Question
Hello Darlene,
 My name is Derek and I have a 3 foot Yucca plant.  I've had this plant for about 3 months and it has always been healthy until now.  The leaves are turning brown and dying and the plant is beginning to look "less full" than it was before.  After reviewing one of your answers to another person's question, I found out that a Yucca is actually a desert plant and not a palm. I believe that I overwatered it by mistake!  How do I make sure that it survives and becomes healthy again?  If I don't water it for a while, will it start to get better, or have I ruined it?   PLEASE HELP

Respectfully,
Derek and his favorite plant

Answer
Derek,

To start with of course dry it out as quickly as possible. Remove the drain tray and set it in the sink or tub to drain as much water off as possible. Then put it back in the sunniest location possible in your home. If you live in a warm climate you can move it outdoors in a semishaded location so it doesn't get sunburned easily (then you can slowly move it to more sun by moving it to a little sunnier location every 2 weeks but don't be in a hurry, the leaves toughen up to the sun slowly. Or you can just leave it in the shade outside.) It should only be outside when night temperatures are above 50 degrees. It will survive as long as there is green at the top growin g point.

Carefully remove any brown leaves, I would start by just cutting them off close to the trunk. Later when the trunk is sturdier you can pull the remainder off and reveal the trunk more. The brown leaves will not turn green again. I agree with you the plant has a definite palm tree appearance but you have to treat it like a cactus. I have one that is 27 years old and have taen cuttings from it many times and started a lot of new plants from it. When yours starts getting too large write again and I will give you instructions on cutting it back in the spring and starting new plants fom it, probably about 2-3 years from now at this time of year.

It will tae time but it will survive this, just make sure it is dry before you water it and that it is getting lots of sun. Treat it like a large cactus and it will do well. They live forever. Good luck.

Darlene