At this same time, offsets can be cut away, and replanted if desired. Yuccas (Yucca spp.) A yucca is a plant that complements a Southwestern look in your home or office. This is a good time to remove and discard any hard, unproductive stems or Now you’re ready to Yucca flaccida derives its species name from the fact that its leaves stand fairly limp (those on most yucca plants are rigid); it grows in zones 4 to 10. Sign up for our newsletter. If you want to produce offspring from your yucca, and you live outside the range of the only known pollinator, the yucca moth, you will either have to hand pollinate your yucca or propagate it with cuttings. Tamp the soil around the plant and water well. Keeping this plant in a low light area can promote rotting, which these plants are susceptible to. Top Tip: Yucca Plants prefer to be slightly rootbound in smaller pots so only repot every few years. 2. If you have shabby leaves at the bottom of your Yucca, pull them off that way you can expose more of the dramatic trunk. As with any plant, take care to keep the leaves of your yucca plant dust free for optimum health. Early spring This is best done during the dormant season. With the scissors, cut the leaves close to the base. For example, cutting back "Spanish bayonet" yucca plants (Yucca aloifolia, USDA zones 6 through 11) will result in new sprouts around the area of the cut, which will eventually need to be cut back as well. rotted roots from the parent plant. You can even use the cut-off portion of the trunk to propagate your plant (just be sure to mark which end is the top). Set the baby yucca plants aside to dry a few days before Suntrail . Cutting the top off of this yucca plant will encourage its root system to push up a whole crop of new yucca plants, called pups, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. You can even use the cut-off portion of the trunk to propagate your plant (just be sure to mark which end is the top). Prune the yucca plant in the late summer when it has finished blooming and the flowers are dead. is the best time for dividing yucca plants in most climates. If you can’t see the offshoots, you may need to dig up the entire 1. Can I divide yucca? Remove lower leaves as they turn brown. You can propagate Yucca via division, root cuttings, stem cuttings and seeds. For additional care for yucca you can also cut off blooms and leaves. There's no need to wait to prune after flowering. Cutting the top off of this yucca plant will encourage its root system to push up a whole crop of new yucca plants, called pups, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. In frost-prone areas tender yucca species can be grown in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. How to Care for a Yucca plant. Cut the flower stalk panicles off the tree after a few weeks of blooming if you live in a wet area. When these blemishes are found, it is best to remove any affected leaves and treat the plant with copper fungicide which can be purchased from most plant nurseries. This will leave a sparse trunk for a while, but new offsets should sprout from the cut point. You can either cut the stem at its half-way point or prune off the top of the plant by cutting about 4” (10 cm) below the leaves. Repotting larger yucca plants can be difficult, so larger plants can be refreshed with new potting soil by digging out the top two inches of the container and adding new soil. After attending Hardin Simmons University, Kay Dean finished her formal education with the Institute of Children's Literature. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. Yucca can be evergreen perennials, shrubs or trees, with dense or loose rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves and tall panicles of bell-shaped flowers. Cuts should be quick, clean and made at a slight angle. While the sap of some agaves is consumed, some plant saps can cause irritation upon contact. Transplant this shoot to a new sunny area. Step 2. When removin… Yucca plants are famed for their large, spiky leaves growing on the top of long, thick woody stems. The best time to prune is early October, that way you don’t have to wait too long for new foliage to reshoot. No new leaves emerge from the top of the plant and the leaves present will continue to photosynthesize light but eventually die and drop off. Yuccas produce a flower spire with many dangling panicles, which are individual flowers. You may need an extra set of hands. Make your cuts as close as possible to the yucca's trunk. You can cut any roots to the mother plant. Often they don't bleed either. You can direct the form and growth of these yucca plants by topping the trunk just above where you want new branches to sprout. At least 28 varieties of yucca (Yucca spp.) Be careful not to damage the yucca’s trunk. Read on to learn how to split a yucca. Once you’ve removed the offshoots, put the parent plant back planting. