Question
WIlting yukka
Will
Please can you help me? I have had this yukka plant (see attached photo) for 8 years and never really had any problems with it but it has recently started wilting badly. It went through a period where it was in the corner of the room and did not have enough light. However, once I realised it didn't have enough light (some of the leaves were yellowing) I put it right by the window in the position seen in the photo.
However, the lower leaf clusters recently started to wilt, one by one. The bit from which the leaves grow is soft and has bent right over. I was conscious not to over-water the plant and I only water it when the soil is dry but perhaps I have under watered it?? After a few weeks, all 3 lower leaf clusters drooped right over but the leaves remained green and new shoots have also grown on the top clusters. However, the top leaf clusters have now also begun to start to droop. Can I stop this before it is too late?? There are also some small brown dots on the upper leaves. I have checked the roots and they mainly appear to be OK. There is one which sticks out and is a reddy/browny colour (are they supposed to be a paler colour?).
The plant is in a 30cm diameter pot and was last re-potted about 5 years ago. The plant is approx 125cm high. I really hope I can save this plant but I just don't know what to do as some of the sites I have read indicate I am underwatering and some overwatering so I am a bit stuck! I would be really grateful if you could help me!
Thanks
Sarah
AnswerHi Sarah,
Thanks for posting the photo.
The thinness of the leaves tells me that your Yucca has not had enough light for a long time, which you acknowledged. Even its present location is not close enough to the window. Lack of light does not reveal obvious symptoms for a long time, but while not getting enough light, the plant conserves energy by shrinking back its root system and using less water and nutrients. Over watering is a very common problem with plants that do not receive adequate light.
Another contributor to the present problem is the pot that is a bit too large. The pot should be no more than 25 cms. The too-large pot with excess soil retains water for too long and keeps the soil from drying out frequently enough to discourage root rot. Copper colored roots are usually healthy, but I am quite sure you will find that the root system does not enclose all of the soil into a fairly solid rootball, as it should.
While it is true that severe drought will cause Yuccas to wilt after a while, it is unlikely that has happened with yours because Yuccas are drought resistant, because it did not get enough light and the pot is too large. A misunderstanding by those who think you have underwatering.
If the stems that grow out of the tops of the canes are shriveled as well as bent, then they will not recover. If the bark on the canes has shriveled and become paper-like, then they will not survive either. If there is no shriveling of either, then the plant may survive, but pruning is still in order.
I suggest that you cut off all the stems about 2-3 inches below the lowest healthy leaves on each stem. These stems can be rooted in water and later transferred to small pots with soil after the roots are at least an inch long. If the canes are healthy, then new growth may emerge just below the stems where you made the pruning cuts. If there is no sign of new growth on the pruned stems in the next 4-6 weeks, then you can assume the roots are too badly damaged to support the existing plant.
Yucca cuttings and plants require maximum sunlight when indoors. They must also be kept in small pots filled with a porous potting mix with lots of sand and/or perlite. Then, allow the soil to dry about one-third of the way down onto the pot in between thorough waterings.
In sum, too little light, too much soil and too much water will all slowly contribute to the gradual decline of this otherwise hardy indoor [plant.
I have written an article on Yucca care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at
[email protected].
Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.
Need more information? Visit my website at:
A link to HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at
[email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC
Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com
