant for wintering more carefully.
Interestingly, even if the yucca freezes over, it still survives. The plant may not bloom this year due to freezing of flower buds, but next year it will fully recover.
Prepared for wintering around the end of October. The leaves are tied together with twine, thus covering the flower rosette from freezing and snow ingress.
Then the root zone is mulched organic materials: peat, foliage, humus. For the south, this is enough, but in colder regions the shelter of a yucca for the winter should also include burlap and agrofibre thrown over it.
Reproduction
At home, garden yucca is usually propagated vegetatively. You can also use seeds, however, this method is much more troublesome and time-consuming.
Vegetative reproduction involves the following options:
- dividing the bush;
- grafting.
Dividing the bush
This is a simple method that is usually used during the next transplant. Only an adult yucca can be divided. The best time for the procedure is spring: late April-May.
The procedure involves cutting the plant into several parts and then planting each of the parts in a new separate place.
Cuttings
The method is also quite simple and can be used at any time. For cuttings, only healthy, strong shoots are used, and preferably the apical ones. We recommend to carry out the procedure in the spring.
It is necessary to cut the escape under acute angle and treat the cut site with a fungicide solution. Then dry the stalk a little and plant it in the ground, insulating it on top with polyethylene. The cutting takes root in about 20 days.
So, we learned what the garden yucca is, and also how to care for it. This wonderful shrub can add an exotic touch to any garden landscape. Growing yucca is easy - even a beginner can handle it. And the unique appearance of the plant and its unpretentiousness will appeal to absolutely everyone.
02.12.2016
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Garden yucca - gardeners' secrets you did not know about!
Unusually beautiful garden yucca is found in summer cottages and household plots quite often, but many gardeners do not dare to acquire a flower in the country, citing a lack of growing experience. In fact, caring for the plant is not demanding, and it reproduces easily. You can't do without nuances, but good advice, described in the article below, will allow you to find out why yucca does not bloom, how transplanting and pruning occurs, as well as the basics of planting and care ...
Content:
Planting yucca in open ground
Yucca is an unpretentious plant, quite hardy, easily tolerates drought and heat. However, a flower defect is excessive moisture in the soil, which can lead to the development of rot on the roots and provoke the appearance of various diseases, in some cases the death of the entire plant.
For planting yucca, they choose sunny places, away from vigorous trees and shrubs, which can not only create shade, but also take food, preventing them from developing and blooming fully. You should not plant garden yucca in the lowlands, places where water accumulates. An incorrectly chosen place is reflected in the external state - the leaves fade, become less dense, the trunk stretches too upward, as a result of which the yucca looks untidy.
When is the best time to plant yucca, fall or spring? The most best time - spring, when the earth warms up and the threat of frost passes. Before planting on the street, the flower can be grown at home in a pot or greenhouse, but then the plant must be hardened before planting in the ground so that it does not die. Within 7-10 days, the yucca is gradually taken out into the street, taming it to natural conditions and increasing the time spent in the open air.
Plant yucca in autumn, especially in middle lane Russia, in Leningrad region, Moscow and Moscow region, also in the Urals and Siberia is not recommended due to climatic features. Unpredictable weather may not allow plants to grow stronger until winter, so it's best not to risk it and postpone the transplant until spring.
flowering yucca garden - pictured
Composition of soil for yucca by by and large it can be anything, the flower takes root everywhere, but it will grow well in fertile land with a large supply of nutrients. Dig a hole about twice the size of the yucca root system, add drainage to the bottom (if the soil is heavy and clayey). Add sand to the ground for more looseness and breathability. Set the seedling in an upright position, cover with soil mixture, without deepening the plant.
At the same time, make sure that the yucca does not stick out of the ground after planting, plant flush with the ground. Watering the yucca after planting in open ground is required, pour a bucket under the plant or more water if necessary. Moisture should saturate the soil well to the very roots, so irrigate in small doses, gradually spending the required amount of liquid.
