The Yucca plant is extremely tolerant of desert conditions because they store water in their trunks and bulbous bases. But could you actually be killing your Yucca plant by overwatering it? The good news is that it will give you signs, like discoloration, to tell you that it is dying.
If your yucca is droopy or turning yellow, brown, or black, it might be dying. Excess water causes the roots to rot, killing the plant. The water floods the leaves, causing them to swell and droop, eventually turning brown or yellow. Black spots on a yucca is also a sign of disease.
This article will explain how you can care for a Yucca plant, how to tell if you are overwatering it and what to expect of the Yucca plant, among other tips.
How to Tell You Are Overwatering a Yucca Plant
There are several ways to tell whether you are overwatering your Yucca plant.
Oversaturated Soil
If the plant looks wilted or droopy, yet the soil is wet and saturated with water, it means you have been over enthusiastic in your watering sessions. To be sure, check the soil around the plant for excess moisture. You can poke the soil with a dry stick and check whether it comes back muddy.
Only water the plants when the surrounding soil is completely dry to a depth of 2.5 cm (1 inch). To give the soil the chance to become dry, you should water your Yucca plant once every ten days.
Discoloration
Brown leaves that look wilted are a classic sign of an unhealthy Yucca plant. Unfortunately, most people tend to add more water to the plant with the hope of improving the health of the plant. However, adding more water only makes the leaves droop even more and rots the roots.
The leaves will typically have brown tips surrounding a yellow halo when you have overwatered. But if you have them underwatered, the leaves will turn completely yellow or brown.
You may also notice that the yellow leaves and new growth on the plant are both falling off. This means that the plant is dying and can’t sustain life anymore, including newly growing parts.
Rotting Roots
Over-watered roots will drown in the water, meaning they can’t breathe. As a result, the plant is unable to get oxygen and nutrients from the soil. Fungal diseases also kill off the roots, which become slimy, brown/grey, and weak. Get down into the soil and touch the roots to see whether they show any of these signs.
Edema
This refers to the water saturation of the plant’s leaves, stem, and roots. When the Yucca plant absorbs more water than it needs, the cells get turgid to the point of rupturing. Signs of over-saturated plant cells include lesions or blisters on the surface of the leaves.
Fortunately, edema is reversibleFortunately, edema is reversible if caught earlier on and it is not a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection. Yucca plants already naturally have a good amount of water in their system. So when the plant takes in more water than it can transpire it develops edema.
The Best Environment for a Yucca Plant
Yucca plants can grow indoors or outdoors, but they are preferred as houseplants. This is because they are slow-growing and do not need a lot of attention. They need
Excellent Drainage
Yucca plants require soil that has very good drainage. Sandy soil is ideal because it doesn’t retain a lot of soil, but you can use a mix of potting soil and sandy soil for the best results. This mix of soil is also very popular for similar plants like cacti.
In addition to draining sandy soil, your Yucca needs a 3-inch (8cm) layer of rocks at the bottom to help with drainage. This is especially important when you are using containers because water can collect at the base of the tray. Make sure the container has holes at the bottom to facilitate the drainage.
If you have to use loam soil, which has moderate drainage, consider adding some sand and perlite. Sandy soil can be helped to retain adequate amounts of water by using mulch and compost. Clay soil retains a lot of water, so it needs to be used conservatively and mixed liberally with sandy soil.
Sunny Climate
Yucca is native to sunny and dry climates. It is important to place them in an environment with a lot of sunlight and heat. They are at home in hot and dry climates because their stems, roots, and leaves are storage areas for the water they absorb.
They need a good deal of light, but that doesn’t mean you must place it in direct sun. This is why the Yucca plant can thrive indoors as long as the environment is bright.
Watering
The more the light your plant receives, the more water you can give it. If the plant receives little light, then you need to give the plant less light. Yuccas can thrive on as little as 8 inches of rainfall per year. However, if you plant them outdoors in an environment with more rainfall, they will continue to grow slower as long as they don’t remain in standing water.