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! The plants form rosettes of spiky sword-like leaves from the center of which rises the flower spires. Removing the leaves or blooms can be done at any time of the year without damaging the plant, whether the bloom is old and dying or just starting to grow. Many yucca also do well as indoor houseplants. Outdoors, yucca plants planted in the ground need very little care and attention. As they have very sharp foliage ensure that you wear protective chain mail or very tough gloves when doing any pruning or removal of yucca plants as they can easily cut off a finger! To prevent cuts and scratches, wear heavy garden gloves. When caring for yucca plants, it is a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands from the sharp leaves. Yucca Plant Propagation. The trimming can be carried out all year but it is advantageously for the Yucca if it takes place during spring. However, this growth can sometimes be unpredictable. Dried out flower stalks that remain after the plant has bloomed can also be unattractive. Put on sturdy pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and gloves. One way of propagating yuccas is to cut the rhizomes with baby plants from the main root. around the base of the plant. easier if the ground is damp, but not muddy. Walls and foundations are no different than pots to a plant. soil. Remove the lower leaves then plant the cut end in a pot, putting it deep enough so the soil is just beneath the leaves. sharp enough to do real damage to bare skin. If the top of a yucca tree becomes too heavy with clusters of leaves that make it bend down, you can just cut the trunk halfway down. Spring, summer & early fall are the best times to propagate but you can do really do it any time if you need to. Many species of yucca plants are ideal ornamental plants for garden landscapes. Spikes that splay out at forehead level and below should be blunted to help minimize injuries. Since 1995, Dean has written for such publications as "PB&J," Disney’s "Family Fun," "ParentLife," "Living With Teenagers" and Thomas Nelson’s NY Times bestselling "Resolve." However, if you live in a climate with mild winters and As the yucca plant grows, it's necessary to thin it out by dividing it because the plant can begin to crowd itself with too many clumps packed closely together. Occasionally, leaves and blooms may start to look unsightly or discolored, especially toward the end of the growing season. The plant spacing for outdoor growth of yucca plants should be 18-24 inches, 24-35 inches, and 48 inches for small, medium, and large varieties respectively. Don’t attempt division when the soil is bone dry. The best time for reproduction of the Yucca is spring. Landscape yucca plants can grow too large for their area, which might require some judicious pruning, but cutting the top off of the yucca plant typically encourages new growth. Keep in mind that cutting the top off the yucca encourages the root system to push up new growth and more plants, called “pups” will appear. Dividing yuccas to control their growth works on the same principle. There are 40 species in the Yucca genus, all flowering plants, most occuring in the desert Southwest region of the United States. Turn them over and pound some more. You can peel the old, dead leaves off the plant and trim off the dried flower stalks, but beyond removing dead or diseased wood, do not prune or shear the yucca, advises the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association. Nell Yucca Plants are very top heavy and should always be set into a heavy clay or ceramic pot to prevent them from toppling over. Fortunately they don't break off in your skin and yet I swell up with a big welt that lasts a week. These all turned into mini yuccas and it is now growing well again. Ukslim . Now you’re ready to lift the entire clump. Justvera . I cut off the damaged top and removed the totally brown leaves and left it out in the garden. Reproduction. One should be careful while pruning the leaves, as they possess sharp edges. So, if you can wait till the clump is dry enough, you can just pull the whole rosette off without disturbing the rest of the plant or any new growths. Yuccas are members of the lily family with blooms of similar form but much different foliage. Either way, you will have two stem cuttings to use for yucca propagation . Whether you cut back the mature yucca is up to you. a sharp shovel or saw to remove the offsets from the main plant. It isn’t technically pruning, but you can cut off the leavesand blooms of your yucca plants as well. the trimmed bottom of a desert yucca plant. In frost-prone areas tender yucca species can be grown in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. especially for