Can You Split a Spanish Dagger Yucca?

Precautions

• Many Spanish dagger plants possess spiny, stiff foliage that may pose a danger during the division process. Prune off the tips of the leaves to remove the barbs, or tie back the foliage to keep it out of the way while removing an offshoot. Wear gloves, goggles and protective clothing to prevent injury.

Offshoot Selection

• Offshoots form at the tips of underground stems around the base of an established Spanish dagger plant. The best offshoots for division are fairly large and have a well-established root system. Ideally, an offshoot chosen for division should be no fewer than 6 to 8 inches wide because a smaller one often lacks the necessary root mass to survive division. Look for an offshoot with erect leaves that have bright, healthy coloring. Avoid selecting an offshoot with obvious discolorations, damage or wounds on its leaves because it may be too stressed to survive the division process.

Division Process

• An offshoot's entire root ball must be lifted from the ground during the division process in order for the offshoot to survive. The soil between the offshoot and the parent plant should be removed to reveal the stem that connects them, and a sharp knife should be used to sever the stem at the parent plant's base. Measure 3 inches outward from the offshoot's base, and dig there to a 4-inch depth. Work a shovel blade underneath the offshoot, and gently pry the offshoot loose from the soil. Using soil to fill the hole left by the offshoot protects the parent plant's roots. Gently tamp that soil to collapse air pockets.

Transplanting Procedure and Aftercare

• A transplanted Spanish dagger offshoot roots fairly quickly in the ground, but rooting it in a plastic pot is best so its soil's moisture content can be controlled more easily. The pot must have at least one bottom drainage hole in order to prevent root rot and fungal growth. Fill the plastic pot with sandy, fast-draining potting soil, and transplant the offshoot in the soil. Position the offshoot so the base of its foliage is 1/4 inch above the soil surface, which decreases the likelihood of fungal leaf spot. The offshoot needs to grow in a warm, bright place that receives light shade at midday. Its soil needs roughly 1/2 inch of water every 10 to 15 days, but always let the top 1 inch of soil dry out before adding water. After two months, the offshoot can be transplanted into a sunny garden bed.