They live without cover here for the most part, but I have had a few die/die back over the winter. This has a lot to do with poor placement. 😉

They don't have much of a problem with transplant shock, part of what they mean by that is the roots can grow very large and may do poorly if the root is cut short.

All yuccas do poorly if left in pots for too many years, but if you trans plant every year or so and replace the soil they should do good.

I woulndn't start with that type of soil. For me, garden soil, compost (up to 20%) and at least 30% cacus and succulent soil mix. No more than 5% sand in soil by volume, not weight. I feel I have very high success rates with almost all Yucca. This includes elata. Successful unprotected here down to -17c , even when only 1.5 years old in ground.
Too much sand= too wet to begin growth. If anything. 1 to 2 mm topcoat of sand just over the seeds.

My yuccas grow in 90% sand - that's how my garden soil is like, and they seem fine, at least until winter. Will tell you in few months if they survived 😉

Marceli, do you start your seeds in that 90%sand as well? I haven't tried that 😀

garden soil, compost (up to 20%) and at least 30% cacus and succulent soil mix

Adam, doesn't that hold more moisture than sand?

I start them with anything I got at the moment, but 90% of sand might be too fast drying though. I use mostly sand, plus the cheapest flower soil I find. I just sterilize it in oven.
Yuccas are really fast and easy to germinate. The last time I tried, it was 100% vermiculite and it worked too, but it holds the moisture very well.

Jeff, my mix allows the soil to hold moisture, true. It will also dry out a little between waterings, which I feel to be necessary. Too much sand, it will never dry out especially past half an inch deep in the soil.

All vermiculite, eh, that is worth trying. 👿 😯 🙂

Adam, doesn't that hold more moisture than sand?

I start all my yucca seed in the soil from outside (loamy soil), I think you want the soil moist and to stay moist. That is until the seeds sprout and get a couple of leaves. 😀

Don't bury them to deep. Very easy too sprout. 😉

O.k. Thank you all for the advice. Hopefully will have some sprouts soon.

Too much sand, it will never dry out especially past half an inch deep in the soil.

I learned that's true...the hard way.
Plus it's way too heavy...roots need "aggregate" soil mixes for air and water transfer.

Now I use only a top dressing of sand on seedling pots, in an attempt to deter fungus gnats which like moist soil.
The top layer of sand dries very quickly; fungus gnats are still around now and then.

Barb

So it's been over a month since I started my yucca elata and yucca glauca seeds and still nothing. Some of them are planted in cactus and succulent mix and a good portion of vermiculite and a dusting of sand on top. I'm having a devil 😈 of a time because one time I got the soil too wet and the yucca elata seed grew mold. But then if I don't keep it wet enough obviously nothing will happen either. So 2 days ago I put a space heater next to it to warm up the soil. Maybe the seeds aren't viable. Any ideas?

I had a good germination rate for Yucca Schottii and Schidigera but not a lot on on other yucca and hesperaloe seeds. which I would put down to viability.
Personally I would not consider sowing seeds at this time of year as you are approaching minimal natural night levels which is not ideal for seedlings. I tend to start seed sowing in February with growing light levels but with cold stratification to aid seeds that need it.

Jeff, try cold stratification... 3 months minimum, then 24 hour soak, then sow.

I never seem to have problems with Yucca seeds as long as you give them well draining soil and full sun. Soil which is very wet will decrease success. Less sun will decrease success. I will use seed starting soil or just 'normal' loamy soil which is supplemented with additional sand or perlite to make it well draining. Pour water on top of the soil and it should drain quickly. If the water stays on top of the surface for more than a few seconds then I would add additional perlite or sand. Full sun is their best fried. Partial sun is not ideal (less than 4 hours of direct sun).

I don't recommend container growing unless you like slow growing plants. Plant the seedlings where you want them to grow after 3 leaves. Protect the seedling from rabbits and other critters until larger with some sort of 'fence'. I use branch twigs every 1.5" around the perimeter of the seedling until large....this will form a 'jail'. Yuccas grow 10x faster in the ground vs. in containers.

Y. elata roots grow vertical, this makes transplanting difficult since you will slice the root when digging up. I dug up the largest two elatas back in 2003 when I moved from Rhode Island to Massachusetts. Only 1 survived. The survivor didn't grow for 1.5 years after the transplant.......but is huge now..........try not to move them.

PS, unless you have good winter sun/lamps don't germinate the seeds now. I had difficulties with Yucca seeds in winter since they are searching for more light than I could offer them. I generally start them May 1.

Here's a plot of Yucca seedlings I started in May when I lived in Rhode Island......photo taken in September.
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