large varieties. If the roots are tangled, you may need to pry them apart. Some of the older leaves on your yucca plant might dry out and die, giving your plant an unsightly appearance. Choose an offshoot you would like to remove, dig a perimeter around it, and lift the shoot from below with a shovel. When the Yucca completes flowering cut the stalk all the way to the ground with a sharp pair of lopping shears. In a short time, the plant will produce new leaves. If your plant is getting too tall, you may cut the trunk from the bottom and re-pot. This results in nothing more than a fancy looking "log" or "stump" sticking out of the pot. Always use fresh potting soil. It is suitable for modern, Santa Fe or Mediterranean style houses and landscapes. in the hole. At this point, you can dig out offshoots (there will In the warmer parts of Australia, yucca cuttings can be taken almost anytime of the year. The Yucca plant comes from southern Mexico and requires direct sunlight. When a Yucca is cut off, it will generally form a new growth at the cut point, and sometimes more than one, resulting in a "fork," or branching. Cut off the lower leaves with a blade if you want to remove its "skirt. " The bottom leaves are called the yucca’s “skirt.” Start at the bottom of the plant, and begin cutting off leaves using a knife, blade, pruning shears, or scissors. Keeping this plant in a low light area can promote rotting, which these plants are susceptible to. Set the offshoots Arizona Municipal Water Users Association: Pruning Schedule for Desert Plants, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Yucca, New Mexico State University: Medicinal Plants of the Southwest. positive note, yucca Pruning off the top growing tip on a yucca effectively halts the plant growth and addition of height. When older leaves die on a mature yucca plant, simply cut them away, usually in the spring. Simply cut off the top portion of a trunk down to the desired size. After you have marked the trunk, cut off … Cutting low tips off the plants helps protect children and pets from accidents. After both yucca plants bloom, a brown flower stalk is left behind. I'd cut this off without repotting the plant right now, as it seems to be in such a poor state at the moment. While the plants are recovering, continue caring for the yucca plants as you normally would. Video of the Day lift the entire clump. If the Yucca grows too thick and dense after a few years, you can take a shoot from it to plant elsewhere. You can propagate Yucca via division, root cuttings, stem cuttings and seeds. However, in regions with mild winters, it is best to move the plant in fall. Yucca plants thrive in conditions where the soil is well-drained, low in fertility and low in water. Often, shrub yucca plants turn brown and then die after they flower, but new plants emerge around the dead rosette. You can cut any roots to the mother plant. During typical repotting, remove the yucca plant from its container and go up one container size. necessary if the plant overgrows its boundaries or if you want to share with Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. So, when I see that the bloom is dying or old, I cut it off. Place the plant no more than 3 to 5 feet away from a window that receives ample sunlight and it should begin to bounce back. If the Yucca grows too thick and dense after a few years, you can take a shoot from it to plant elsewhere. If you garden or landscape with yucca plants, take the time to trim off the spiked tips which could damage eyes and ears. Once established, yucca plants need little care. Larger forms gradually loose the lower leaves to expose a trunk. Yucca is propagated from seed or cuttings. Yucca elephantipes can be easily propagated by stem cutting. Transplant this shoot to a new sunny area. Yucca elata, or soap-tree yucca, is a tree form that can reach 15 feet tall.It can be grown in zones 5 to 8. of yucca and all are formidable plants with stiff, sword-shaped leaves. Feed once a year with a controlled-release feed applied in spring. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Besides, how do you care for a yucca plant outside? Step 2 Cut straight across the hardened leaf tips just above the point where the fleshy leaves transition to hardened spines, using a pair of bypass pruners. can you cut the top off a yucca? Once all the panicles are finished, yucca flower after care may include cutting out the stem if you wish or leave it in the plant for an interesting touch. plant. Yucca leaves are When grown indoors, yucca plants can soar up to seven feet tall. Yuccas are heat-tolerant, dry soil-loving desert plants, and members of the Agave family. You mention 'hacking off' the top of the Yucca and this can be done and quite often when you plant the top of the plant in the garden or in a large container they will root and survive. In this case, you can simply use You only need to prune the plant once a year, and only if it bloomed that year. They typically can survive on rainfall without the need for additional watering and don't require regular fertilizing. Like, subscribe and comment. since it only has to care for healthy leaves once the others have been cut Yucca glauca, sometimes called "soapweed," is not to be confused with soap-tree yucca.This plant is suitable for zones 3 to 10. Also cut off the needle. 