Germinating yucca filifera

willy1der · Post by **willy1der** » Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:14 pm

Any one with some advice on the methods to germinate these seeds.I also read these are hardy down to -15c,now would this be for breif periods or can they stay this cold for extended times with protection,thanks for the help

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:52 pm

I've never tried them before but should be very easy to sprout. Try one seed under 1/4 inch of soil and keep moist untill it sprouts. Should take 3-10 days. Very easy.

They can probably take cold for brief periods. -15c won't hurt most yuccas if brief.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:49 pm

I typically germ Y. filifera and other Yucca seeds by placing the seed on top of the soil medium and covering the seeds with 1/8" deep layer of sand. Bottom water. Seeds typically germ quickly and leaves will emerge in 2 to 3 weeks but east coast Yuccas seem to be 1 to 2 weeks slower for some reason. Room temperature is fine (70F). Warmer is OK too but too much cooler and germ % will decrease.

Here's a Y. filifera seedling grown from seed (2002 photo).
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... t27r-1.jpg>

I also grew some taller specimen plants back in 2002/2003. When kept bone dry under a poly roof, covered with a blanket and heated it withstood a low temperature of 6F (as measured under the blanket). Another specimen which had no protection from cold rain/snow died in December and the low was only 13F or so........far less hardy in cold/wet conditions. Keep yours bone dry if your drop below 20F.

November 2002 when I lived in Rhode Island:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... nov30r.jpg>

Feb. 2003 when I lived in Rhode Island:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... feb7_r.jpg>

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:09 pm

Very good info Tim.

Now I know who had that place in Rhode Island. I had your page kept on favorites.

willy1der · Post by **willy1der** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:31 am

I love the garden,I too have seen that picture,,came across it looking up filifera hardiness.How old is the one you grew from seed you have shown ???thanks for the reply!!

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 5:39 pm

the yucca filifera in that photo is about 2 years old. Yuccas will grow very fast if kept in full sun and their root tips are not restricted (they don't like to be pot bound). One must transplant them every 2 months in the growing season for fast growth.

willy1der · Post by **willy1der** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:04 am

Seeds all germinated starting at 3 days with bottom heat and 7 without.Seeds were fresh,almost soft to the touch.Does any one know if freezing temps will affect the seeds in the mail.There coming from montreal to sw ontario!!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:42 am

willy1der wrote:Seeds all germinated starting at 3 days with bottom heat and 7 without.Seeds were fresh,almost soft to the touch.Does any one know if freezing temps will affect the seeds in the mail.There coming from montreal to sw ontario!!

I've never had a problem with yucca seeds freezing.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:41 am

3 days...wow, gotta be a record! Congratulations.

Does any one know if freezing temps will affect the seeds in the mail.

I've asked this Q a few times myself, and apparently "cool hardy" palms/yuccas aren't affected.
In habitat, seeds are exposed to low temps, lying on ground.

But freezing in the mail isn't good for palms that NEVER see frost, i.e. Cyrtostachys (received in early December -6C 21F )

Also emailed a Q to RPS re "irradiation at borders" (security process?).
Toby kindly emailed back "no problem".
hmmm...radioactive seeds

Barb