Anyone know about Yuccas?
Discussion
We've had a yucca plant indoors for a few years now - it has seemed pretty happy for the majority of this time, we've repotted it to a larger pot since it out grew the last one.
Recently it's taken a bit of a turn though - the leaves have all wilted and are turning yellow/brown. It's usually placed in our living room which can be a fairly dark room during the winter months. We've moved it to the kitchen, where it should be getting maximum sunlight throughout the day - this was 3 - 4 weeks a go and it doesn't seem to have made much difference.
Typically it's watered once a week with only a small amount (<250ml) straight in to the bottom of the pot rather than on top of the soil.
We thought maybe too much water still so we were planning on not watering it this week but there doesn't seem to be any improvement still.
So does anyone know about yuccas? How can we save it please, where are we going wrong?
Recently it's taken a bit of a turn though - the leaves have all wilted and are turning yellow/brown. It's usually placed in our living room which can be a fairly dark room during the winter months. We've moved it to the kitchen, where it should be getting maximum sunlight throughout the day - this was 3 - 4 weeks a go and it doesn't seem to have made much difference.
Typically it's watered once a week with only a small amount (<250ml) straight in to the bottom of the pot rather than on top of the soil.
We thought maybe too much water still so we were planning on not watering it this week but there doesn't seem to be any improvement still.
So does anyone know about yuccas? How can we save it please, where are we going wrong?
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=944
Problems section down the bottom, seems pretty standard. Had the yellowing actually got worse since you changed or is it just no better? It’s not growing at the moment so may not recover until next year
Problems section down the bottom, seems pretty standard. Had the yellowing actually got worse since you changed or is it just no better? It’s not growing at the moment so may not recover until next year
Pheo said:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=944
Problems section down the bottom, seems pretty standard. Had the yellowing actually got worse since you changed or is it just no better? It’s not growing at the moment so may not recover until next year
Thanks for the link. Repotted much earlier in the year - don't think it's still in shock.Problems section down the bottom, seems pretty standard. Had the yellowing actually got worse since you changed or is it just no better? It’s not growing at the moment so may not recover until next year
When was it last fed...erm...never...
From the RHS link - I wonder if it's over watering, more of the leaves do seem to be going limp.
Sheets Tabuer said:
Different species of yucca to the outdoor one.
You're over watering it, they are very drought resistant and don't need a lot of water.
Thanks. So what should we do, leave it where it is, stop watering it and hope for the best? You're over watering it, they are very drought resistant and don't need a lot of water.
Should we repot it to check for any root rot or is that a big risk we might then shock it and kill it off completely?
Sheets Tabuer said:
Yes, you should only water a yucca when you stick your finger in the pot and you can't feel moisture to your first knuckle.
Stick it in a light spot and leave it alone.
Thanks very much.Stick it in a light spot and leave it alone.
Regarding water - (when we do water it in a few days/weeks/whenever) should we water it from the top or should we be putting the water in the bottom of the bigger pot for it to suck up?
The water requirement for plants varies massively with time of year and they grow slower in winter so use less water. I judge it by lifitng the pot - if it's very light, add water (I water from the top). I find plants prefer a good splosh at long intervals rather than a constant drip-drip.
Pull the plant out of the pot - is the soil wet?
Pull the plant out of the pot - is the soil wet?
I know about yuccas. 
The right hand head is dead, cut it off.
What has harmed yours is either lack of light or excess of water, or a combo.
It barely needs watering at this time of year; as someone said above, if the soil feels remotely damp in a draining pot, do not water.
Yuccas don't mind the cold (mine is in an unheated conservatory) but they do need light, lots of light.
So find the brightest place in the house and put it there, even if it's cold.
If the woody stem starts to feel remotely soft, it's past saving.
If it dies, and you have a dark, warm house, buy a Dracaena and keep it dry, or a Spathiphyllum, and water it as much as you like.
The right hand head is dead, cut it off.
What has harmed yours is either lack of light or excess of water, or a combo.
It barely needs watering at this time of year; as someone said above, if the soil feels remotely damp in a draining pot, do not water.
Yuccas don't mind the cold (mine is in an unheated conservatory) but they do need light, lots of light.
So find the brightest place in the house and put it there, even if it's cold.
If the woody stem starts to feel remotely soft, it's past saving.
If it dies, and you have a dark, warm house, buy a Dracaena and keep it dry, or a Spathiphyllum, and water it as much as you like.
Overwatering is by far the most likely cause, in which case the plant is not going to recover quickly. You’ve damaged the root system, so it’s going to take weeks, if not months, to recover. In fact I wouldn’t expect it to start recovering until well into next year’s growing season - March or April at the earliest. Until then, I’m afraid your plant will probably continue to look miserable.
I recommend you stop moving it around - that really isn’t helping. You’re just stressing the plant even more by forcing it to cope with changes in its environment. Putting it next to a radiator is probably a very bad idea. I would find somewhere cool-ish, away from draughts, in bright light, and leave it there. Don’t water it at all until it’s really quite dry - even if that takes weeks.
The plant is, I’m afraid, probably going to get much worse before it gets better. I wouldn’t even be surprised if it gradually loses all its leaves, but it will probably re-sprout new growing points next year.
I recommend you stop moving it around - that really isn’t helping. You’re just stressing the plant even more by forcing it to cope with changes in its environment. Putting it next to a radiator is probably a very bad idea. I would find somewhere cool-ish, away from draughts, in bright light, and leave it there. Don’t water it at all until it’s really quite dry - even if that takes weeks.
The plant is, I’m afraid, probably going to get much worse before it gets better. I wouldn’t even be surprised if it gradually loses all its leaves, but it will probably re-sprout new growing points next year.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Tuesday 19th December 20:34
Thanks both
We’ve had the plant a couple of years now so it’s done some winter months with us before but this year it’s obviously not happy.
Points taken from both of you; I’ve cut the dead bit off and I’ve moved it back to the kitchen which is the lightest room in the house.
As I said, we’ve had it a couple of years and we’re oddly attached to it so don’t want it to die!
Thanks again! Will update as we go...
We’ve had the plant a couple of years now so it’s done some winter months with us before but this year it’s obviously not happy.
Points taken from both of you; I’ve cut the dead bit off and I’ve moved it back to the kitchen which is the lightest room in the house.
As I said, we’ve had it a couple of years and we’re oddly attached to it so don’t want it to die!
Thanks again! Will update as we go...
miniwill58 said:
Well, we went away for Christmas and New Year, had a great time! The yucca doesn't seem to have had such a good time:
Not sure what to do next, cut the rest off and then leave it and hope for the best later in the year? Or just bin it?
I did say it isn’t going to recover quickly.Not sure what to do next, cut the rest off and then leave it and hope for the best later in the year? Or just bin it?
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