Yucca elata advice

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:58 pm

I just planted some yucca elata seeds in medium size pots with a gritty mix of sand and gravel, there's about 1/2 an inch or more sand on the surface. I'm seeing that these have transplant issues. What I want to do is move them into bigger pots in the spring and maybe keep them there for 3 - 5 years before planting them in a permanent spot. Does this sound doable or will the transplant kill them?

Also, it's been mentioned before that this yucca may have a chance of survival without protection in a zone 5b. I got the seeds off amazon.com and it said that they are

"extremely frost hardy
very climate compatible
grows anywhere
hardy zone 6-11"

Anyone know if this is the variety?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:47 pm

They live without cover here for the most part, but I have had a few die/die back over the winter. This has a lot to do with poor placement.

They don't have much of a problem with transplant shock, part of what they mean by that is the roots can grow very large and may do poorly if the root is cut short.

All yuccas do poorly if left in pots for too many years, but if you trans plant every year or so and replace the soil they should do good.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:53 pm

I woulndn't start with that type of soil. For me, garden soil, compost (up to 20%) and at least 30% cacus and succulent soil mix. No more than 5% sand in soil by volume, not weight. I feel I have very high success rates with almost all Yucca. This includes elata. Successful unprotected here down to -17c , even when only 1.5 years old in ground.
Too much sand= too wet to begin growth. If anything. 1 to 2 mm topcoat of sand just over the seeds.

marceli · Post by **marceli** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 12:27 am

My yuccas grow in 90% sand - that's how my garden soil is like, and they seem fine, at least until winter. Will tell you in few months if they survived

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 6:23 am

Marceli, do you start your seeds in that 90%sand as well? I haven't tried that

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 8:14 am

garden soil, compost (up to 20%) and at least 30% cacus and succulent soil mix

Adam, doesn't that hold more moisture than sand?

marceli · Post by **marceli** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 8:15 am

I start them with anything I got at the moment, but 90% of sand might be too fast drying though. I use mostly sand, plus the cheapest flower soil I find. I just sterilize it in oven.
Yuccas are really fast and easy to germinate. The last time I tried, it was 100% vermiculite and it worked too, but it holds the moisture very well.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:33 pm

Jeff, my mix allows the soil to hold moisture, true. It will also dry out a little between waterings, which I feel to be necessary. Too much sand, it will never dry out especially past half an inch deep in the soil.

All vermiculite, eh, that is worth trying.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:56 pm

cuja1 wrote:Adam, doesn't that hold more moisture than sand?

I start all my yucca seed in the soil from outside (loamy soil), I think you want the soil moist and to stay moist. That is until the seeds sprout and get a couple of leaves.

Don't bury them to deep. Very easy too sprout.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:36 pm

O.k. Thank you all for the advice. Hopefully will have some sprouts soon.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:51 am

Too much sand, it will never dry out especially past half an inch deep in the soil.

I learned that's true...the hard way.
Plus it's way too heavy...roots need "aggregate" soil mixes for air and water transfer.

Now I use only a top dressing of sand on seedling pots, in an attempt to deter fungus gnats which like moist soil.
The top layer of sand dries very quickly; fungus gnats are still around now and then.

Barb

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:01 pm

So it's been over a month since I started my yucca elata and yucca glauca seeds and still nothing. Some of them are planted in cactus and succulent mix and a good portion of vermiculite and a dusting of sand on top. I'm having a devil

of a time because one time I got the soil too wet and the yucca elata seed grew mold. But then if I don't keep it wet enough obviously nothing will happen either. So 2 days ago I put a space heater next to it to warm up the soil. Maybe the seeds aren't viable. Any ideas?

andym · Post by **andym** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:36 pm

I had a good germination rate for Yucca Schottii and Schidigera but not a lot on on other yucca and hesperaloe seeds. which I would put down to viability.
Personally I would not consider sowing seeds at this time of year as you are approaching minimal natural night levels which is not ideal for seedlings. I tend to start seed sowing in February with growing light levels but with cold stratification to aid seeds that need it.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:30 pm

Jeff, try cold stratification... 3 months minimum, then 24 hour soak, then sow.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:26 pm

I never seem to have problems with Yucca seeds as long as you give them well draining soil and full sun. Soil which is very wet will decrease success. Less sun will decrease success. I will use seed starting soil or just 'normal' loamy soil which is supplemented with additional sand or perlite to make it well draining. Pour water on top of the soil and it should drain quickly. If the water stays on top of the surface for more than a few seconds then I would add additional perlite or sand. Full sun is their best fried. Partial sun is not ideal (less than 4 hours of direct sun).

