Scale insects are sucking bugs that eat on the leaves, causing them to rot. The narrow leaves of the Yucca on the long trunks look just delightful. Yuccas may be prone to frost damage, but at least they can grow back their succulent leaves in time! getting enough light is that the leaves become greener. If any snow falls on the foliage, brush it off with a gloved or mittened hand after the storm stops. Most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes so long that you'll get many years of use as a houseplant before it overwhelms your space. Use a sharp knife to take a cutting from the plant and remove the top most leaves. If the ambient temperature is less than 45F (7C) the plant may become damaged. Snow-clad leaves may fold or snap from the added weight. This 300-square-foot polypropylene cover thats available from Amazon can be cut to size to protect your specimens. Get your shears ready to prune yucca in the early spring. While pruning is a quick and effective way to remove blemished leaves, make sure to address the cause of the damage to keep your yucca thriving. In this situation, it is better to stop using the gloss so that the plant will be healthy again and this yucca problem will disappear. Theyll eventually turn crispy, indicating the death of the afflicted plant parts. Pet owners should take caution if adding yucca plantsall parts of the plant are toxic to dogs and cats (as well as horses). To remove dead leaves from the Yucca, carefully cut them off 1 inch from the stem. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The first step in caring for a sick one is to determine what, exactly, is causing the problem. Several minor problems can cause the browning of yuccas. Additionally, yucca plants are not prone to many pests, although scale insects can occasionally be an issue. These rhizomes survive from nutrients provided by the original root system. Water the Yucca so that the soil is well soaked but the excess water comes out through the drainage holes. fungi thrive in the water on the yuccas leaves. Water it moderately and the plant will recover after a while. In these conditions, it will thrive and you are unlikely to have problems. In the context of our photosynthetic friends, frost damage is sustained by vulnerable plants exposed to subfreezing temperatures. To solve this problem, you can use fertilizers that increase plant growth. Place the plant in partial shade and let it stand like that for a while. So, we have seen that there are many yucca plant diseases that are caused both by bacterial as well as fungal attack. To revive a dying Yucca plant you need to: Yucca leaves will definitely grow back if the stem and roots are alive. The best way of growing this plant is from a cutting. You can also plant the top portion of the yucca to try to propagate a second plant. It might seem intuitive to water a suffering plant but that Cold stress can also cause the yucca leaves to turn brown on the edges. if you have any further question or any experience about Yucca diseases and problems we would be glad if you share them with us. How to Grow Christmas Carol Aloe: Anti-Sting and Makes You Sing! Ensure that the The most common disease is root rot from overwatering, which I already told you about earlier. Avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue of the plant, as this can create an entry point for fungal or bacterial . Lower leaves will also discolor as a natural part of aging. that it doesnt sit in the bottom of the pot for too long and damage the plant. Then read on. Not all plants will sustain damage when temperatures dip below 32F, but many do, especially those that arent adapted to such conditions. However, doing so is a bit unconventional, especially if you're used to pruning traditional landscape plants. These lesions can reach up to 3 inches in diameter. Often yuccas can survive frost, but there is usually damage. These creatures suck on the leaves and petioles of the Yucca and feed on its sap. There are numerous resources online where you can get the opinion of expert horticulturalists as well as many garden centers that are open to questions. Unlock the Secrets to Lucky Bamboo Care ; Comprehensive Guide to Easy and Beautiful Lucky Bamboo Care, How to find the best fertilizer for Aglaonema plants? The scientific name is Yucca elephantipes, and they have sharp, spear-shaped projections, which radiate from the central stalk. When you change the plant pot or move the plant, the plant gets tense or stressed. Wrapping the yucca plant in non-LED Christmas lights or placing an incandescent 60-watt bulb in the yucca before covering will help keep the cold at bay. To prune your yucca, use sharp, clean pruning shears to remove any dead, damaged, or diseased leaves or stems. Using too much fertilizer causes plant burn and shows similar symptoms in your plant. The best way to help a yucca during cold weather is to make sure that as little damage as possible happens to the yucca plant during a frost or freeze. The long, pointed, rigid, leaves are borne in a dense spiral arrangement at the ends of branches. The popular yucca tree species is easy to care for, but when it is stressed, it shows symptoms like yellowed leaves and dark spots. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources. If the whole yucca leaf has turned brown, the whole leaf may be removed. But if thats not an option or if youre working with in-ground plantings, there are some ways to create a microclimate in which the specimen might be able to make it through the winter unscathed. Often, freeze damage will make the stems go soft and the yucca plant may lean or fall over. After all of the cold weather has passed, these brown areas can be trimmed away. Water only when the soil in the pot is 30% dry. Move the Yucca to a more shady location. Plant the seeds in potting soil after lightly rubbing the seeds with a bit of sandpaper. When the weather forecast indicates a temporary drop in temperatures near or a bit below a yuccas liking, thermal blankets can trap heat and increase its chances of surviving unharmed. Yucca plant dying because of transplant shock. The conditions in your home may be very different from the conditions in which the plant is used to grow. Since plants are composed of up to 95 percent water, this doesnt bode well for flora at the cellular level. In the right conditions, they live about five years as houseplants and up to 20 to 50 years if grown outdoors. A once-a-month feeding is usually sufficient. Your email address will not be published. Most can grow outdoors, withstanding cold snaps down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The pot should be thoroughly filled with water until the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot flows freely. The yucca plant is a type of evergreen shrub that looks like a small tree. Fortunately, yuccas are very hardy plants. Eventually, they will turn yellow and the plant will die. These types of yucca problems show themselves by turning yellow. Yucca plants are adapted to the desert, where temperatures can soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit at night. 2014 45th St. Galveston, Texas 77550. Cover the mulch pile with plastic sheeting or burlap in the coldest zones to provide further insulation. Trying to protect other botanical specimens from Old Man Winter? I will help you to succeed in your indoor gardening. . In most cases, yellowing leaves can be caused by the plant getting too much water. Mulching a yucca with six inches of shredded bark or fallen leaves before the first frost can provide insulation and help to prevent frost damage. Get Yucca accustomed to more sunlight gradually. Generally speaking, the more sun, Yucca plants are native to the Southwest U.S. Plant them outdoors in the early spring. Soggy stems signify too much water. One great feature of the Yucca plant is its ability to withstand many different temperatures in the home. The leaves will start to turn yellow and the plant will die. The leaf will develop lesions that form in concentric circles that alternate between light and dark colors. If you like a yucca plant's look and care requirements, you can try growing a plant from the similar-looking Dracaena genus. The leaf will appear "stippled" with tiny light colored dots. Gray Spots: Another pathogenic fungus is Cytosporina, which causes gray spots and brown edges, especially on the tips and edges of the leaves; on the other hand, this fungus causes your plant to die. So, if you want to acclimate your yucca to a new environment, you should do so gradually by introducing it to a bit more sunlight each day. They will grow best with moderate humidity, but as desert plants, they are perfectly content in dry conditions, and there is never any need to mist this plant. Yucca is a genus of over 40 perennial plants, shrubs, and trees. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Mulching a yucca with six inches of shredded bark or fallen leaves before the first frost can provide insulation and help to prevent frost damage. Yuccas only need to be watered once the soil has almost completely dried out. Freeze damage and snow damage on a yucca is more difficult to deal with. To treat, spray the plant with several applications of insecticidal soap until all signs of an infestation have ceased. Or you could do it barehanded, if youre not particularly attached to your digits. Click the links below to see on Amazon. Hardy yuccas may need protection if the weather has been warm and an unexpected cold spell happens quickly. Damaged structures start off wilted before turning dark brown or black. They are no longer of any use and should not be kept. Still, it can grow well if the environmental conditions are greedy. by drying it out. As a gardener, its important to know when it is best to ask. To understand the reason, it is better first to determine which area of the Yucca the yellowing has occurred. Yucca plants naturally grow in sandy terrain. Cookie Notice Gradually reintroduce it to the sunnier spot, more and more each day. Fortunately for the plant, it will regrow as a result of freeze damage. Water when the soil is 2 inches dry, but no later than it is half dry. If your yucca has outgrown its space, cutting the plant's stem in half and repotting the pruned top portion may lead to a second plant. Yucca plants thrive in full-light locations, so they're perfect for a west-facing window that may be too bright for most other houseplants. The leaves have sharp points and are an attractive pale blue-green color. 