To ensure that you adequately water the plant without a heavy hand, use a watering can or hose. This is a better way of controlling the amount of water compared to watering from an overhead irrigation system. One to two gallons of water per Yucca plant is adequate for every watering session. The water should be evenly distributed around the plant’s base.
Fertilizer
Since Yucca plants are slow-growing plants, they need little fertilizer applied a few times in a year. The fertilizer used should be low in nitrogen but include essential minerals like sulfur, magnesium, and calcium. It should also contain zinc, iron, and manganese.
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According to horticulturists at the University of Florida, Yucca, especially an established plant, doesn’t need fertilizer to thrive. However, young plants need low amounts of fertilizer to improve growth rates and establish them. Make sure that you use a slow-release fertilizer.
Dusting
It may sound strange, but your house plants, including Yucca plants, need dusting. A dust-free environment promotes optimum health for the plants. A layer of dust prevents the Yucca from absorbing enough light to facilitate processes like photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which the plant feeds itself.
Pests That Affect the Yucca Plant
Pests like the Yucca plant bug can be annoying when your plant is indoors. Despite their low maintenance nature, these plants can be terrorized by a handful of pests. Some of the pests include:
Agave Bugs
These bugs pierce the leaves on a Yucca plant and suck the juices from the leaf. You will notice small brown scars forming on the pierced area. The bugs are half an inch long, so they are visible on the leaves. They can be eradicated using insecticidal soap like Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap, which you apply on the leaves.
Mealybugs
Wingless, gray-white insects known as mealy bugs love to cluster on the leaves of the Yucca plant. They love the underside of the leaf or its axis. Unfortunately, this pest also produces a sticky substance that attracts ants in addition to growing sooty mold.
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Mealybugs cause the leaves to yellow and also contribute to slow plant growth. These bugs can be washed off the leaves with a steady stream of water. Also, using insecticidal soap works.
However, if you would like to use a natural method, consider spraying the plant with neem oil. If you notice mealybugs on your indoor Yucca plant, you can use rubbing alcohol to kill them off. Place a little alcohol onto a cotton swab and wipe the leaves.
Yucca Weevil
This is a black beetle-like insect of about half an inch. The larvae of the weevil are white in color, and they bore into the base of the stalks and the leaves as well. They also bore into the heart of the plant, leaving holes everywhere it feeds. The holes cause the plant’s growing tips to die as they are cut off from receiving nutrients.
Once you have a serious infestation of Yucca weevils, they can be hard to get rid of. The best way to control Yucca weevils is to keep the plant as healthy and in good conditions as possible to prevent the pest from invading it.
Aphids
Aphids love to feed on the leaves and flower stalks of the Yucca plant. The good news is that it is easy to get rid of aphids using a jet of water. Aphids tend to drown easily. Horticultural oils can effectively control aphids, or you can wipe them off with some soapy water. Yucca plants that are outdoors can benefit from ladybugs and birds to get rid of aphids naturally.
Scales
Scales are armored pests that tend to look like unusual spots or scars on leaves of the plant. When not controlled, they quickly cover the entire leaf. Unlike aphids and mealybugs, which can be removed with a strong stream of water, scales are more resistant to such methods. Instead, you need to use something stronger, like repeated applications of essential oils. Neem oil leads the pack of essential oils of choice.
How to Care for a Young Yucca Plant
Yucca can be easily propagated from the stem and root cuttings. This requires you to cut the Yucca stump and paint it to prevent infection. Paint it with a pruning putty. Place the stump in a shaded area to let it dry. Now, place the stump into a hole with dry soil making sure it extends 18 inches (46cm) above the soil.
Water the stump properly after planting it. Keep watering only after the soil gets dry, and within three to six months, the plant will establish a strong roots system. Soon enough, the foliage will begin to emerge from the stump. With just sufficient watering and regular pruning, a young Yucca plant will grow healthy and strong.
