Yucca Elata.... didn't expect this....

[andym]

The trunked multi headed Yucca Elata came in a huge pot. Rather disappointingly the pot was filled with 50%perlite and 50% peat compost. My guestimate is this Yucca has been in this pot for at least two years. It came out easily without damage to the roots






The medium it was in



Well I've planted it in the ground as the plant will certainly not grow in that medium in the pot. What do you think its chances are for survival?
Perhaps I should have bought one of these...http://www.palmenforum.de/viewtopic.php?id=898 Sorry the link will not work but its a nice trunkless Elata which has been grown in a huge but thin pot for the tap root to grow.... way to go

[TimMAz6]

Hi Andy,

Yucca elata is known as one of the most difficult Yuccas to transplant. For some unknown reason Y. elata roots aren't as aggressive as other Yucca species. I've tossed Y. gloriosa roots behind my shed and a few months later I would have 10 more plants!

What is your concern with your Y. elata? The main root looks fine to me. I hope it 're-roots' again. I dug up two Y. elatas back in 2003 when I moved from Rhode Island to Massachusetts. I was able to get the entire tap root on both Yuccas. Only one survived the transplant. The elata which survived didn't regrow for 1-1/2 years. It's fine now.

I dug up a Y. filamentosa x elata last year and it had elata roots. I tossed some roots behind my shed and none produced offshoots.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 0BCA3F.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 59C684.jpg>

[lucky1]

That soil looks like palm growing media.
Idiot nursery to put yuccas into peat, and obviously wasn't even well mixed with the perlite.
Obviously lighter for shipping costs.
But gravel with light soil would've been better.

Any warranty on that purchase?

Barb

[andym]

Thanks for your comments
Tim... thanks for the info. I was just surprised at the lack of root. Although it was sold as a two head yucca, there were more heads that had died.
Barb.... I don't believe The Tropical Centre do warranties. Its interesting that you mention the shipping costs as that trunked Nolina Nelsonii was delivered minus roots and soil to cut shipping costs. I was not a happy bunny! The problem is also that the TC expects a quick sale (their prices are cheap) If the pant doesn't sell
then the plant is in trouble as that peat medium cannot support it. The Yucca Treculeana I posted is actually grown in soil and weighs a ton but it came from Italy and not Mexico. and was also sold by the TC.

[lucky1]

Sounds like the Italian growers have a little more knowledge.
Not surprising.

Chin up, your care will bring it through.

Barb