Yucca garden care
To save the plant after planting in the ground, you need to monitor watering, do not flood the flower, irrigate as needed during dry periods. After planting, do not cut off wilted leaves from the yucca. It is due to the fact that two- and three-year-old yucca seedlings can release a peduncle and begin to bloom. If you cut it right after transplanting, you will not see flowering. Usually yucca begins to bloom from the third year of life, a refined long stem with beautiful snow-white flowers resembling bells.
yucca in winter - pictured 
yucca hibernates without shelter - pictured
It should be noted that if roses, other flowers prone to aphid invasion are grown nearby on the site, then the rose garden must also be sprayed. On summer cottages and household plots except folk remedies in the fight against insects on garden yucca, fungicidal and biological products - Biotlin, Fitoverm, Entobacterin, Intavir, Karate, etc.
It is advisable to loosen the soil under the flower, removing weeds and breaking the earth crust for better oxygen access to the roots.
Transplanting a young yucca at the age of two or three years to a new place is possible if necessary. How to transplant a yucca? Water the plant so that when digging up the roots do not come off, but together with a clod of earth they come out under the bayonet of a shovel. Yucca can be transplanted throughout the growing season, in spring, summer and even autumn (only in the southern regions and in the Kuban). Fertilization of the flower after transplanting is not carried out for the first 30 days, so as not to burn the roots.
Yucca feeding is carried out once a year in early springas a rule, mineral complexes are also used. It is advisable to loosen the soil under the flower, removing weeds and breaking the earth crust for better oxygen access to the roots.
Yucca is relatively winter-hardy, so sometimes it hibernates without shelter even in the Moscow region. It is advisable to cover in the winter, using any covering material available (agrospan, spunbond, film, etc.), the root zone can be mulched with humus, peat, leaf litter (preferably oak, as it does not melt).
Yucca breeding
In most cases, the reproduction of yucca is carried out by lateral suckers (layering), by dividing the root, less often by seeds. Adult plant at good care can produce a significant number of daughter rosettes that can be found under the bush near the base of the growth. You need to take seedlings that have already developed a root system so that rooting goes well and the plants take root in a new place.
reproduction of yucca - pictured
To plant a yucca garden division rhizomes, in the spring, cuttings 7-10 cm long should be prepared from the rhizomes. Before planting the petiole, it is better to sprinkle with crushed coal, leave for 4-5 hours to dry, then plant in nutritious soil to a depth of 10-12 cm, water. After about 18-21 days, the first shoots will begin to show.
Yucca propagation by seeds is similar to the propagation technology indoor flower of this type. To grow yucca from seeds, only fresh seed is taken, which is soaked in water until it swells at room temperature. Sowing is carried out in March or April in a nutritious soil mixture, deepening the seeds by 1.5-2 cm.
The container with crops is covered plastic wrap, glass and put away in warm place... After about 28-30 days, the first shoots will begin to appear. The film is removed, the pots with yucca are placed in the light, a week later they dive into separate pots. Transplanting yucca grown from seeds into open ground is carried out after 12-16 months.
Yucca pruning for beauty and rejuvenation
Yucca pruning is carried out in order to rejuvenate the plant and obtain new growth. To awaken the dormant lateral buds, in early spring, after the snow melts, the main stem is cut off, stimulating the development of lateral buds, from which new rosettes will develop in the future. If there is no need to grow new shoots, the plant wintered well, only bad and dry leaves are removed.
Yucca is very decorative when it grows in one stem. With proper care, the height of the peduncle exceeds 1.5 m, the number of beautiful large flowers can reach 250 pieces per plant. Before subjecting a culture to a haircut, think about whether it is really necessary to resort to this procedure.
Usually, the yucca is pruned after flowering, removing faded stems and bad foliage. To make the plant decorative, the leaves are not completely cut off, retreating a distance of 3-5 cm from the trunk, so the trimmed yucca will not look naked, the trunk will seem to be in scales. Even in winter, yucca in the snow decorates the garden, becoming a bright element in the landscape design of your site.
