Are the spiky leaves of your overgrown Yucca plant getting in your way every time you pass by it? Is your indoor Yucca tree getting too tall for your liking? Well then, it's time to prune it and make it more manageable as well as look neat. And to help you out, we listed down and explained all the ways you can prune your beloved Yucca plant and restore it back to its former sophisticated look.
Contents
How to Prune Yucca Plant for Healthy Growth
When it comes to pruning a Yucca plant, we have found that the best time to do so is in early spring. This is because their flowering and growth period is right afterward. And so, if you wish to prune your plant by cutting the stem in half, it is able to grow new leaves or roots quite fast. Although, if your Yucca is getting difficult to manage, then you can prune it whenever you want.
Trimming the Leaves
There are two main ways through which you can prune your Yucca plant. One is by trimming the excess leaves for a neater look. And the other is to cut the plant in half to reduce its height. For the former, you can either use a knife, some shears, or a pair of scissors to get the job done. Although make sure that the scissors are heavy-duty ones as Yucca leaves are quite thick.
Next, cut off the leaves growing around the bottom of the plant. If your Yucca has dead or dying leaves, make sure to cut those too. This process basically depends on your personal preference when it comes to the appearance of your plant. And so, you can stop once you are satisfied with how your Yucca looks as well as the manageability of its leaves.
Cutting the stem
If your Yucca is getting too tall for your liking or for you to manage then, you can reduce its height by cutting the stem in half. For this, you need a knife or a pair of shears, a saw, and a pot with adequate potting soil. First, you need to remove any leaves down the stem of the plant. Strip them down using your knife or shears. You can even pull them out by hand if you want; just make sure you are wearing protective gloves.
Once your Yucca has leaves only at the top, mark the stem on the halfway point, from the top to the base. Next, using a saw, cut your yucca tree in half at that midway point. Now you can take the top half of the tree that still has the leaves and place it in another pot filled with potting soil. After this, make sure that both halves of the plant are getting enough sunlight.
And so, in a few weeks, the top cutting of the tree will grow roots, and the bottom cutting will start growing leaves. In our experience, we have found that this type of pruning gives the best results when done in early spring. This is because this season is followed by the growth period of Yucca. And so, the roots and leaves of the plant are able to grow much quicker and healthier than in any other season.
Some Precautions to Take
While the Yucca plant is not lethal in any way, it can certainly give you a good pinch with its sharp-pointed leaves. Because of this, we recommend that you take the necessary precautions during the pruning process. These include wearing gloves while cutting off or pulling out the leaves. This is not only so that your hands are protected from the sharp leaves but also so that you don't accidentally nick yourself during cutting.
We also encourage you to wear some sort of eye protection, like safety goggles, sunglasses, and so on. This is because, while pruning, you will be working in close proximity to the plant for a long period of time. And so, there is a chance that the leaves might poke you in the eye if you are not careful. And so, to eliminate any chance of getting a scratched cornea or an eye infection, you should wear eye protection.
Benefits of Pruning Yucca plant
There are many benefits of pruning Yucca plants. One of them is that it keeps your plant healthy. This is because when you cut off the dead leaves, the living ones are able to get more nutrients. And so this can help your plant grow better. Also, trimming the dull and brown dead leaves as well as any excess leaves can give your plant a neater look. Pruning also helps make your plants more manageable.
Furthermore, overgrown Yucca plants can get slightly dangerous as the spiky leaves can prick you or snag your clothes. And so, through pruning, you can also make your plant less dangerous to have around the house. If your Yucca tree grows multiple heavy branches, it can topple over either by itself or with strong winds. And so, through pruning, you can prevent that by having those extra branches removed. Lastly, it is a great way to propagate the plant, especially if you are pruning through the process of cutting the stem in half.
Related Yucca Plant Guides: How to Propagate Healthy Yucca Plants | How to Save Dying Yuccas
FAQs
Should I cut the dead leaves off my yucca?
Can you cut back a yucca plant?
Wrapping Up
Many people love to have Yucca plants around their houses, indoors as well as outdoors. This is because not only do they have a cool modern look to them, they are also quite low maintenance and thrive well even under neglect. These plants grow quite fast, and while some might consider this as an asset, it can also sometimes be a curse. This is because overgrown Yucca plants can be quite difficult to manage. And so, above, we have shown you how to prune your Yucca so that you can have neat-looking and more manageable plants around your house.
