A palm tree as a bonsai? Many a plant lover will shake their heads in the negative at this idea, after all, palm trees are not considered pruning at all and therefore not suitable for bonsai. These plants simply cannot be kept small enough and also cannot be shaped - which are the typical characteristics of a bonsai. Fortunately, the yucca "palm" does not belong to the palm species, but is an asparagus plant.
The yucca palm can be used to create distinctive bonsai landscapes
Which yucca species can be trained to bonsai?
As such, a yucca is very tolerant of pruning and will usually sprout again even after it has been drastically pruned - as long as only a small piece of the stem or cuttings remain. Naturally, the stem-forming yucca species are particularly suitable for a bonsai culture, for example
- Yucca elephantipes (giant palm lily)
- Yucca rostrata (hardy)
- Yucca gloriosa (candle palm lily, hardy)
- Yucca aloifolia (Gray Yucca)
- Yucca torreyi (hardy)
- Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree or Joshua palm lily)
There are also different varieties or hybrids of some of the species mentioned.
Caring for a yucca bonsai properly
In order for your project to succeed and you grow a beautiful yucca bonsai, you should care for the plant according to its natural needs.
location and substrate
Yuccas, no matter what type, need a bright, warm and sheltered location. These plants do not tolerate drafts and moisture, nor do they tolerate a place in full sun: this often leads to burns on the leaves. In terms of substrate, choose a nutrient-rich soil that is mixed with sand and expanded clay (€19.73). Good drainage is immensely important anyway, as the plant does not tolerate waterlogging.
watering and fertilizing
So water the yucca only moderately and if possible not penetratingly. Excess irrigation water should be removed immediately. Yuccas cultivated as bonsai should only be fertilized very rarely or not at all. However, the latter is only possible if the plant is transplanted into fresh substrate every year.
cutting and wiring
Yuccas are very tolerant of pruning and will continue to sprout even after radical pruning - but not always as hoped. Wiring is possible to some extent, but not on thick trunks and only on young shoots. In addition, most yuccas only form a trunk and no side shoots or branches. In this respect, there are limits to the design options in these cases.
tips
Yuccas cultivated in pots should always be wintered frost-free and cool in an unheated room or a conservatory at a maximum of 10 °C. This also applies if it is actually a hardy species.