The beautiful yucca Spanish Dagger or Gloriosa is a great addition to any garden or patio. Making sure it’s potted correctly is imperative. You want to use the correct type of pot and the right soil to give it a healthy life.
There are two important elements in potting and growing a yucca Spanish Dagger or Gloriosa. First, you must use the right soil. Watering is also a key element. Next, we’ll show you how to pot a yucca, Spanish Dagger, so you have a healthy and beautiful plant.
Choose the Pot
The yucca is a desert plant, so you don’t want it to have soggy soil. Also, the type of pot used contributes to the dryness of the soil.
A plastic pot, although pretty, doesn’t allow the roots to breathe properly. So, if you’re going to use a plastic pot, make sure the pot is lifted off the ground slightly for air circulation.
A terracotta pot is the best for a yucca Gloriosa. Because the terracotta pot is made of clay, it will breathe and allow moisture to escape from the pot. The scourge of any yucca is overwatering. A terracotta pot helps discourage water retention.
The Right Size Pot
Many people think that an oversized pot will help stimulate growth. The theory is that the more room the plant’s root has, the bigger it will grow. But that’s not the case. All potted yuccas like to be root bound and the Spanish Dagger is no exception.
Check the root ball of the Gloriosa. The pot should be slightly bigger than it. Larger pots hold too much water. The Spanish Dagger won’t be able to absorb it all. This will lead to waterlogged roots. The result could result in death for the yucca.
Pot with a Drainage Hole
Drainage is vital for a healthy Spanish Dagger or any yucca. Any pot chosen must have a large drainage hole in the bottom. This allows all excess water that the yucca can’t use to drain.
Many gardeners have a concern about soil escaping through a pot’s hole. And this is a legitimate problem, especially if you want an indoor plant. That’s where self-adhesive drywall tape comes in handy. Used as the foundation when mudding drywall, it is formed with a square weaved pattern. When cut and placed inside the pot over the drainage hole, it allows water to escape while keeping the soil contained.
Well-Draining Soil
Soil is a little tricky for Yuccas of any kind, especially the Spanish Dagger. Some regular potting soil is fine but keep in mind that you don’t want soil that retains water. That’s the downfall of any all yucca.
The Spanish Dagger is indigenous to the southeast. It’s not a desert plant. But it does like dry conditions and well-draining soil. It doesn’t want or need rich soil.
Some people think that cactus soil is good. But the problem is that it’s expensive and tends to be a little on the rich side. The Best combination is:
- potting soil
- perlite
- course horticultural-grade sand
If you’re in a pinch, you can get away without the horticultural sand, but you must mix perlite with the potting soil. Vermiculite can also be used instead of horticultural sand.
The mixture should be 80/20 potting soil and perlite if you don’t use horticultural sand. If you use the horticultural sand, it should be:
- 80 percent potting soil
- 10 percent perlite
- 10 percent course horticultural-grade sand (only use horticultural sand any other sand may contain harmful salts).
Don’t’ obsess over these percentages. You can ballpark it. The yucca won’t know. Mix it in a separate container than your pot. You can use a bucket or even cut a clean beach bottle’s bottom off. It makes a great container. If you have a large pot, a wheelbarrow works.
If the Spanish Dagger is for indoor use, skip the sand, or you might have a mess on your hands.
Remove Spanish Dagger from Original Pot
Although you should use gloves when handling most yuccas, the Spanish Dagger has soft leaves and are easy to work with. They are often referred to as the Soft Tipped Yucca.
You’ll notice a carrot-shaped ball of roots. They seem to be entangled with themselves. They are aggressive in searching for and holding in water. So, if you decide to plant it in the ground, keep in mind the roots can become invasive.
Place Gloriosa in New Pot
Place some soil mixture at the bottom of the pot. Make sure you double-check the amount of soil with the height of the Spanish Dagger. Gently place the Spanish Dagger in the pot and add more soil mixture. Once you have enough soil, water it. Give it a semi-soaking.
Leave the Spanish Dagger Alone
Yuccas are pretty self-sufficient. The number one rule is “Don’t’ over water it.” The rule of thumb is once every two weeks. If you see it’s a little too dry earlier than that, then give it a drink. But first, make sure it isn’t just dry on top. Stick your finger in the soil and check that the soil below the surface isn’t moist before you water. If it is wet, wait a few days and check again. You don’t want to let the roots get oversaturated.
It’s easier to bring a Spanish Dagger back from underwatering, than to save it from over watering.
Enjoy Your Beautiful Spanish Dagger
The Spanish Dagger or Gloriosa is gorgeous and a great addition to your patio or indoor living area. It’s easy to maintain. The Spanish Dagger is the perfect plant if you don’t have a green thumb. It looks great and is easy to care for.
But beware if you plant the Spanish Dagger/Gloriosa in the ground. They can get up to 16 feet tall and become quite invasive.