Last Updated on December 29, 2021 by Guillermina
Wondering can Yuccas grow indoors? Click to learn all about what it takes to make this magnificent plant thrive in your home.
Yucca plants are elegant, stylish, modern and most importantly, they are known for their low maintenance. All this together makes them suitable for everyone, even for indoor plant newbies.
However, with the arrival of colder days, the question arises whether can Yuccas grow indoors? Well, keep reading to find out.
Yucca – Basics About The Plant
Yucca is a genus of about 40 species of succulent plants that come from the agave subfamily of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). They are native to southern North America (Mexico and the Caribbean). They are perennials, shrubs, and trees, but only a few are grown as houseplants. The most common yucca houseplants are Yucca guatemalensis and the Yuca aloifolia.
What makes them special is their ability to become “giant monsters”. Yuccas can literally take up the whole room they are in. However, you don’t need to be afraid, you can Yuccas grow indoors because it takes years and years before it overwhelms the room.
It is also important to warn pet owners right at the beginning that all parts of the plant are poisonous to dogs, cats, and horses. – So, be careful!
This houseplant is easily recognizable by its sword-shaped leaves, singular trunks of different heights that are often grouped together. In addition to being trendy, bringing greenery and style, this plant also has numerous health benefits for people who share space with it. Namely, Yucca plants are known for purifying and removing toxins from the air, thus reducing the risk of headaches, fatigue, and various diseases.
How To Care For Yucca Plants Indoors
Because they grow naturally in South America and parts of the Caribbean and Mexico, they prefer drier, more unfertile kind conditions.
Soil
Since they grow naturally in sandy, dry deserts, they don’t need highly fertile soil to thrive. Regular potting soil will do the job. Most important of all is to plant your Yucca in a loose, well-drained potting mix. So, it is not necessary to procure any rich or even fancy soil, they are really known for their low maintenance.
Feel free to buy any type of inexpensive potting mix; you can even mix in some coarse sand and perlite to promote drainage. Although it is a drought-tolerant plant, keep in mind that it will not survive if left to sit for too long in soggy soil.
Light & Location
Since the answer to the question can yuccas grow indoors is yes, it’s time to talk about the perfect location for your Yucca plant. Look for a bright, sunny, and well-ventilated place in your home. However, make sure that the light is well filtered to keep your plant from burning. So, although they are a bright light plant, they can still experience/suffer from burning on their leaves when exposed to direct sunlight.
When it comes to placement, it would be ideal to place it near a south-facing window or a west-facing window with a light shade. Net curtains can help you here because they have the ability to filter just enough light without making the room too dark.
Make sure you rotate your plant every week to ensure an even light distribution across the foliage. Regularity in this will allow the plant not to suddenly start growing in only one direction (towards the main light source). Also, you will avoid one side being fuller compared to the other.
How do you know your plant is not getting enough light? – It will let you know. You will recognize this by leggy, spindly growth. Moving to the right place should solve the problem almost instantly.
Watering
Yucca plants are acclimatized to desert-like conditions and are therefore very sensitive to overwatering. They also tolerate long periods without water, which is good news for all those who easily forget about regular watering.
In the period from November to March, reduce watering significantly. Once or twice a month will be more than enough. Also, never leave a Yucca plant to sit in a tray with water as it is prone to both root and trunk rot.
Humidity & Temperature
Yucca Plants are native to places where temperatures range from 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit at night. That means it will adapt very easily to most indoor temperature conditions and fluctuations. It is only important that it is maintained at a constant temperature.
It would be good to opt for a room without drafts and central heating. Provide it with plenty of heat, dryness, and ventilation. The positive thing is that its leaves do not require regular spritzing like other plants that grow indoors.
Fertilization
Yucca houseplants can thrive in relatively low fertile conditions, but you can boost them during the growing season. Fertilize them with liquid fertilizer or controlled-release fertilizer according to label instructions. Beware, overdoing it can lead to root burn.
Also, try to avoid adding any fertilizer to the compost as this will cause the plant to try to push out new growth at the wrong time of year. A once-a-month feeding will be ideal and sufficient yucca plant care.
Pruning
Indoor yucca plants need to be pruned from time to time. This is most often done when it becomes too tall for your space. The process consists of removing the Yucca plant from its pot and cutting the trunk with a saw or a sharp pair of scissors.
In the end just repot the rooted end of the trunk, and water it well. And that should be it. The leaves will soon begin to appear as before, only shorter.
Repotting & Propagation
When it’s time for repotting, do it in a pot that is only just slightly bigger than the root ball. Keep in mind that this type of plant prefers to be slightly rootbound in smaller pots so only repot every few years.
If you notice that your plant is starting to produce little offshoots known as “pups”, you can dare to start propagating it. Just wait until the “pups” turn green and are big enough to survive on their own.
Cut them carefully off from the main stem (with a clean knife) and either leave them in the water until new roots start to appear or plant them in compost dipped in rooting hormone. Simple as that!
Pests & Problems
Indoor Yucca Plant is generally pest-free. However, you can expect occasional aphids, spider mites, or mealybugs on the foliage. You can get rid of them by hand or by spraying them with a mild soap and water mixture.
Finally
The answer to the question can yuccas grow indoors is yes! Taking care of them is very simple. Just make sure there is enough natural (indirect) sunlight and be careful not to overwater it.
Yucca houseplant is an ideal gift for your loved ones (but also to treat yourself). Are you a fan too? Write to us below.
Read more about Can Canna Lilies Grow Indoors