Adams needle (Yucca filamentosa) is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen succulent often used in Southwest-themed landscapes. A yucca plant in the asparagus family, Adams needle is a virtually stemless shrub with blade-like leaves that form a basal rosette. The foliage clumps are usually 2 to 3 feet tall, with curled threads lining the edges of the leaves, giving it its species name—filamentosa—for its threads or “filaments.”
Mature plants about four or five years old will send up large flower stalks from the center of the foliage in late spring or summer. These stalks can be as tall as 8 feet and are topped with numerous bell-shaped, creamy white flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Adams needle can be planted almost any time, though it is most commonly available at nurseries in the spring. Humans can eat the fruits and flowers of this plant; however, it is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
As a proud owner of the striking Adams Needle plant, it can be disheartening to see your beloved succulent start to struggle. But don’t despair! By understanding the most common causes of Adams Needle decline, you can take action to revive your plant and restore its vibrant beauty.
Overwatering – The Silent Killer
Without a doubt overwatering is the number one killer of Adams Needle plants. I’ve learned this the hard way, having drowned many a Yucca in my early gardening days. Adams Needle plants hail from arid deserts and thrive in fast-draining sandy or gravelly soil. Sitting in wet soil for too long suffocates the roots leading to the dreaded rot.
How to tell if you’re overwatering? Look for yellow drooping lower leaves soft and mushy stems and foul odors coming from the soil. The biggest mistake I see plant parents make is sticking to a rigid watering schedule rather than checking if the soil is dry before watering again. Always allow the top few inches of soil to dry out before you quench your plant’s thirst.
Underwatering – Don’t Let Your Plant Dehydrate!
While overwatering is more lethal, the opposite extreme can also spell doom for your Adams Needle. If you forget to water for too long, the leaves will dry out, curl and turn brown. The telltale sign of underwatering is bone-dry soil. Adams Needle prefers evenly moist (but not soggy) soil during the growing season.
I recommend the “taco test” – gently squeeze or fold a leaf. If it’s pliable, your plant is properly hydrated. If it snaps, get that watering can out stat!
Sunburn – Too Much of a Good Thing
Adams Needle thrives in full sun. But newer leaves can get scorched if they’re exposed to intense afternoon sun in summer. Look for bleached or browned leaf tips as an indication of sun damage. Relocate your plant if it gets more than 6 hours of direct sun per day. Early morning or late evening sun is gentler and less likely to burn delicate new growth.
You can also shade your Adams Needle by growing them alongside taller plants or using sheer curtains to diffuse harsh sunlight streaming into your living room.
Poor Drainage – Don’t Let Your Plant’s Roots Suffocate
Adams Needle plants already don’t appreciate wet feet. Combine that weakness with dense, water-retentive potting mix or a container without drainage holes and you have a recipe for disaster. Root rot will quickly set in and can kill your plant within days. Always use a fast-draining cactus/succulent soil blend. You can further improve drainage by mixing in perlite, gravel or sand.
Make sure your container has sufficient drainage holes at the bottom and that you empty any accumulated water in the saucer after watering. Stagnant water is toxic to this desert dweller’s roots!
Nutrient Deficiency – Feed Your Plant!
Lack of fertilization is a sneaky cause of Adams Needle decline. Without a steady supply of essential nutrients, growth will slow, leaves can yellow and your plant will fail to thrive. Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer to provide an all-you-can-eat buffet for your hungry plant!
But don’t overdo it – excessive fertilizer can burn the roots. Always dilute to half or quarter strength and leach out any salt buildup by watering heavily every few months.
Infestations – Keep An Eagle Eye Out!
Spider mites, mealybugs and scale are common pests that can infest Adams Needle. Heavy infestations will weaken and even kill plants, so early detection and treatment is key. Look closely along the undersides of leaves and at the base of fronds for tiny insects, fine webs or sticky secretions.
Wipe away any visible pests with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol. Prune off badly infested fronds. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil as a natural treatment if the infestation is widespread. Catching bugs early keeps damage to a minimum!