I don't recommend container growing unless you like slow growing plants. Plant the seedlings where you want them to grow after 3 leaves. Protect the seedling from rabbits and other critters until larger with some sort of 'fence'. I use branch twigs every 1.5" around the perimeter of the seedling until large....this will form a 'jail'. Yuccas grow 10x faster in the ground vs. in containers.

Y. elata roots grow vertical, this makes transplanting difficult since you will slice the root when digging up. I dug up the largest two elatas back in 2003 when I moved from Rhode Island to Massachusetts. Only 1 survived. The survivor didn't grow for 1.5 years after the transplant.......but is huge now..........try not to move them.

PS, unless you have good winter sun/lamps don't germinate the seeds now. I had difficulties with Yucca seeds in winter since they are searching for more light than I could offer them. I generally start them May 1.

Here's a plot of Yucca seedlings I started in May when I lived in Rhode Island......photo taken in September.
<img src=http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/images/other ... Tim_02.JPG>

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:11 pm

O.k. sounds like I'm starting them at the wrong time of year. Would it hurt if I just leave them in their pots till spring without watering them and then bring them outside to germinate them. I don't think I have enough south facing window space for them right now.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:12 pm

Tim, what do you do with all those yuccas? Do you have a nursery?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:31 pm

cuja1 wrote:So it's been over a month since I started my yucca elata and yucca glauca seeds and still nothing. Some of them are planted in cactus and succulent mix and a good portion of vermiculite and a dusting of sand on top. I'm having a devil of a time because one time I got the soil too wet and the yucca elata seed grew mold. But then if I don't keep it wet enough obviously nothing will happen either. So 2 days ago I put a space heater next to it to warm up the soil. Maybe the seeds aren't viable. Any ideas?

Y. elata and Y. glauca seeds are some of the harder yucca seeds to start.
I do know most of my yuccas start when the weather cools down. I have great luck starting yucca seed this time of year. I use no heat, just put them by a window. I keep my house about 68-73F
Most people plant them too deep. I plant them about 1/8 inch deep. They may need warm/cold days? Temp dips?

Good luck.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 8:45 am

Aaron, I just let the soil naturally cover them when I water them. The temperature in my house is probably in that range. Maybe I'll just keep them watered and see what happens. On another note my cabbage palm seeds haven't sprouted either and it's been over 3 months. I thought those were a sure thing because I picked them off the ground in Florida.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:32 am

Jeff,
I use a mister to water yucca seeds so they don't "move", and maintain contact with the soil.
Saran wrap over the top keeps them from drying out.

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:50 am

cuja1 wrote:Aaron, I just let the soil naturally cover them when I water them. The temperature in my house is probably in that range. Maybe I'll just keep them watered and see what happens. On another note my cabbage palm seeds haven't sprouted either and it's been over 3 months. I thought those were a sure thing because I picked them off the ground in Florida.

I know I had a hard time with elata seed. I planted a 100 of more Y. elata seeds outside one year and none sprouted from spring through the summer, but when fall came about half of them sprouted. That spring I think a few more popped up from the ground.

The yucca seed that sprouts the fastest I have seen is Y. brevifolia. 3-10 days.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:47 pm

Have you had luck with yucca elata or glauca Barb? The misting is a good idea. I use a glass to water mine and it seems a little rough at times.
You can really tell when the right conditions were met because seeds start sprouting like crazy once they're ready it seems like.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:22 pm

Have you had luck with yucca elata or glauca Barb

Haven't tried those, Jeff.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 6:42 pm

cuja1,

you can start the Yucca seeds now but I only recommend if you have direct sun for them.......like a south window. I had poor success starting Yucca seeds indoors this time of year since I didn't have sufficient sun. The seedlings would get 'leggy' and be really weak come springtime. The seeds I start in May would be the same size as the seeds which I started over winter. It was a lot of effort for 'nothing'.

I've never had many problems with Yucca seeds.....they seem to always germinate unless they are older than 3 yrs.....then the % germination goes down. I plant them in a well draining soil. I place the seeds on top of the soil and cover the seeds/soil with 1/8" depth of sand so the seeds are just covered with sand. I generally bottom water until I see the first leaves. Seeds usually germinate in a few days but you won't see a leaf until 2 to 4 weeks. You can also start the seeds in a moist (not soaking wet) paper towel. Place the moist towel and seeds in a plastic baggie. Check daily. You'll see the first root emerge in a few days. Plant in soil when root sows. Leaf will emerge 2 to 3 weeks later. All this is done a room temps.....we keep our house set at 71F......yes we all walk around our house in tee shirts.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:52 am

Thanks Tim. I'd keep my house at 78 if everone else could take it.

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Yucca elata advice

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