9 Causes Of Yucca Plant Dying (Problems With Solutions)

The narrow leaves of the Yucca on the long trunks look just delightful. This tropical plant brings something new into the home, thus dispelling the boredom of everyday life. Since this plant does not grow in cold climates, it is sometimes problematic to grow it indoors.

The main cause of the Yucca plant dying is overwatering. As a result, the roots begin to rot and the leaves turn yellow. Overwatering is usually caused by too frequent watering or poor drainage.

Other problems that can lead to the dying Yucca plant are underwatering, disease, pests, light problems, or over-fertilization.

Overwatering

Very often watering Yucca on a schedule leads to overwatering. If the roots of the plant are in the wet soil for a long time, root rot begins.

Symptoms

• The leaves turn yellow and droop.
• Unnatural discoloration near the base of the trunk, it may even be soft.
• The plant is slowly wilting and dying.

Solution

1. Take Yucca out of the pot and clean all the roots. If you see rotten tissue, gently remove it. Then wash the wounds with hydrogen peroxide or fungicide.
2. Pot the plant in sterile, well-drained soil. Pots should have large drainage holes. Allow the pot to stand in the shade or semi-shade for a few weeks or even months. It doesn’t need shade while it’s recovering.
3. To avoid root rot, water the Yucca no sooner than the soil in the pot is 2 inches deep.

Underwatering

Underwatering is also a serious problem for the Yucca plant. If you don’t water it in time, the leaves will lose their firmness and drought stress can occur. As a result, there is a serious risk of losing the plant.

Symptoms

• Leaves become soft and drooping.
• The color of the leaves turns pale or yellow.
• Brown spots may appear on the leaves.
• The growth of the plant has stopped.

Solution

1. Water the Yucca so that the soil is well soaked but the excess water comes out through the drainage holes.
2. Put it in partial shade for a few weeks.
3. Then water Yucca as soon as the potting soil is 30-40% dry.

Temperature stress

Yucca is a heat-loving plant and cannot grow outside in cold climates. The best temperature for growing would be between 64°F (18°C) and 77°F (25°C). In these conditions, it will thrive and you are unlikely to have problems. This plant can also tolerate 90°F (30°C) but will have reduced growth.

As for the lower threshold, it’s best not to let the temperature drop below 10°F (50°C). If the ambient temperature is less than 45°F (7°C) the plant may become damaged.

This often happens if you take the Yucca outside in the summer. It is often too cold at night and the plant can become temperature stressed and begin to die.

Symptoms

• The first signs are redness and drooping of the leaves.
• Then they turn yellow and die off.

Solution

1. Move the Yucca to a more sheltered and warmer place where there is no direct sunlight.
2. Water it moderately and the plant will recover after a while.
3. In the future, never take the Yucca outside or on a balcony if there is a risk of a sudden cold snap.

Transplant shock

When you buy a Yucca and bring it home, don’t be completely sure it’s done. The conditions in your home may be very different from the conditions in which the plant is used to grow. A drastic change in growing conditions often results in stress that can lead to the loss of the plant.

The same goes for transplanting and moving Yucca to a different location. When replanting, you can damage or disturb the root system and the plant will get transplant shock.

Symptoms

• Yucca has stopped growing.
• The leaves turn pale and then yellow.
• The leaves droop and the plant does not look healthy.

Solution

1. The first thing you should do after you buy a Yucca is not to transplant it immediately into a new pot. Place the plant in partial shade and let it stand like that for a while.
2. If it is okay after 2 weeks, transplant it in a bigger pot so that the roots don’t get tangled up.
3. Water the Yucca when the soil is 30% dry. If nothing happens after a week gradually increase the amount of light to the most comfortable level for the plant.

Not enough sunlight

One possible cause of Yucca dying is insufficient sunlight. In general, it is a light-loving plant and it requires the maximum amount of sunlight. But very often owners make the mistake of placing it in a dark corner or in the back of the room.

Symptoms

• Yucca will grow a little more vigorously at first but then its leaves will become brittle and begin to break up.
• The leaves will start to turn yellow and the plant will die.

Solution

1. Move the Yucca to a place where it gets at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
2. Let Yucca get used to the sun by gradually increasing the number of sunlight hours.

Disease

The disease is another possible cause of the Yucca plant dying. The most common disease is root rot from overwatering, which I already told you about earlier.

