Yucca rostrata Damage

[freakypalmguy]

Hi all,

One of the construction workers at my place backed over this Yucca rostrata and bent it over. It still appears to be somewhat attached in the ground on one side, but seems as though some of the roots or possibly the trunk are broken off under ground. What do you think I should do? Just stake it upright and hope it takes hold? One person told me I should complete the break and root it out in a pot, this scares me a whole bunch. They said that a Yucca like this one would have no problem rooting out and that the remaining stem (if the stem is truely broken) would produce a new head as well. I am making them buy me a new one, even if this has a chance off survival, it will be set back for a year or two. I was really bummed as it had just really started to get some legs and grow at a good clip.

[BS Man about Palms]

Hi all,

One of the construction workers at my place backed over this Yucca rostrata and bent it over.

Bummer Matt. This has been my biggest fear regarding my project. Thus most are still in pots and can be moved.

[Kris]

Dear Matt

Sorry to hear about that plant but i would suggest cutting that trunk slightly above the damaged area and repot it.And protect it till the new pot is filled with roots.Since i cut all my yucca's in that fashion and multiply my collection.

Here are some visuals from our collection, And all are propogated by cuttings and i have never seen them bloom..

A verigated form of the above

Wish you all the best with that yucca.

Love,

kris

[Gbarce]

I don't have experience with Yucca Rostrata but other yuccas I've grown are pretty resillient.

I've chopped the heads off and stuck them in a pot and they just drop a few leaves but grow new roots pretty quick.

You could just place soil in the cavity just to keep it firmly in place. My guess is that the yucca will continue growing AND will start producing off shoots around the damages area.

[Gbarce]

oh yeah and keep it on the dry side. I once stuck the chopped off end in water thinking that I would keep it there until the roots come out-- didn't work. The choped stem actually started rotting away (more like melting away actually) from the end that was in the water

[freakypalmguy]

BS, I've told this guy that anything they break, they are replacing with something double the size to make up for the lack of growth the replacement plants will have while rooting in.

Excellent Kris and Gene, this was exactly the information I was looking for. I'm going to go dig around it and see it it just ripped the roots or broke the trunk.

Roots = prop it up right where it is

Broken trunk = finish the break and pot it in mostly perlite until it roots.

I've heard it will grow right out of the base of the broken trunk as well, is this true?

Thank you again gents,

Matt

[Kris]

BS, I've told this guy that anything they break, they are replacing with something double the size to make up for the lack of growth the replacement plants will have while rooting in.

That's very nice...

[Mats]

I've told this guy that anything they break, they are replacing with something double the size to make up for the lack of growth the replacement plants will have while rooting in.

Matt, what do you reckon a plant twice that size will cost? And where would you find one? I'm thinking of Tropic World in Escondido... but would like to know of other sources in the area.

[freakypalmguy]

I've told this guy that anything they break, they are replacing with something double the size to make up for the lack of growth the replacement plants will have while rooting in.

Matt, what do you reckon a plant twice that size will cost? And where would you find one? I'm thinking of Tropic World in Escondido... but would like to know of other sources in the area.

Twice that size at Tropic World is about 600 clams. I don't know of any other sources. You

[David N.TX.]

I would not break it and try to prop it upright. It will be fine.