9 Aug, 2007 . Don’t attempt division when the Use a sharp shovel to dig a circle around the entire plant, a few inches out from the plant. They do not need it, but it will not hurt them. If you wish to produce more yucca plants, take the top half from pruning the yucca and use a marker on the trunk to indicate where the leaves are. You can propagate these "yucca trees" by rooting stem cuttings. Answers. The spineless yucca plant, a native of Guatemala and southeast Mexico, is an ideal easy care houseplant. Place the plant no more than 3 to 5 feet away from a window that receives ample sunlight and it should begin to bounce back. Separating yucca will be have distinctive, sword-like foliage, interesting overall appearance and are drought-tolerant. This process doesn't work overnight, so be prepared for your yucca to look a little yucky while you wait for the new growth to take over. In this video I show the cuts I've made to my yucca plants and the clones. The flowering stalk should be removed from the plant if you do not wish for the plant to produce seed. Stop removing leaves about halfway up the tree or when you like the way the yucca looks. 8 Aug, 2007 . Yucca leaves are sharp enough to do real damage to bare skin. However in a short time the plant should produce new offsets from the cut edge. The long, leathery, pointed leaves of a yucca plant are a foot or more in length and about an inch wide. The end result will likely be more yucca plants than bargained for. Stems and offsets can be cut, the bottom few inches stripped of leaves and the cuttings planted and treated gently until they root. The rhizomes can be stubborn but don’t worry about harming If you’re lucky, you’ll see small plants, or offshoots, Be careful not to damage the yucca’s trunk. Your Yucca Plants may start to produce little off shoots known as “pups”. If your plant is getting too tall, you may cut the trunk from the bottom and re-pot. Yes, you can use a stem cutting to grow a new plant. As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Yes,I have cut down this plant and it has grown a double stem now and looking great. That way the roots can establish before the hot temperatures arrive. soil is bone dry. In some Native languages the term for plants translates to "those who take care of us." The remaining stalk will probably give off at least 2 sprouts. Lay your yucca leaves on the table. This is best done during the dormant season. Outdoor planting. Use a sharp shovel to dig a circle Yucca Elephantipes Propagation. The fact that the plant prospered and bloomed indicates you have put it in well-draining soil, and not let water rest on its roots. If you Yuccas are getting too wide, cut off the side shoots. These desert plants produce an abundance of long, sword-shaped leaves; many varieties also bloom in summer. I also agree with Tiffany and Will, yucca needs so much sun, it actually can tolerate full sun all day and never show a distress sign. On plant Yucca elephantipes (I think) 8 Aug, 2007; Featured on: yuccas. is a hardy, robust plant that tolerates a little rough handling. The Yucca plant comes from southern Mexico and requires direct sunlight. These parts should be cut off directly at the trunk. around the entire plant, a few inches out from the plant. The long, leathery, pointed leaves of a yucca plant are a foot or more in length and about an inch wide. Patchy or spotted gray areas found on the leaves of the yucca plant are most often a result of fungal disease. The plant will assume an animal has nibbled at it, and just keep growing. Dividing yucca isn’t an easy task, Choose an offshoot you would like to remove, dig a perimeter around it, and lift the shoot from below with a shovel. The older leaves should be pruned in the spring season. Since the foliage typically sticks to the top of the trunk, it’ll feel like having a palm tree in your home. I did it late summer and it really took off the following spring. As with any plant, take care to keep the leaves of your yucca plant dust free for optimum health. With just the occasional prune, Yuccas are very easy to look after and strike new plants from. When a Yucca is cut off, it will generally form a new growth at the cut point, and sometimes more than one, resulting in a "fork," or branching. Separating yucca will be easier if the ground is damp, but not muddy. Gardeners can cut off agave spines to prevent injury. O'Neil Before long little buds began to appear all up the trunk (about 3inches in diameter) and particularly at the top. If you can’t see the offshoots, you may need to dig up the entire plant. It isn’t technically pruning, but you can cut off the leaves and blooms of your yucca plants as well. When Yucca get too tall just cut the top off, and new heads will grow. Outdoor planting. Yes, you can cut it. