Native Plants

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Thursday - January 12, 2012

From: Douglassville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation, Cacti and Succulents
Title: Speeding up growth of Hesperaloe parviflora (red yucca)
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Sean Watson

QUESTION:

I have germinated Hesperaloe parviflora, Red Yucca, for our Caddo Native plant sale. I have kept in the cool greenhouse for 2 months and they are about 2 inches. A friend put one outside and they froze down. Could you supply transplant and growing information to facilitate fastest growth for a sale in May?

ANSWER:

Our nursery manager, Sean Watson, has this advice:

"They will grow faster in warmer temperatures (if possible, 80 to 90 degrees would be great). If not, you can keep them in your cool greenhouse until danger of frost has passed and try to let the greenhouse get as warm as it can. Really well drained media helps decrease death by rot (you can water them more than you think to make them grow much faster). They do fine outside in pots after they have developed their "bulb" and have been allowed to harden off before the coldest winter temps come. I have never had problems with mature plants down into single digits, at least."