How to Root a Yucca Plant

Most yucca species can be propagated and grown into new plants from cuttings from the rhizome or root of the plant. It is best to make the cuttings in late spring so the plants will develop a strong root system before winter. Dig just beside the plant and cut the rhizome with a sharp knife or a grafting knife. Allow the cutting to dry for a few days. It is a good idea to dust the cut surfaces with a fungicide. Then plant the cutting in well-drained and slightly moist soil. Do not water the plant for a few days. Plant the rhizome horizontally just below the surface of the soil.

While rooting a yucca plant, special care has to be given to the medium. Coarse, clean construction-grade sand is suitable as it allows good drainage. Mix this with an equal volume of peat moss. Vermiculite is another excellent lightweight material that helps rooting. It is highly absorbent and promotes the growth of roots. Perlite is also another excellent rooting material. Field soil is not recommended because it packs very tightly when it gets wet. Compressed peat pellets are commercially available. These are very good for root cuttings. They expand very fast when they are soaked in water. Place some pellets in a plastic bag after they have been soaked and dried. No further watering is necessary until the bag is ready to be opened for rooting.

While rooting a yucca plant, the medium, equipment and the pot used must be sterile. Wash pots using a household cleaner or detergent. You can wash the tools also in the same solution, or dip them in a bit of alcohol. The rooting medium, incase it is not sterile, can be moistened and heated in an oven at 200 degrees. Heat it for about 20-25 minutes. Peat, perlite and vermiculite do not need to be sterilized if they are new.

After the root is cut, place it in the rooting material. Stick the base of the cutting 1 or 2 inches deep into the material. The material around the base should then be firmed. Settle the medium by watering it very lightly. As there is no rooting system in the pot yet, a high humidity must be maintained around the pot at all times. To do this, slip a plastic bag around the pot. Support the plastic bag using stakes or wire loops if this is necessary. Do not place this under the direct sunlight. Too much heat that can build up due to direct exposure can create an oven-like atmosphere within the pot and cause the foliage to burn.

The yucca plant will take 7-10 days to start developing a new root system. Once the cuttings develop roots that are at least an inch long, they can be transplanted to a new container. This is the most critical period for the growing plants. Give the young plants close attention during this process. After the cutting has established itself in the new medium, it is good to apply a soluble houseplant fertilizer. Following the directions provided, you can fertilize the plants once a month. Normally, in spring and in summer the plants grow very vigorously. At such a time, fertilize the plant once every two weeks. Using a rooting hormone will hasten the appearance of the roots.

It is also possible to propagate the yucca plant by 'dividing' it. When plants naturally produce offset or basal shoots, a few roots will appear below these shoots. These can be cut from the main plant and then planted in a new pot.

Yucca plant in park

Yucca plant flower
Picture by Stan Shebs

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