Garden yucca belongs to the agave family. It reaches a height of 45 to 190 cm. The color of a perennial can be snow-white, cream and yellow. The flowering period is long: from May to July. America is considered his homeland. IN natural conditions the culture grows in the tropics and subtropics. The genus contains shrubs, semi-shrubs and trees. Some species can live up to 8 centuries. Externally, the garden plantation is similar to a palm tree, for which it is often called a false palm.
The plant is based on a shortened stem, some species do not have it at all. In giants, the stem transforms into a trunk. The root system is fragile, reaching 75 cm in length. The color of the leaves depends on the species and variety, they can be green, gray or gray. Their shape is lanceolate, linear, the ends are decorated with pointed spines. The flowers are massive, about 9 cm in diameter. Collecting in inflorescences, they form a large, aromatic formation up to 190 cm in length. The fruit is a capsule with black seeds. Certain species produce berries that are edible and have a sweet taste.
Use in landscape design
Any type of yucca will help add exotic and originality to landscape design. It is great for group and single landings. Any relief can serve as a background:
- mown lawn;
- open lawn;
- rocky area ().
The garden planting harmoniously fits into, rabatki and monoclumba.
Yucca will do well with the role of the centerpiece on personal plot... It is also used for landscaping parks and squares. IN recent times it is regaining its former popularity. Thanks to her picturesque appearance and unpretentiousness, she regains her leadership positions in and.
Besides decorative function the plant still fights against soil erosion and corrosion, it is planted on slopes and sandy soils.
Combination with other plants
Shrub species create a luxurious composition with many decorative, flowering flora. Refined, serene beauty is complemented by:
- poppies;
When choosing neighbors, it is worth considering the agricultural requirements of yucca for moderate watering, even on hot days.
Plant propagation
Seeds
This method is used in March. The temperate climate favorably affects the maturation of the planting material. Once collected, they do not need to be dried or stored. Can be planted immediately. For this, a special substrate is used. You can buy it at a specialty store or make your own. To do this, you need to take in equal parts leaf and sod soil, river sand, previously sifted.
The seeds are small, so there is no need to deepen them into the ground, they can penetrate a thick layer of earth. It is enough to evenly distribute them over the soil surface, sprinkle thin layer sand and spray with water. After that, the container is covered with a film or glass, leaving it in a bright, dry room. The first shoots will appear in 4 weeks. After that, the shelter can be removed.
As soon as the first true leaf appears on the young growth, they can be dived into separate containers. It is best of all in peat cups so as not to damage the fragile root system... They are transferred to the open ground after the formation of 4 leaves.
By cuttings
May be held in April. To prepare planting material the upper fragment is cut from the stem, along with part of the foliage. Before planting, the cutting must be dried in a dry, warm room. Rooted in containers filled with sand or peat. In order for the root system to form faster, the box is regularly sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle. It is transferred to open ground in June.
Garden stem
A popular and effective way. Using a sharp knife, cut off part of the stem. The most suitable part is located 2 cm above the root collar. Before planting, it is dried. Transfer to the ground in a horizontal position. The planting pit is filled with sand or perlite. Before sprouts appear, the stem is regularly moistened.
The appearance of roots is a signal for separation. The stem is divided into a certain number of seedlings, each must have a part of the root.
By dividing the bush
This method is chosen by inexperienced gardeners because of its simplicity. In mid-April, a healthy, mature shrub suitable for division is dug around. Carefully removing them from the soil, separate the "children" from it. This is almost always a large number. Each should have a part of the root and shoots.
Planting and leaving
Site selection and soil preparation
In regions with long winters, only 10 types of yucca are used that can tolerate harmlessly low temperatures... But when choosing a site for planting, do not forget where these exotic perennials come from. The place should be open, sunny and free of stagnant soil, and melt water... A long-lived culture is capable of pleasing with its decorative appearance for more than 20 years.
