Yucca Plant Misidentified as Palm: Overwatering Recovery

A "palm" with a side shoot and collapsing top was actually a yucca (Yucca elephantipes)—a desert plant. The owner had repotted a year ago; it thrived then declined.

Diagnosis

Overwatering caused trunk softening and collapse. The side shoot is a natural offset, not a parasite.

Rescue Steps

1. If upper trunk is soft, cut back to firm tissue.
2. Stop watering until soil is bone-dry for a full week.
3. Winter: water once monthly, max 2 quarts.
4. Maximize light: open blinds sunrise to sunset.
5. Summer: move outdoors under shade (not full sun); water twice weekly in heat, weekly in 70s°F.

Yuccas need sandy, well-draining soil, full sun, and minimal water. Treat like a cactus.