The next threat is fungal diseases and blight. Most often they affect a weakened plant as a result of improper care. If you do nothing, you can lose the plant.

Symptoms

• Leaves can become spotty or necrotic, and wilt.
• Brown spots on leaves.
• Leaves drooping and yellowing.

Solution

1. Spray the diseased plant with a fungicide. Repeat the spraying if necessary.
2. There should be good ventilation around the plant.
3. Water the plant moderately as I mentioned above.
4. Provide Yucca with enough sunlight, as a lack of UV light can cause widespread disease.

Pest infestation

Pests can also be a serious threat to your Yucca. If the number of pests is small, the plant is unlikely to die, but if there are a lot of them, it can lead to the loss of the plant.

The first type of pests are insects, such as aphids, mealybugs, and scale. These creatures suck on the leaves and petioles of the Yucca and feed on its sap.

The second type of pest is spider mites. They are small white or reddish-white creatures that weave a thin web. They also feed on the sap of the plant.

Symptoms

• Leaves begin to turn yellow.
• Small brown spots on the leaves.
• A white substance on the leaves.

Solution

1. The most effective way to get rid of the pests is to spray the plant with horticultural oil. You will need to spray it several times.
2. If the pests don’t go away, you have to apply a pesticide.
3. Spray the plant with an acaricide to get rid of the mites.

Improper fertilization

Excess fertilizer can lead to plant loss. This is especially true in the case of nitrogen fertilizers. Large amounts of nitrogen will cause rapid growth of the greens, but the leaves and stems will not mature properly. As a result, Yucca will become brittle and susceptible to disease.

Also, too much phosphorus and potassium can damage the root system. In this case, the leaves will droop and turn yellow. If nothing is done, the plant can die.

Symptoms

• Yucca grows fast but leaves and stems are soft and fall apart.
• Leaves turn yellow and droop.
• The plant is very susceptible to disease.

Solution

1. The first thing to do is to water it heavily Do this over a large tray so that the excess water drains out through the drainage holes. This will flush some of the fertilizer out of the soil.
2. After a while, transplant the Yucca into less fertilized soil.
3. Then fertilize no more than 2-3 times during the year. The first time in early spring, the second time in late spring, and the third time in mid-summer.
4. Do not fertilize Yucca for the winter.

Sunburn

Too much sunburn can kill the Yucca plant. This sometimes happens when owners move it outside in the summer. Prior to this, Yucca was growing indoors and receiving a small amount of diffused sunlight, and then suddenly direct sunlight begins to illuminate the leaves all day long.

Symptoms

• The leaves, unused to direct sunlight, begin to burn, curl, and yellow or white spots may appear on them.
• If the burn is severe, the Yucca will lose all of its leaves and die.

Solution

1. Gradually accustom Yucca to the new sun exposure. This means that you have to move the pot about once a week to a brighter and brighter place.
2. Reduce the number of sun hours if necessary.

People also ask

How do you revive a dying Yucca?

To revive a dying Yucca plant you need to:

1. Clean the rot on the root system and plant the Yucca in fresh soil.
2. Spray the leaves with a multi-purpose fungicide.
3. Eliminate cold drafts around the plant.
4. Improve air exchange.
5. Get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
6. Water only when the soil in the pot is 30% dry.
7. Get rid of pests on Yucca.

Will my Yucca leaves grow back?

Yucca leaves will definitely grow back if the stem and roots are alive. After some time, the plant will begin to produce new leaves. The recovery process may take several months.

During this time you need to take very careful care of the Yucca. Avoid both overwatering and underwatering. Also, reduce the number of sunlight hours. As the plant gets bigger, slowly increase the sun exposure.

What does an overwatered Yucca look like?

Signs of overwatering Yucca are:

1. Yellow leaves.
2. Wet potting soil.
3. Soft stem at the base.
4. Mushy roots.
5. Brown spots on the leaves.
6. Droopy leaves.

Should I cut the dead leaves off my Yucca?

You should definitely cut back the dead Yucca leaves. They are no longer of any use and should not be kept.

Moreover, various diseases can develop on such leaves. As a result, the plant can suffer. Therefore, you need to get rid of them.

How to remove dead leaves from the yucca plant?

To remove dead leaves from the Yucca, carefully cut them off 1 inch from the stem. Be extremely careful not to damage the stem.

Use pruning shears to trim the leaves. Sharpen and disinfect them well before working.