Gardening is not demanding on the soil... But the most beneficial are nutritious ones. If there is no such on the site, you can prepare and add a nutrient mixture to the planting pit. It consists in equal parts of sand, humus peat and the upper layer of soil. Checking the acidity level is mandatory. It should not exceed mark 7.
The size of the hole is of great importance when landing. It should be much larger than the root, it grows rapidly. Each planting hole is provided with a good drainage layer of small stones, pebbles or brick debris.
Mulching is carried out after each feeding and watering. Small wood shavings are used.
Watering and feeding
Moderate hydration is required. From its overabundance, culture can die. With a lack, decorativeness and flowering decrease. Watering is recommended when the upper layers of the soil from the previous one are completely dry. Wrapped leaves serve as a signal that the plant is sorely lacking in water. If it is directed vertically, there is no need for watering. Water is not poured into the core, but only the root zone is moistened.
The first fertilizer is added to the soil at planting. Used by full range of minerals... Subsequently, fertilizing is carried out if necessary, 1, less often 2 times during the growing season. A working infusion of chicken or cow dung is used.
Pests and diseases
Scabbard is a common pest of yucca
Most often, the false palm is attacked scale insects, spider mites and slugs... To combat them, special chemicals - fungicides. For prevention, the leaves are treated with vodka twice a day.
Pruning and preparing for winter
Low wilted leaves should not be cut. This can lead to late flowering or none at all. Pruning is carried out in the spring. Do not be afraid to cut off the stem; instead, new outlets will begin to actively develop. So the plant rejuvenates and heals.
Perennial tolerates frost well. But additional insulation not prevent. Gardeners cover the plant and cover it on top wooden box... The land around is covered with spruce branches or dry leaves. A thick layer of snow will help to transfer the winter. As soon as temperature regime will increase steadily and the risk of repeated frosts will be avoided, you can get rid of the structure.
Improve and plant trees country cottage area a plant that looks like a tropical palm tree - yucca will help in an unusual and original way. Exotic shrubs are called "garden palm" or "tree of happiness", and many gardeners and summer residents are sure that yucca brings happiness and good luck to its owners.
How whimsical is the plant, can it grow and multiply in the local climate and how can it be used? Let's try to figure everything out in order.
Yucca - exotic in the garden
Yucca is a very effective and ornamental plant of the Agave family. It is a perennial tree-like shrub with a slightly branched (sometimes branched) stem. There are varieties of yucca, in which the stem is very small, it is practically invisible, and the leaves rise in a bunch above the ground.
Yucca is especially beautiful during the flowering period - the inflorescences are erect and rather long (about 200 cm) grow from the very center of the leaf rosette. The flowers are white, and in shape they resemble ordinary bells, but larger (the size of the flower is about 7 cm long).
Yucca grows very quickly and in the first year the plant reaches 1.5 meters (the height of an adult plant is about three meters).
Yucca is often used in the creation of flower beds, in the general garden composition and as a single decoration of the site. Yucca may well become a central element in landscape design, it will look great as a tapeworm in a park glade or a green lawn.
Yucca is also used for the "edge" garden trees, planting in a group of 3-6 plants of the same species.
If the conditions of the garden allow (good lighting), then you can arrange the paths and paths with yucca - this will give softness and bring an atmosphere of comfort to the suburban area.
Yucca looks very exotic and is able to diversify and revive any garden plot, but it must be borne in mind that not all types of yucca can grow in open ground and delight with beautiful green foliage and abundant flowering.
The healing properties of yucca
Research has shown that yucca contains antioxidants, chlorophyll, enzymes and other beneficial substances. Medicines based on yucca, they lower cholesterol levels, increase the body's resistance to diseases and help get rid of polyps in the intestines.