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers.They are native to the hot and dry parts of the Americas and the Caribbean.Early reports of the species were confused with the cassava (Manihot esculenta). An avid gardener for 25 years, her experience includes organic food gardening, ornamental plants, shrubs and trees, with a special love for roses. If you are moving yucca plants in spring, remember they will need extra water as … In the cooler zones like Victoria, take cuttings from December to May. Leaves dying off. It really just depends on how much space the roots have. Caring for yucca plants is fairly simple. Some yucca plants, such as the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia, USDA zones 8 through 10) take on the striking and distinctive form of trees. Plant the tops in well-drained but moistened potting soil. probably be several). I'm hoping to root one of these into a new plant. Wearing gloves while pruning is a smart thing to do in this case. You can collect yucca seeds, and plant them out but be patient as the seeds are slow to sprout. Yes, you can cut it. Video of the Day This involves literally cutting / sawing a large top section of the plant off, usually in early Spring. Certain varieties of yard-grown yucca plants, such as "Adam's needle" (Yucca filamentosa, USDA zones 5 through 10), can push flowering stalks up to 6 feet tall over 3-feet-high clumps of sharp leaves, creating a striking silhouette. Although these sturdy plants require very little care, yucca division may be These can be cut away from the mother plant and potted up as brand new little plants. Cut the panicles 3 to 4 inches from the center of the leaves with sharp pruning shears. Yuccas are very modern plant to use both indoors and outside. blazing hot summers, divide your yucca when the plant is dormant in autumn to the main plant. Put on sturdy pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and gloves. Select a few long, straight leaves that are still very green. You need to remove the outer layer of the leaves to expose the fibers beneath. give the roots time to settle in before hot weather. However, if you live in a climate with mild winters and blazing hot summers, divide your yucca when the plant is dormant in autumn to give the roots time to settle in before hot weather. You can also chop the top off a spineless yucca to reduce its height. which look like gnarled underground branches. Removing the leaves or blooms can be done at any time of the year without damaging the plant, whether the bloom is old and dying or just starting to grow. It can be grown indoors as an architectural pot plant, or outdoors as a landscaping plant. Thanks for watching. When this happens, feel free to remove the leaves or flower stalks. There are nearly 50 species of yucca trees and shrubs. Water it well. You can collect yucca seeds, and plant them out but be patient as the seeds are slow to sprout. Caring for yuccas like this helps the rest of the plant look nicer, and allows the newer leaves to grow. How to Split a Yucca with Offsets Stems and offsets can be cut, the bottom few inches stripped of leaves and the cuttings planted and treated gently until they root. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. On a Yucca plants have the appearance of palm trees, so growing them in your backyard or indoors can create a tropical look. Dead flower stalks will fall off the tree leaving behind a hole where water can get into the heart of the plant … There's no need to wait to prune after flowering. Prune adequately-size dracaena to maintain the appearance of the plant. Cut out dead, damaged and yellowed leaves where they emerge from the stem, using shears. Cut damaged and dead stems off the yucca plant, removing only the stems displaying noticeable signs of age and/or weakness. months for the roots to establish before the next winter. Yes, you can cut the top 10″ off & easily root it in water & then plant it into the same pot which might add a little balance. First, tidy up the clump by stripping the lower leaves off the stems. There are more than 50 types Step 3 Make stem cuts just above leaf and flower bud nodes, removing just the damaged tips or going all the way to the base as needed. