Anyone know about Yuccas?

[miniwill58]

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?

[miniwill58]

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.

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.

[miniwill58]

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?

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?

[miniwill58]

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.

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?

[miniwill58]

A few days on, moved by a window and a radiator and it’s looking a bit worse, no water added either.

[miniwill58]

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...

[miniwill58]

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?

[miniwill58]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

I did say it isn’t going to recover quickly.

Yes, true.

Off with the leaves then and we'll see what happens later in the year.