Yucca has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system, helps cleanse the body from harmful substances and increases blood pressure.
Yucca leaves are also used in dermatology. Decoctions are prepared from it for external use in such skin diseases as lichen planus, neurodermatitis, eczema, psoriasis.
The extract from yucca fibers and flowers is used in cosmetology - it is part of creams and shampoos
The large, fleshy leaves of the plant contain anthraquinones and steroid saponin, thanks to which yucca is used in the synthesis of hormonal drugs that have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects.
Yucca root is widely used (especially in the USA) in the treatment of arthritis and bursitis. Positive effect achieved due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the plant (reduces swelling) and the presence of saponins (prevents the formation of new cartilage).
The root vegetable contains poisonous glycosides, so you cannot use the root without pretreatment. Processing involves drying, steeping and fermentation
What types of yucca can be grown outdoors
The genus Yucca includes about 40 species of perennial tree-like plants that came from the subtropics of North America.
Yucca can be grown at home or grown outdoors, depending on the type and variety of the selected plant. For planting yucca on garden plot the following plant varieties are commonly used:
- filamentous yucca;
- yucca gray;
- yucca elephant.
Yucca Filamentous grows successfully in our climatic conditions - able to withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -20 degrees. It is most popular among summer residents and gardeners - due to its beautiful appearance and relative simplicity in care.
The leaves of yucca filamentous have a xiphoid shape (length - 30-60 cm, width - 3-10 cm), slightly bent at the top, and the edges of the leaf are framed with dense protruding threads. In August-September, the plant blooms. Peduncle in the form of a branched panicle (height - up to 2.5 m), on which there are white cupped flowers (length - about 7 cm). The stem is practically absent - characteristic feature filamentous yucca. Planting and leaving involves following a number of rules:
- the soil for planting should not be clayey;
- the place for growing yucca is sunny;
- for the winter, the plant needs shelter.
Yucca Sizaya has a short trunk, grayish-green leaves with light edges (up to 90 cm long, 1-2 cm wide) are collected in a bunch. Inflorescences are racemose, narrow and small-branched. The flowers are yellowish or greenish-white. Gray Yucca tolerates drought well and may well grow on sands. Yucca can be planted on a slope where water cannot linger, but will flow down. When growing yucca with dove, it is important to remember that waterlogging and partial shade can cause the death of the plant.
Gray yucca, like filamentous yucca, is frost-resistant, therefore it can often be found in the gardens and parks of Russia and Ukraine.
Yucca Elephant more demanding on weather conditions and does not tolerate frosts, therefore this species is more common in the south of the country. The plant has a wide trunk, which in an adult yucca resembles an elephant's leg. The shiny, xiphoid leaves are light green in color and grow mainly in the upper part of the trunk. From the bottom of the trunk, the leaves gradually fall off (a natural process) and the trunk is covered with numerous scars.
In summer, the elephant yucca blooms with white flowers. Bellflower flowers grow at the very top of the plant and are collected in individual inflorescences.
Planting yucca in the garden
Before planting yucca in open ground, it must be hardened. To do this, within one to two weeks, the plant must be regularly taken out into the street, increasing the time spent in the fresh air.
Ideal for a garden yucca - the sunniest, hottest place on the site. It's good if this place is located on a hill. For planting, the area near which there are groundwater - yucca does not tolerate waterlogging.
It is necessary to plant a young plant in the spring, when the air temperature averages about 20 degrees during the day, and about 10 degrees at night.
The hole for planting yucca must be prepared in advance, in the fall. The size of the hole should be larger than the root system of the plant itself.
As drainage, sand or coarse gravel can be laid on the bottom of the pit. It is necessary to sprinkle the drainage layer with ash a little, plant the yucca in the ground, gently sprinkle the roots with earth, pressing with your hands. After that, the flower needs to be watered a little.
