Fertilizer for Yucca Plants

Low-maintenance yucca plants are a favourite with many gardeners, because the plant may be potted and grown indoors or planted outside in flower beds. Yucca, a common southwestern desert plant, grows up to 1 foot in height. Yuccas bloom each year, the bell-shaped flowers appearing in white clusters. The foliage ranges in colour, appearing in shades of blue, white, yellow and green. Learn how to best apply and use fertiliser for yucca plants to keep them healthy.

Many gardeners use fertiliser as a go-to plant-pick-me-up, applying it when plants begin to look droopy, wilted or otherwise unhealthy. Sometimes, however, applying fertiliser to yucca plants may do more harm than good. The salt found in fertilisers may harm plants that are already suffering from unhealthy roots. Giving plants too many nutrients may be as detrimental as giving them too few. Don't start fertilising yucca plants, or giving them extra fertiliser, simply because they look unhealthy. Follow a fertilising schedule and stick to it to avoid doing damage to the plant with excess fertilisation treatments. Never fertilise yucca plants when they are newly transplanted.

Proper fertilisation of yucca plants starts with application. Fertiliser should be evenly spread in a circle over the soil of the surface where the roots of the plants spread. Apply water immediately after applying fertiliser to the soil to help the fertiliser seep into the ground. Fertiliser should be applied to yucca plants once a year, at most, in the early summer.

Yucca plants are hardy and quick growing, and in rich soils that receive regular water, they will not need fertiliser at all. Yucca grows native to many parts of the United States, and flourishes easily on its own. Add organic mulch to soil to provide nutrients, and no additional treatments will be needed for the plants to thrive in good and high-quality soils.

Time-release nitrogen fertilisers are best for yucca plants if gardeners determine that additional soil nutrients are needed to keep the plants healthy. Apply 7 grams of slow-release fertiliser for every 8 inches of soil once every three months when the plants are first getting established in the pot or garden. Use rich potting media containing peat moss for potted yucca plants.