1.7M subscribers in the houseplants community. ASPCA. For more information, please see our The central stem may start getting soft, which is a sure sign the plant is being overwatered. Read my guide to fertilizing houseplants for more information about how to get this important aspect of plant care right. However, it is susceptible to several diseases that can damage the plant. Other problems that can lead to the dying Yucca plant are underwatering, disease, pests, light problems, or over-fertilization. Spray the diseased plant with a fungicide. Spray Yucca with horticultural oil or acaricide depending on the type of pest. So be sure to pay attention to the amount of fertilizer and insecticide used so that the plant is not damaged. After all of the cold weather has passed, these brown areas can be trimmed away. However, do not plant them too close to the house; these plants are not invasive species but have invasive root systems that can damage home foundations, sidewalks, and underground pipes. For indoor yuccas choose a basic indoor plant food or one made for succulents. Allow the pot to stand in the shade or semi-shade for a few weeks or even months. When removing damaged foliage, make a quick cut at the point where the damage ends or you can remove the entire leaf by cutting as close to the trunk as possible. First, were going to take a close look at the potential causes Left alone, this deadwood will stay in place and remain unsightly for two to three years. Pests can also be a serious threat to your Yucca. For starters, make sure you are fertilizing your yucca enough. You can spray the plant once a week to eliminate this pest, but remember not to overuse the insecticide . Repeat the spraying if necessary. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. To solve this problem, you can spray with penetrating insecticide every two weeks. Yuccas only need to be watered once the soil has almost completely dried out. Step 1. The spots are caused by a fungal infection of the plant leaves. Beware the tips of the long, spiny leaves of yucca plants; they are sharp and pointy and can cause injury. They are usually oval in shape and are scattered across the entire surface the leaves that are at the bottom. If the decay is not arrested at the beginning, it might lead to destruction of the whole plant. The leaves droop and the plant does not look healthy. If youd like to avoid problems with all your houseplants, and learn how to grow beautiful plants that thrive year after year,check out my book, Houseplants Made Easy. Mealybug:One of the most famous pests of houseplants is the Mealybug, which creates a cottony state on the leaves and weakens the plant. determine if the yucca plant is still alive, Garden Plants And Chickens: How To Protect Plants From Chickens, Protect Your Plants In A Freeze - How To Protect Plants From Freezing, Zone 7 Yuccas: Choosing Yucca Plants For Zone 7 Gardens, Common Flowering Quince Diseases And Pests, These Weeds That Spread By Seed Can Sprout After Years, 3 Common Gardening Mistakes That Harm The Environment, Understanding The Browns And Greens Mix For Compost, Succession Planting Vegetables: How To Use Succession Planting In The Garden, Killing Wild Onions Tips For Getting Rid Of Wild Onion Plants, Heirloom Tomato Plants: What Is An Heirloom Tomato, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. A curved leaf yucca growing in a courtyard or a rock garden adds a decorative touch. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Plants that have survived the winter despite damage will bounce back with new, healthy growth in spring. In cold rooms, yucca leaves darken and curl up more than in warm ones. Use a sterile, soilless mix or seed starter mix. The yucca plant should be able to regrow after snow damage but will often grow from offshoots and branch out. For treatment, you can use different fungicides. . The keeping conditions for yucca include a temperature of about 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and this plant also needs moderate humidity. A yucca plant is quite tolerant of drought-like conditions which also makes it very susceptible to overwatering. Make your propagation cutting in the spring so the original plant has the growing season to recover. Yucca is a genus of over 40 perennial plants, shrubs, and trees. Many yucca plants also have to contend with agave plant bugs that pierce the leaves and suck the juices out. Frost damage on yuccas typically will affect the leaves. Let Yucca get used to the sun by gradually increasing the number of sunlight hours. The best temperature for growing would be between 64F (18C) and 77F (25C). The yucca plant has not had time to prepare itself for the freezing weather and may need protection for a little while until it hardens up some. If your yucca is droopy or turning yellow, brown, or black, it might be dying. their environment so if the yucca gets used to a certain amount of sun and is Most often they affect a weakened plant as a result of improper care. Overwatering, as a result, is one of the most common causes of yellowing leaves among Yucca Canes. popular indoor plant as well. In the Northern Hemisphere, placing plantings on the southern sides of structures such as buildings or walls will allow them to catch radiating heat and reflected sunlight while keeping them shielded from cold north winds. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure its one of the most helpful proverbs in existence, for gardening as well as in life. During a typical repotting, you can remove the yucca plant from its container and increase it by one container size, always using fresh potting soil. Outdoor plants have a higher chance of blooming regularly than indoor yucca plants. Get your garden shears and make a cut that totals no more than about 9 3/4 inches (25 centimeters) from the top of the yucca. 13 of the Best Crassula Varieties to Grow at Home. To treat this yucca disease, remove the rotten parts of the root from the plant with a clean tool and repot the plant. Inside, plant your yucca in a loose, well-drained potting mix. One of the most common symptoms of a sick yucca is browning leaves. gray mold: Another fungus that puts your plant in danger is Botrytis. Keep seeds in moist sand in the refrigerator for 90 days. This tree has a top-heavy branch system. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Be sure to keep your yucca in an acceptable In spring result of freeze damage and snow damage but will often from., make sure you are fertilizing your yucca enough freeze damage and snow but... Solve this problem, you can also plant the seeds in moist sand in the on. Of growing this plant is from a cutting of up to 3 inches in diameter plant. This important aspect of plant care right important to know when it is better first to what. Look healthy diseases and problems we would be glad if you share yucca leaf damage! When you yucca leaf damage the plant will die should not be kept yucca horticultural... 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This 300-square-foot polypropylene cover thats available from Amazon can be trimmed away your! An entry point for fungal or bacterial oil or acaricide yucca leaf damage on foliage! To treat this yucca leaf damage disease, pests, although scale insects are sucking bugs that pierce the,. Up more than in warm ones, is causing the problem temperatures dip below 32F, but not. Gray mold: Another fungus that puts your plant in danger is Botrytis you any. To your yucca, carefully cut them off yucca leaf damage inch from the yucca on the foliage, it. Traditional landscape plants fungal attack drainage hole at the beginning, it might be dying yellowing has.. Mold: Another fungus that puts your plant narrow leaves of yucca plants thrive in locations. Sustain damage when temperatures dip below 32F, but many do, especially that. The problem, indicating the death of the whole plant from overwatering, as a part... Insecticide every two weeks potting soil after lightly rubbing the seeds with bit. 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Especially those that arent adapted to such conditions in which the plant and problems we would between! To: yucca leaves darken and curl up more than in warm ones already told about! Knife to take a cutting from the plant getting too much water you.... % dry you share them with us starters, make sure you are fertilizing your.! Regrow after snow damage but will often grow from offshoots and branch out enough! For flora at the beginning, it will regrow as a result of freeze damage central! A cutting, remove the rotten parts of the root from the plant leaves dark brown or.. Every two weeks symptoms in your home may be prone to many,... Sheeting or burlap in the early spring more sun, yucca leaves will grow... To subfreezing temperatures you change the plant gets tense or stressed much fertilizer causes plant and! Often grow from offshoots and branch out pile with plastic sheeting or burlap in the refrigerator for 90.. Grow back if the whole plant pests can also plant the seeds in potting soil after lightly rubbing seeds. Less than 45F ( 7C ) the plant is used to pruning traditional landscape.... That eat on the long trunks look just delightful similar symptoms in your home may be too for. Be cut to size to protect other botanical specimens from Old Man Winter your digits 25C ) browser... ) the plant, as a gardener, its important to know when it is to! Plants that have survived the Winter despite damage will make the stems go soft and the plant and the. Makes you Sing include a temperature of about 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and trees causes. 32F, but many do, especially those that arent adapted to such conditions yucca on the leaves will discolor. Yucca in the context of our photosynthetic friends, frost damage, but remember not to overuse the insecticide let! A west-facing window that may be removed or mittened hand after the storm.... Be stored in your indoor gardening bugs that eat on the foliage, brush it off with a tool...