Yucca Rostratas Died

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:41 pm

I planted 3 Yucca Rostratas last spring went out side today and the 2 I got from Tejas Tropicals died, they pulled out of the ground. One of them the base of the root was still attached so I brought it in and im going to try to see if it will reroot. The Smaller one I got from Wellspring Gardens and it is still alive and firmly rooted. Maybe there is some variation in the hardiness. They were all planted in a mix of potting soil and sand. I should have protected them. Oh well I guess ill order some more this spring.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:17 pm

Bryce.......please post some photos of your rostratas when they were alive. I bet the ones which died were not true rostrata........if they have Yucca rigida genes in them they will be less hardy.

Yucca linearifolia is probably less hardy too (looks like rostrata).

What was your low temperature?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:18 pm

TimMAz6 wrote:......if they have Yucca rigida genes in them they will be less hardy.

I agree.

Also where were they planted? Could be where cold air pools, or under eaves where water runs off?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:49 pm

Bryce,

they pulled out of the ground. One of them the base of the root was still attached so I brought it in and im going to try to see if it will reroot

Can you take some photos of the remaining root(s).
And what they look like where the root was attached.

I hope that one makes it for you...let us know what your technique is.

With succulents like jade tree, I leave it exposed to air for a few days to callous over before replanting between stakes/ties to keep it from falling over.
But haven't a clue what to do with yuccas.

Look forward to seeing pics.

Barb

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:29 pm

Could the soil have caused it to rot? Mine's in a mix of about 75% pea gravel and 25% sand. Maybe even higher percentage of pea gravel.

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:54 pm

They are in a raised bed that is mostly sand mixed with some pea gravel and potting mix, id say it's about 75% sand. It appears that the roots basically just like melted away. I will try to look around to see if there is any more root attached and try to take a pic of it. The small one planted in the middle seems to be healthy still and appears to be much cold hardier as it's roots are well attached and the leaves have no burn. The larger ones had some burns from the cold on the leaves. Here is a pic of the rostratas in there better days, the hardy small one is in the middle.

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:29 am

Looks like they are buried too deep into the soil. Aren't they? Perhaps some unlike contacts with a growing tip.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:38 am

Hi Bryce

It's very difficult to ID those seedlings.....seedlings will be less hardy.....what was your low temperature?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:44 am

Could be all of the above no? Wrong genes in the plants, small seedlings and maybe too deeply planted?

Even if they are rostrata, if they are seedlings there would be variation on them, being crossed or not. IF the grower has a bunch of yucca in close proximity, then it could be a cross as tim suggested.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:59 am

planting that young of a plant for an unprotected first overwinter is risky in itself. I keep backups potted in the house when I plant out something that young. Adam Zone7

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:26 am

The little one in the middle is the hardiest one?
Yet it shows the most damage.
And its small size (of the three) probably means it wasn't robust even before you got it.

Everybody gave good possibilities.
If you get/got a lot of rain, sand isn't a good idea in your soil mix.
Sand tends to pack tightly and hold soil moisture longer.

Do roof downspouts drain to that area? If so, way too wet.

Barb

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:42 am

Yeah Maybe they were planted slightly too deep but that may just look that way because of the rocks. I have noticed the small one was not planted quite as deep, maybe thats a reason it's alive still. I dunno ill try to not plant them as deep next time and next winter ill protect them. No there are no down spouts in the area they are out in the open, several feet away from the house. The coldest it has gotten so far is 13 F.

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:49 am

barb the smallest one in the middle has the least damage and its rooted well still, but it came from a different source so maybe it's a more cold hardy variety with a higher moisture tolerance. Also I took the peice that had a root still attached trimmed up the dead leaves and put it in a pot with cacti mix and brought it inside it had bumps on the brown part at the base that look like little nodules, like baby roots. We will see what happens.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:28 am

Glad you're able to eliminate roof drain issues, etc.

The little nodules are good...it's the beginning of new roots as they develop.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/2636882322/" title="DSC01429 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3053/2636 ... 2b06_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSC01429"></a>

Barb

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:41 pm

Those Rostratas look nice and healthy they have big fat roots.

Did you grow those from seed?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:50 pm

Nope, bought them from Plant Delights in the Carolinas...
Fabulous plants, great company/service.
Almost had to sell my first-born to pay for all the border crap and phyto cert.
But that wasn't PD's fault.

I posted the pic because you mentioned "nodes".
Nodes are the lumps that turn into new roots, that eventually darken in color.

The photos also show the roots' thickness (for storing water).
Relatively small plants like these can already survive considerable drought.

Someone said water them in early spring, then to forget it.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:48 pm

with a low of 13F.................it sounds like your 2 dead ones were something other than Y. rostrata.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:26 pm

I know I have lost the last rostrata I bought, it was small and I even had it covered. The first year is always the hardest on them. Grow them just a bit bigger. Cover them that first and second years atleast. Go to a gravel pit and get the road mix, good stuff for yuccas and cactus. 20 bucks and they will fill the pickup bed.

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:29 am

So I am beging to think whatever killed my Rostratas was not because of the cold. I think it may be gophers causing the problem, they seem to like to kill everything over the winter. I noticed gophers or something ate my 2 variegated yucca gloriosas roots. Also they ate some on my blazing stars and my blanket flowers. I am angry now, anyone know how to control gophers? I am pretty sure thats what it is I see them occasionally and we have moles but I read they are insectivores and do not eat plant material.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:07 pm

do you have a photo of the rodent's holes/tunnels? It could be voles too?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 4:41 pm

Gophers bring up those gigantic mounds of soil as they do their damage, some of them around here are a foot tall and three feet wide.
But a nice way to get topsoil without a shovel...

Betting on voles too.
The size of the tunnel entrance generally decides what it is.