If you are planting the Yucca from seeds, it will take longer for the plant to germinate. In some cases, it takes up to a year. Take the seed pods from the plant which have been dried out. Start planting the seed inside containers in a warm environment. Make sure the environment is well lit to promote the healthy growth of the plant.
When you plant the Yucca plant from the stem cutting, you can verify whether it is growing by checking whether the crown is green. If it is, the plant is alive and growing.
Baby Yucca plants can be kept indoors to slowly keep growing for two to three years before they need pruning. Outdoor Yucca plants may grow faster and need slightly more attention to manage their growth.
How to Care for an Established Yucca Plant
On a mature Yucca plant, you may notice that the older leaves are dying. This is normal as long as the majority of the leaves are not falling off due to yellow or brown color. Cut the older leaves off in the spring to promote the growth of newer shoots.
As the leaves grow older, they harden and get sharp edges. With this knowledge, it is imperative that you wear gloves to protect yourself. As the plant grows older, you can replant it outdoors to allow it to grow tall and enjoy the sunny climate.
Mature Yucca plants feature flowers that bloom in the springtime. However, when they stop flowering and have produced fruit, you need to prune the flower stalk. This allows the plant to yield more flowers during the blooming season. The stalk must be completely cut off.
Make sure that you also prune the rest of the plant regularly to allow the plant to grow optimally. Pruning a Yucca plant entails cutting the plant in half and repotting it. Yucca plants can grow too tall, so the pruning process is essential.
Benefits of a Yucca Plant
It Is Edible
Most parts of the Yucca plant can be eaten. The fruit is sweet and is probably the most popular part of the plant to eat. In addition, the flowers, emerging shoots, and leaf bases are also eaten. The trunk contains toxic saponins, but when it is boiled or baked, it is also edible because the toxins are broken down.
The emerging shoots, flowers, and young leaves can be eaten while raw, or they can be cooked. When the flowers are picked at the right time, they are extremely flavorful.
Medicinal Properties
Yucca was used historically as a laxative. The roots especially can be used as a laxative, so they are avoided when considering what to eat on the plant. The plant is also touted by alternative medicine enthusiasts as a great control for hypertension, headaches, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, and diabetes as well.
Yucca also contains high amounts of vitamin C, so it is an excellent antioxidant. The antioxidants boost your immunity and help fight free radicals that cause premature aging and inflammation.
It Makes a Great Landscape Piece
It is a perennial plant meaning that it can continue to grow for several years. You can rely on it to continually grace your compound and flower spring after spring. The arrow-like leaves of the plant combined with the white flowers create a beautiful contrast. It also grows tall, giving it presence wherever you put it in your compound.
Cleans the Air
The plant is excellent for cleaning the air indoors. It offers gardens the benefit of using carbon dioxide during the photosynthesis process and releasing oxygen. During this process, it also reduces the toxins in the air, improving the air quality in your house.
Helps With Your Skin
Yucca provides several skin benefits, including having photoprotective properties. It protects your skin from sun damage, and in some cases, it works even better than commercial sunscreens.
Yucca extract can be added to different skin based products. You can add it to your lotions, soaps, and shampoos to enhance their effect on the skin. When injected into these products, it helps with issues like:
- Boosting hair growth
- Excessive dandruff
- Healing cuts, sores, and bruises
- Skin diseases
All the above are mainly because of the folic acid found in Yucca.
Final Thoughts
Yucca is one of the most versatile plants growing in the hot, dry climate of the Americas and the Caribbean. This plant is happy to grow inside your house or outside in your yard. It requires little attention and only shows signs of distress when you water it too much. You can tell your plant is in distress when it.
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- Has slimy roots because of fungal disease
- Has yellow and brown leaves
- Has new growth falling off
- Is droopy and wilted
- Has holes in the leaves and stem because of pests
Striving to have a healthy Yucca plant means you have less maintenance to give the plant. Keeping a Yucca plant in your home is a great way to keep your environment fresh and beautiful.