Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Yucca Cane

Q. I got something similar to the dracaena, which was called a yucca cane. It has the same tall stalk/stem, but much fatter, and the leaves/fronds much thicker, pointed and more erect. A part broke off, which is what I believe you referred to in a previous response as a "basal shoot". In other words, it was part of the spiky foliage which had developed an air root, much like an airplane plant. It broke away from the plant easily, and has that one area of dry roots. I let it dry out for a couple of days, because a radio gardening show said to do that with succulents before you plant. But this plant is definitely beginning to show its lack of water. How do I go about rooting this stem?

A. The succulent story is that the man meant for it to air-dry to seal the cut area where the juices flow. This cuts way back on the chance of fungi or bacteria getting inside the stem and causing rot. It is like us making scar tissue.

But, the air-drying of the shoot you took is not the same thing. I would have planted it right away. I suggest something without soil, mainly fine clean sand, with some fine perlite and a little bit vermiculite. Place it in a clean pot, down an inch or two and cover with a clear plastic bag. Secure at pot base with string or large rubber band. Poke about 5 holes all around the top of the bag so that air can circulate and yet the humidity will build up and stay high during rooting.

Remove bag for a couple hours when you see water bubbles inside. Replace. After about 2-3 weeks, remove bag, place in stronger light and watch the waterings. Pot into house plant soil mix and begin feeding only when you see that the shoot is growing, using only 1/4 t per gallon water for a while. Keep on a tray with pebbles until it gets going and can be on its own. Dracaena do work better indoors than this yucca, but that is a really nice, strong, hardy plant, a desert one, not suited to cool winters, but indoors OK.