Barb

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:33 pm

No I dont have pics but ill try to take some whatever it is I notice the plants start to wilt and then u pick up the whole plant and there is a burrow underneath and the roots have been eaten. Thats maybe why the rostratas had no roots left, also the gloriosas had no roots attached. I did not notice any mounds of soil so maybe they are voles, not sure I have seen gophers here before though. If its not rabbits and deer eating everything its some other kind of critter.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:41 am

I have voles too............they haven't been touching my Yuccas..............yet.

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:29 am

Well beware they will destroy everything. I noticed today they killed 3 Trachys and damaged a Needle palm. I only have one Trachy out front left.

We have lots of predators out here such as owls, foxes, and snakes so I am not sure where we are infested with them. They really only seem to eat everything in the winter for some reason. Here is a technique I found used to kill the Voles I hate killing things but something has to be done. I am going to try this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co0M5mG3gbA

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:12 pm

I noticed today they killed 3 Trachys and damaged a Needle palm

Oh NO!!!!!

Terrible news.

Are your Trachies LOOSE in the ground? Falling over? Fallen over?

Sheesh, that reminds me my big Trachy is a bit loose...putting a trap in there today for sure!

Re the video...he talked about the "larger hole" too.
That's definitely not voles/mice then...probably gophers.
Because voles/mice are pretty small and don't dig a larger hole than they need.

Please post some photos, and give scale to the hole size.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:33 pm

here's my vole tunnels...............or I think they are voles?

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 4896F9.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... AA977E.jpg>

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:41 pm

I dunno probably voles, since gophers leave mounds I am pretty sure now that what I have are voles. The palms had been chewed off at the ground under the winter protection, and they were no roots left the ground had been dug out underneath them. The main trunk of one of my needle palms was chewed halfway through maybe it will recover, im not sure. I think the voles like to get under the winter protection because its warm.

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:04 pm

Here are some pics of the holes and whats left of my yucca gloriosa.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:33 pm

Oh Bryce, I'm so sorry about your yuccas and trachies and needle.
Those photos (Tims and yours) MUST be vole/mice tunnels.

Man oh man, I'd be out there with naphalm (oops...)

I'd do what that guy on the video did...set out 3 mouse traps w. pnt. butter at each plant hole, cover with an inverted bucket to keep dogs/cats from getting hurt.
And order a box of mousetraps on the internet.

Do you have a county extension agency nearby or university? you could talk to them.
Ask your neighbors too if they have destruction on their daffodils and tulips for example.

Let us know whatever more you discover.
Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:45 pm

Holy Mice! It looks terrible! Sorry for the such sad news, Bryce!
I have the same problems with my potted trachys and some other plants which are stored in a cold cellar. But my predators are these bloody rats. Hope a poison bite will help.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 9:49 am

bloody rats

RATS?

they eat your palms?????

Maybe a pellet gun? or a very large cat?

Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:08 am

Thanks Barb, I had haven asked my numerous cats help me (they do eat rats...) but it didn't help. Have to take these plants out there. Tomorrow...

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 12:09 pm

TimMAz6 wrote:here's my vole tunnels...............or I think they are voles?

Looks like voles to me. We had so many one year you could not walk down the sidewalk without stepping on them.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:19 pm

Aaron, did they chew off any of your yucca roots/leaves like they did with Bryce's?
Look what they did to his y.gloriosa.

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 4:11 pm

lucky1 wrote:Aaron, did they chew off any of your yucca roots/leaves like they did with Bryce's?
Look what they did to his y.gloriosa.

Barb

Yes, a few! But the things the ate the most of were cactus and other plants, even small junipers trees. Then when everything else was ate, they started to eat the base of trees or climbing into trees to eat the bark off limbs, and they are not climbers. You ever see that video of the mice infestation in Australia, Yep...it was like that.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 4:44 pm

Wow, never knew a plague of voles could do that.

Did the coyote/cat/hawks finally get them?
Or did you poison them?

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:59 pm

lucky1 wrote:Wow, never knew a plague of voles could do that.

Did the coyote/cat/hawks finally get them?
Or did you poison them?

Barb

They just kind of died off. Even though people poisoned, water traped, stomped them they just kept going, by fall most were gone and very few in the spring. Nature seem to have a way of contorlling things.
Three times we have had explosions, but the first was the worst. The newspaper interviewed me for the article. That fallowing year we had more than our normal numbers of rattlesnakes.

Two above normal years of rain in a row=extra food=high birth rate=to many voles.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:15 pm

Nature DOES seem to work things out...but it's about a year later.

i.e. why couldn't the rattlesnakes and hawks and owls get the VOLES before they eat your plants. ???

Did you post that newspaper article on your blog?
I don't think I've seen that story.

Re explosions, years ago saw a show on mouse explosion in NewMex after several years of heavy rainfall and lots of lush new grass growing.
Followed by the devastating Hanta Virus that spread into people's lungs when they inhaled swept/dust mouse droppings.

Bryce is probably out buying a cannon to aim at his garden...

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:13 pm

lucky1 wrote:Did you post that newspaper article on your blog?
I don't think I've seen that story.

Bryce is probably out buying a cannon to aim at his garden...

Barb

That newspaper article came out before my blog, I dont think I read it, but the guys at work always read to me when ever I get in the news.

Bryce should try "prozap" mole and gopher killer. It is a zinc base pellet. A zinc base pellet is what the BLM used to drop over the wildlands here. Just put it by the holes, works good! Or place it under a piece of plywood.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:19 pm

guys at work always read to me when ever I get in the news

Cool!

Wow...bet the BLM poisoned a lot of birds in those days.

This may be of interest:
http://www.volecontrol.com/

Barb

PalmsNorth.com

Yucca Rostratas Died

Yucca Rostratas Died

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