yucca fertilizer

(@cowtown-palm-society)

Posts: 213

Reputable Member

Topic starter

Hi Guys,

Does anyone have any recommendations for a general yucca fertilizer? I hear people say in some forums that "yuccas don't get fertilizer in their natural habitat...so why in a cultivated one?" Well, I say, what does get fertilizer in its natural habitat? Yet we still fertilize most plants, so I don't know why yucca would be exceptional in this regard. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Duncan

Posted : 04/07/2010 10:13 am

DesertZone

(@desertzone)

Posts: 4411

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I would only give fertilizer if the yucca is not showing any growth. I have seen alot of thin weak stocks because of to much fertilizer.

Experiment a little and see what works best. 😉

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Posted : 04/07/2010 9:52 pm

lucky1

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

Illustrious Member

Duncan, I too wondered about that.

I gave my Yucca rostrata "sapphire skies" a dilute 24-8-12+mg+mn Palm Special Fert a couple of weeks ago.
They haven't done much yet because of our cool spring.
Barb

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Posted : 05/07/2010 6:36 pm

Cowtown Palm Society

(@cowtown-palm-society)

Posts: 213

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Topic starter

Thanks guys. I was thinking of experimenting with Carl Pool palm fertilizer. If the growth seems reasonable though, maybe I'll leave well enough alone.

Duncan 😀

Posted : 06/07/2010 9:34 pm

TimMAz6

(@timmaz6)

Posts: 2788

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Yuccas seem to grow well in my climate and I don't fertilize them unless they are containerized. Give it a try and let us know the results!

Posted : 07/07/2010 10:51 am

Paul Ont

(@paul-ont)

Posts: 1385

Noble Member

Duncan,

Yuccas don't tend to respond too well to fertilizer. Most are programmed to grow slowly and require little water (most have substantial tap roots)... That said, you can increase the growth rate by applying fertilizer, perhaps 20-10-10 or similar in the early season. I do fertilize most of my Yucca with 21-7-8, and/or 30-10-10 to try to push them early in the season. It seems to have more of an effect on the Eastern types (filamentosa, recurvfolia, etc.) than on Western types (glauca, elata). Be warned though, that it is probably too late now to fertilize your plants, since, if the fertilizer has the desired effect, it will mean much new growth (i.e. softer growth) that may not harden off in time for early freezes (which Calgary is famous for).

Posted : 07/07/2010 11:14 am

Cowtown Palm Society

(@cowtown-palm-society)

Posts: 213

Reputable Member

Topic starter

Thanks for the advice guys! 😀 I will probably take it easy on the fertilizer this year, as I'm not unhappy with the growth. Cheers!

Duncan

Posted : 08/07/2010 11:52 pm