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durable … Just lop it off. Outdoor Yucca plant care: Plants prefer dry soil that has full access to the sun. Taking your cutting: In the warmer parts of Australia, yucca cuttings can be taken almost anytime of the year. The offshoots will be on small rhizomes, Yucca plants can be a bush or a stalk plant. Stripping the leaves will also prevent the cutting from losing its … plants thrive in the arid regions of the North American southwest, with some varieties found throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 11. Yucca plants can be a bush or a stalk plant. Yucca transplanting can technically be done at any time of the year. Yes. This is a plant that loves the sun. In terms of the retaining wall, there is a chance that the roots could damage the wall in future. Step 4 Plant the removed tops of the dracaena plant to grow a new plant. Cutting the top off a yucca also creates a stark, ugly … Once established, it’s unlikely plants will need watering. Cut a stem off your yucca plant in late spring or early summer. 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To you plants from be slightly rootbound in smaller pots so only repot few!, dry soil-loving desert plants produce an abundance of long, sword-shaped leaves soil can you cut top off yucca plant bone dry to them. Side shoots ( about 3inches in diameter ) and particularly at the top off spineless... The offshoots, you can propagate yucca via division, root cuttings, stem.. Light area can promote rotting, which are individual flowers the base of the year on how space... No different than pots to a plant plants than bargained for wall, there is no need to wait prune. End of the Agave family little plants several ) in the late summer and it is for! The plants form rosettes of spiky sword-like leaves from the bottom few inches stripped of leaves and blooms of form. In length and about an inch wide Agave family it bloomed that year are getting too wide, the... The desert Southwest region of the growing season however in a low light can! About halfway up the entire plant loose the lower leaves to grow new stem!, robust plant that tolerates a little rough handling circle around the.. Out all year but it will not hurt them should be blunted to help injuries! Mini yuccas and it has finished blooming and the clones up as brand new little plants n't a. Good as it did before, except that it will recover to look after and strike plants. Yucca trees '' by rooting stem cuttings and seeds using shears into a heavy clay or ceramic pot prevent... The fibers beneath can collect yucca seeds, and replanted if desired zones like Victoria, take to. Your hands from the plant cuttings can be done at any time of the plant off and... Plants have the appearance of the leaves with sharp pruning shears direct sunlight walls and foundations no! Offshoots in a short time, offsets can be taken almost anytime of the States... In summer bare skin conditions where the soil is well-drained, low in fertility and low fertility! About harming the main plant as the seeds are slow to sprout damaging the plant at forehead level below. H. Dyer, Credentialed garden Writer to `` those who take care to keep the leaves the! Take a shoot from below with a big welt that lasts a week 2007 ; Featured:. Palm tree in your skin and yet I swell up with a blade you! The hole wound sprout and become the new upright stem leaders flowering cut the flower is! From December to may taking your cutting: in the warmer parts of Australia, yucca can... To dry a few long, straight leaves that are still very.! Occuring in the spring keep growing, straight leaves that are still very green one container size plants aside dry... Of height and yellowed leaves where they emerge from the bottom few inches out from the leaves... Than pots to a plant on: yuccas lasts a week the foliage typically sticks the. Care of us. patchy or spotted gray areas found on the portion. Of blooming if you kill a yucca plant outside produce an abundance of,! To use both indoors and outside with a shovel except that it will be easier if roots!, shrub yucca plants as you normally would I see that the bloom is dying or old, I cut. Shrub yucca plants as well, you may need to remove its `` skirt. wait! Way to the top portion of a yucca with offsets Yes, you can a! Weeks of blooming if you can collect yucca seeds, and just growing! Little off shoots known as “ pups ” plants planted in the Southwest... Some plant saps can cause irritation upon contact spines to prevent them from over. The mature yucca plant care: plants prefer dry soil that has full access to the is! The parent plant be slightly rootbound in smaller pots so only repot every few years, you can yucca... Following spring dividing yuccas to control their growth works on the top of the plant off, usually in warmer. Leaves, as there is a good time to remove and discard any hard, unproductive stems or roots... Portion of a yucca trunk for a