When choosing the composition of the soil for planting a plant, it should be borne in mind that yucca does not tolerate acidic soils (the maximum permissible soil acidity is 7.5 pH). Chernozems, sandy, clay-stony and calcareous soils are suitable for her.
Features of garden yucca care
Gardeners and summer residents, planning to plant a "garden palm" in the country, think about the peculiarities of yucca cultivation. Care and reproduction will not require special effortsyou just need to know some of the features of this tropical plant.
watering and feeding yucca
Since yucca does not tolerate dampness, it should be watered only as needed. You should not water the yucca as soon as the soil has become slightly damp - you must wait until the top layer of the soil is completely dry.
However, if the leaves of the plant have begun to wilt or dry out a little, then they can be moistened with a spray bottle. It is better to do this early in the morning or in the evening, when the sun is not so active.
During the period of active growth (spring), yucca needs fertilization. As a top dressing, liquid humus or compost is suitable, as well as complex mineral fertilizers for succulents. Foliar dressing can be carried out by spraying the lower leaves of the plant with solutions of complex fertilizers.
transplanting "garden palm"
To preserve the beauty and flowering of the "garden palm", it is necessary to periodically transplant the yucca. Care, transplantation and relocation of the yucca in the garden should be carried out in accordance with the rules:
shelter yucca for the winter
Despite the fact that garden yuccas are frost-resistant, it is still better to insulate them. Because plants can calmly withstand only short-term frosts, and a prolonged decrease in temperature can affect the flowering of yucca or even lead to its death.
Young plants are especially in need of insulation, which must be covered for the first two years.
In dry weather (late October - early November), the spreading leaves of the "garden palm" must be collected in a bunch and carefully tied (from bottom to top). A couple of layers of lower leaves can be left on the surface of the earth - they will become additional protection from soil freezing.
The base of the yucca can be covered with a thick layer of leaves and boards or sticks can be laid on them (to make it heavier, so that it does not blow off in strong winds).
You can cover the bush with plastic or pour a layer of earth (15-20 cm high) around the base of the yucca.
After winter, with the appearance of young leaves, old, yellowed leaves can be cut off, thus renewing the plant. It is necessary to release the bound yucca leaves after winter in cloudy weather or in the evening.
diseases and pests of yucca
Like any garden plant, yucca is susceptible to disease and attack. various pests... After wintering or in high humidity, yucca leaves may become stained. yellow color... This can also be observed in plants with a significant increase in air temperature or a prolonged lack of sufficient sunlight. Some gardeners are trying to change the situation by illuminating the plant with a special lamp.
Among the most common pests that attack garden yuccas are scale insects and slugs.
The first sign of appearance on the plant scabbards - Yucca leaves are covered with brown plaques. Effective folk method the fight against it is daily rubbing the affected leaves with a cotton swab moistened with water, and weekly rubbing (once a week) - with a cotton swab dipped in vodka.
If the garden yucca is attacked slugs, then the plant must be treated with insecticides.
Among other pests, there is false shield, which spreads on both sides of the leaf and leads to a slowdown in the growth of yucca. Measures to combat false shield consist in spraying yucca with actellik (for 0.5 liters of water - 10 drops) and wiping the leaf plates with the prepared solution.
On the underside of the sheet they can settle spider mites ... The color of the leaves loses its brightness, becoming pale green with yellowness. Whitish spots can form on the leaves, and over time, the leaves die off. Diseased leaves should be sprayed with a systemic insecticide or derris.
Yucca breeding methods
Reproduction of yucca is possible in a vegetative and seed way. IN natural conditions there is a cross-pollination of the plant, in which the main role will be played by a moth butterfly from the pronuba genus. The butterfly transfers pollen from flower to flower, laying eggs on plants. The developing seeds are quite enough for feeding the butterfly caterpillars and for the further reproduction of the yucca.
Unfortunately, in our area, such a butterfly does not live and reproduction of yucca by seed is unlikely. Some summer residents try to pollinate a flower artificially - a lump of pollen is taken from the stamens of one flower and transferred to the pistil of another flower. However, this pollination method is ineffective as the probability of pollination is low.
