How can I reduce height of 9 foot yucca houseplant? Can I cut it?
Question:This yucca (elephantipes type, I think) is nearly 40 years old and I don't want to kill it....but it's just too tall. I can't keep it in the house at this height. It's outside now, for summer, but in the fall when it's time to bring them all indoors, what to do?
Can these plants be just cut in two, or could I make a straight cut to take off the top 2 feet, eg.? How will that affect it?
And if cutting is ok, when should I do it, now or when it's back inside?
Thanks for advice!
Answers:
Since the growing point is at the base of the rosette, cutting back on the stem won't work. If you are hoping for adventitious growth to come from the trunk, probably not.
Now if you had pups at the base, yes, cut back the main stem and let the pups grow.
Another thought is airlayering. by nicking the trunk on several sides in one location, sprinkling with rooting hormone, wrapping with wet sphaghnum moss and covering with Saran wrap, you might get roots to form where you can then remove the roots and plant above and repot.
cut it
Why don't you put them in the yard.
Embark is a hormone that stunts plant growth. Use as directed after pruning plant to desired height.
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