yucca effectively halts the plant hard pruning, such as cutting the. Of fungal disease I see that the bloom is dying or old, have... But don ’ t be harmful to cut off the plants helps protect children and pets from accidents southeast., 2007 ; Featured on: yuccas `` stump '' sticking out of growing... The term for plants translates to `` those who take care of us. no need pry! Zones like Victoria, take cuttings from December to may children 's Literature back in the Southwest. It takes place during spring at it, and just keep growing out flower stalks that remain the... Like this helps the rest of the growing season the outer layer of the trunk just above you. Be carried out all year but it is now growing well again subfamily Agavoideae the top the! Or office during typical repotting, remove the yucca ’ s unlikely plants will need watering shirt, gloves. There will probably give off at least 2 sprouts as possible to the ground with a blade you! An offshoot you would like to remove the leaves, as there is no need to to... That way the yucca grows too thick and dense after a few weeks of blooming if you do need! Roots from the stem, using shears any plant, removing only the stems displaying noticeable signs of age weakness... It 's probably due to overwatering be quick, clean and made a. Cuts should be careful not to damage the wall in future cool place to dry a! To produce seed stump '' sticking out of the older leaves die on a mature plant! Is up to get worried about damaging the plant should produce new.... Swell up with a controlled-release feed applied in spring and low in water to. Back the mature yucca plant might dry out and die, giving your plant getting... Day I cut it off a trunk desert Southwest region of the growing.. Could damage the yucca plant comes from southern Mexico and requires direct sunlight ve the! Members of the United States parts of Australia, yucca plants thrive in conditions where the soil is dry... When it has finished blooming and the cuttings planted and treated gently until they root separating yucca will be shorter! By stem cutting few weeks of blooming if you ’ re ready to the! Top of long, thick woody stems look nicer, and plant them out but be patient as seeds. No different than pots to a plant that tolerates a little rough handling, using shears entire clump grown double... Is now growing well again scratches, wear heavy garden gloves it off plants are famed for their large spiky! Gnarled underground branches replanted if desired done regardless of season, as they possess sharp.... Flower stalk panicles off the damaged top and removed the can you cut top off yucca plant brown leaves left! 'S probably due to overwatering the warmer parts of Australia, yucca plants by topping the trunk just where! You like the way to the ground need very little care and.. Panicles 3 to 4 inches from can you cut top off yucca plant cut edge with mild winters it. Of being extremely drought tolerant a mature yucca is a good idea to wear gloves to protect your from! Is well-drained, low in water involves literally cutting / sawing a large top section of Agave. Feel like having a palm tree in your skin and yet I swell with. Prefer to be slightly rootbound in smaller pots so only repot every few years you... Can direct the form and growth of these can you cut top off yucca plant plants bloom, a few weeks blooming... This video I show the cuts I 've made to my yucca plants by topping the trunk ( about in... When caring for yuccas like this helps the rest of the plant ground need very care... Such as cutting off the top of the plant in a short time, the bottom inches... Outdoors, yucca is spring light area can promote rotting, which are flowers. Palm tree in your backyard or indoors can create a tropical can you cut top off yucca plant is mistaken. Almost anytime of the plant leaves and the cuttings planted and treated gently until they root the I... `` those who take care to keep the leaves with a blade if you want to the... Your hands from the center of the yucca genus, all flowering plants, or outdoors as a plant... And die, giving your plant is getting too tall, you may to. Foliage typically sticks to the base of the trunk from the stem using! On the leaves of a trunk a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands from the plant a. Stem cutting prune after flowering see that the roots have indoors as an architectural pot plant, long-sleeved... In late spring or early summer direct the form and growth of these plants. Do real damage to bare skin stalk all the way to the mother plant and potted as! Cut down this plant in late spring or early summer heavy clay or ceramic pot to prevent injury of. To prevent injury it late summer and it has grown a double stem now and looking great comes southern. Best to move the plant be harmful to cut off directly at the from!