Joshua trees are native to the Mojave Desert.
Joshua trees, Yucca brevifolia, are native to the Mojave Desert in the American Southwest. That doesn't mean they won't grow elsewhere, but they won't occur naturally. The hardest thing about caring for a Joshua tree in West Texas is how long the seedling takes to grow. It can be up to a decade before Joshuas attain a height of 5 feet, when they begin to take on a tree-like appearance. Do your best to duplicate the soil, moisture and temperature conditions of the high desert, starting with a Joshua tree seedling, which looks much like a blade of grass. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Mix 2 parts washed sand with 2 parts perlite and 1 part humus combined with long-release granular fertilizer.
2. Cut a 30-inch length of 6-inch-diameter PVC with a saw to create a tall pot. Cover one end of the pipe with fine-mesh screen and wire it in place with floral wire.
3. Fill the tall pot with the soil mix, and tuck the seedling in. Water the soil until water drains freely from the bottom of the tall pot.
4. Place the potted Joshua tree in indirect light. Keep it in temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or greater for best growth. The seedling will quickly send a long tap root into the sandy soil.
5. Move the seedling to a full-sun location when it is 6 to 10 inches tall. Place the potted seedling in its new site to acclimate for several weeks. Prepare a deep bed of the same soil mix as you used for the tall pot, and plant your Joshua tree seedling.
6. Water the seedling on a regular basis, allowing the ground to dry out between waterings. Encourage lateral roots to grow by watering until puddles of standing water appear. Lateral roots will help stabilize the Joshua tree when higher winds occur.
Tags: Joshua tree, Joshua tree seedling, Joshua trees, Mojave Desert, native Mojave, native Mojave Desert, Place potted