Usually garden yucca is propagated by stem cuttings or by dividing a bush.
Let's consider in stages how to root yucca by cuttings:
- It is necessary to cut off the side rosettes with a stem with a sharp knife. Some of the leaves below can be removed.
- The cut should be slightly dried and sprinkled with charcoal powder.
- The leaves on the stem can be partially shortened.
- Prepared cuttings must be planted in a greenhouse (planting depth - 3-4 cm) under glass or film. As a substrate for cuttings, you can use vermiculite, sand or sand and peat mixture.
- Avoid direct sunlight into the greenhouse.
- Rooted plants are left under the film for the winter, insulating them with leaves on top.
Cuttings should be carried out in the first half of summer, so that the cuttings have time to take root before the onset of cold weather
The success of growing yucca on a personal plot depends a lot on the right choice type of plant, good location and compliance elementary rules to care for her. Blooming yucca will harmoniously fit into almost any landscape design and may well become the central attraction of the garden.
Yucca is a fairly popular indoor and garden plant in our climatic zone.
Although this palm tree is native to the hot tropics, it can withstand frost well enough, without the need for significant insulation for winter period.
Therefore, garden yucca is actively used to create unique landscape designs on their personal plots.
Preparing to plant a yucca
It is better to plant garden yucca in open ground in spring or summer, when the minimum night temperature exceeds 7 degrees, so that the plant has time to form a root system by winter.
This flower is quite unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but it achieves the best decorative effect when it grows in soil with an acidity of less than 7.5 pH and large quantity sand and humus. The ideal composition of the soil for planting yucca is the following: sod land, humus, sand and compost in equal parts.
For planting garden yucca, give preference to a better well-lit place located on a hill on a site. This is necessary to avoid waterlogging of the root system, since this part of the plant is the most vulnerable. Remember that planting a yucca in an area that is too shady can kill it.
Yucca garden - planting
Before planting in open ground, the plant must be hardened; for this, take it out in a pot in the open air for two weeks, gradually increasing the time of its stay outdoors every day.
Garden yucca, when planted in closed or open ground, needs to create a drainage layer. For this purpose, fine pebbles, coarse sand, pumice, chipped brick are well suited, wood chips, coarse perlite and coarse peat. When planting yucca in a flower pot, you can use a special drainage that absorbs moisture, which is sold in flower shops.
Planting stages:
Dig a hole in the chosen place so that its size is about twice the diameter of the root ball of the plant.
Place a drainage layer at the bottom of the pit.
Carefully dump the plant into the hole and sprinkle it with earth without deepening its neck (the base of the trunk should be at ground level), and then compact the soil around a little.
Water the yucca abundantly immediately after planting and then mulch it with grass to reduce moisture evaporation.
Propagation by seeds of garden yucca
When propagated by yucca seeds, garden planting in open ground should be done only after 2 years. It is better to plant seeds in a container at the end of winter at room temperature from 18 to 25 degrees.
Yucca garden - care
Yucca is unpretentious plant, which is actually afraid only of waterlogging of the root system. Therefore, the flower should be watered in moderation, focusing on the appearance of the yucca and the complete drying of the topsoil. If its leaves have dropped down, and the leaf strings are drooping, then the plant does not have enough moisture, and it needs watering. When the leaves wilt, they can be sprayed with water in the morning or evening, when the sun is least active.
This plant periodically needs feeding, especially during the period of active growth in the spring. Any mineral fertilizers, compost or liquid humus are well suited for this purpose. For foliar feeding the lower leaves of the palm should be sprayed generously.
For the early flowering of yucca garden care the habitual can be replaced with shock therapy. To do this, you need to keep the plant in a dark room with a temperature not higher than +5 degrees for 10-14 days, and then place it in a light warm sunny place... In order for the yucca to bloom faster, you should not allow cutting of yellowed leaves!