By understanding what commonly ails your Adams Needle, you can diagnose problems early and take corrective action to get your plant back to its glorious self! Proper care is the best preventative medicine, so provide optimal light, moderate watering, drainage and nutrition to keep your Yucca thriving for years.
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Propagating Adam’s Needle
Adams needle can be propagated by several methods: seed, stem cutting, rhizomes, or basal offshoots. It is best propagated in spring or summer unless you plan to propagate by division, then winter is best. Pruning yucca is sometimes necessary to keep a plant from growing too tall and unruly; pruned healthy stems are perfect for stem cutting propagation.
Rhizomes are the underground root system of the yucca plant. Heres how to propagate by rhizome division:
- Youll need a spade or shovel, a sharp, sterilized knife, a pot with many holes, and a well-draining potting mix. Also, wear sturdy protective gloves and long sleeves.
- Using the spade or shovel, dig up part of the root. With your knife, cut off a 3-inch section of healthy root.
- Transplant the section of root into a well-draining potting mix.
- Keep it in a warm, well-lit indoor room.
- In 3 to 4 weeks, the plant should produce roots, and you should notice new growth.
To propagate from a stem cutting:
- Youll need a sharp knife or garden pruners to remove one or several stems between 5” to 10” inches long. Youll also need well-draining potting soil and a pot with drainage holes.
- Allow the cut to dry for 24 to 48 hours before you plant the stem in well-draining sandy soil with the cut end down.
- Plant it in a shady location and keep the soil moist until roots begin to develop. Root growth can take one to two months. After two months, you can gently tug at the leaf and will feel if roots have taken hold, or you may notice new growth from the stem.
Offsets or pups grow at the base of the parent plant and are genetic clones of the mother plant. To propagate from its offshoots:
- Youll need a new pot with well-draining soil and, optionally, a sharp knife.
- If your yucca is in a pot, remove the plant, and identify the offshoot or pup. Or, if in the ground, carefully dig around the offshoot. Most offsets will have a root system. You should be able to break it away from the parent plant easily. If offset roots are connected to the mother, gently cut them away from the parent.
- Pot the offset with its roots in its new pot. Provide water. Keep the soil moist for the first few months until you notice new growth.
- Allow the offset to root in the pot before transplanting the new root ball into the garden.
How to Grow Adam’s Needle From Seed
Sow more seeds than the number of plants you ultimately want since germination is unpredictable. Start the germination process indoors in March. It can take four to five weeks for seeds to germinate. For best results, many gardeners soak the seeds overnight before planting.
- Use a sterile, soilless mix or seed starter mix.
- Tamp down the soil in the pot, leaving about an inch of room at the top of the pot.
- Place the seed on the soil and cover it lightly with about 1/8 inch of soil.
- Keep the soil moist at about 55 degrees. Once the plant sprouts, put it in the bright window or under a grow light until its large enough to plant in a permanent location.
Beware! The dangers of the Yucca plant.
FAQ
Why is my adams needle falling over?
What is the disease on the Adams needle?
How to tell if a yucca is dying?
Why are the leaves on my Adam’s needle plant drooping?
Does Adam’s needle need a pot?
Adam’s needle needs a pot that’s only slightly larger than its rootball. Yucca plants will stop storing water in their leaves during dormancy over the winter, protecting the plant from deep freezes.
Can you grow Adam’s needle in a container?
You can also grow Adam’s needle in a large container. Yucca filamentosa has few severe diseases or pest issues. Adam’s needle attracts yucca moths at night, which are the main pollinator for this plant. This plant grows best in full sun but will tolerate a little shade. In low light conditions, however, yucca will stretch toward the sun.
How do you propagate Adam’s needle?
Use sharp garden shears to prune away leaves by cutting them down close to the base of the plant. Adam’s needle can be propagated by several methods: seed, stem cutting, rhizomes, or basal offshoots. It is best propagated in spring or summer unless you plan to propagate by division, then winter is best.
Does Adam’s needle need a lot of soil?
Adam’s needle needs well-drained soil, and you should keep it a bit on the dry side. It does not require fertile soil, so it is a good choice for poor, rocky, or sandy soil areas. It also does not seem to mind pollutants or salty soil, making it suitable for roadside plantings.