Indoor garden yucca is quite unpretentious in care. In the summer, it is better to take the plant out to the balcony, as it loves sunlight and open air. Watering should be moderate and timely.
Yucca garden: transplant
Garden yucca in the open field can grow in one place for about 20 years, while indoor plant needs a transplant once every 2 years.
Transplant rules:
Transplant yucca better in spring or in summer;
Soak the roots in water for one hour before planting, and after planting, water them abundantly;
Special attention should be given to a powerful root system, trying not to injure it when the plant is thrown out of the pot;
After transplanting, the plant cannot be fed for two weeks;
The planter should be 3 cm larger than the root ball diameter;
After transplanting, the yucca must be placed away from drafts.
Warming yucca for the winter
Despite the fact that yucca is a frost-resistant plant, it is better to insulate it for the winter, especially in the first years after planting in open ground. To do this, follow these steps:
1. In autumn, collect dry yucca leaves in a bunch, tying them along the entire length.
2. Cover the plant with dry leaves around the trunk, and place boards or earth on top. This is necessary so that the leaves are not blown away by the wind.
3. Cover the crown of the yucca with plastic in the shape of a cone and carefully tie it with twine or any other rope.
4. Yellowed old leaves can be removed in spring.
Reproduction of yucca garden
Yucca propagation in our climatic zone occurs by grafting or dividing the bush. For propagation by stem cuttings, you must perform the following steps:
With a sharp knife cut off the side rosette of the yucca with the stem;
Remove the lower leaves so that all the forces of the plant are directed to creating the root system;
The fresh cut should be dried and sprinkled with charcoal;
Plant the resulting cuttings in a closed light greenhouse, burying 3-4 cm in the ground. Do not allow the soil to dry out.
Pests and diseases of yucca garden
The main prevention in maintaining immunity to plant diseases is the right choice of growing place and proper care for the garden yucca. But despite this, in rare cases, the flower can still be exposed to pests.
The main enemy of the yucca is shield, after which the plant becomes covered with plaques brown color... To combat this pest, palm leaves are daily wiped with a damp cloth or cotton wool, and once a week they are treated with vodka. For destruction slugsthat can appear on the yucca that grows in the personal plot, insecticidal preparations are used.
The colorless spots that appear on old leaves and turn brown over time are a disease called "Spotting"... The fungal environment affects the plant due to an excess of moisture. To combat this scourge, the plant should be treated with a fugnicide and watering should be done moderately.
Rot yucca can also be caused by waterlogging and excessive shade of the plant. When damaged, the entire crown of the plant suffers, the leaves of which are gradually affected by rot. In this case, you need to act immediately, otherwise the yucca will die. First, remove all damaged areas of the plant, and then treat it with a fungicidal preparation, if necessary, repeat these steps.
Cercosporosis - oval or other brown spots that can grow in size over time. Excess moisture is also the cause of the disease. Control measures: elimination of affected leaves, treatment with fugicide and reduction of humidity in the room.
White rot - a serious disease of yucca garden. Plant infection occurs through the soil and is associated with an excess of nitrogenous fertilizers in it, waterlogging or lack of light. At first, palm leaves become colorless and then watery. The lower leaves of the crown are especially strongly affected, and the disease is acutely manifested when the temperature drops to +15 degrees.
If damaged by this fungus, all affected plant tissues must be removed with the capture of healthy areas and wiped with an antiseptic. Then treatment with Fundazol or Rovral should be carried out. If these measures are not effective, the yucca must be completely removed from the soil, dried a little and checked the integrity of the root system, and then transplanted into new soil with a low nitrogen content.
Marginal necrosis - a disease characterized by the appearance of a gray-brown tint on the edges of old leaves. The onset of necrosis most often provokes high humidity Wednesday. To combat this disease, the affected areas of the leaves are removed and the plant is treated with Ridomil.