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Yucca plant help!

8 years ago

Hi - I wonder if anyone is able to assist re. my Yucca plant. Pics attached.

It seems to be in reasonable health apart from the leaves are so droopy. I didn't used to be like this. Do you think this is is due to over or under-watering, or insufficient sun? Also, what should I do (if anything) about these new sprouts appearing from the soil next to the trunk?...

Featured Answer

jpciii

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

How long has it lived in that soil? There may be big pockets of totally dried out soil down in the pot. Lift it - does it feel light?

Comments (6)

Simon Smith
Original Author
8 years ago
Many thanks for your message. It's been in that pot since I've had it - just over 2 years. It feels heavy. Should I re-pot, then?....
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I thought the self watering pot would solve my concern with knowing if i was watering enough or not. I guess this wasnt the best (uneducated) decision. I have attempted to cancel the order. I have moved the plant into a position where it will get more light (this is not an ideal place so hopefully when winter is over i can move it back). The self watering pot is basically a pot with an irrigation system to its inner pot where the plant is, to give it the water it requires as and when it wants it. I am going to buy an inner pot and repot it with fresh soil and some grit the best idea i have is natural fish tank stones as i dont need to buy the amount of gardeners grit you can buy. I want to sit this inside a planter on a bed of the same fish tank stones to allow drainage. Please let me know what you think to this idea? thought i should ask before i commit this time!
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christine 5b
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Yes, time to re-pot with new soil, I would leave the pups just as they are.
gerber_daisey12
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How often do you water it? Do you keep the soil moist or dry?
PRO
Horticultural Help
8 years ago
Your Yucca cane roots are dying and the upper portion now has no way to absorb water. That is why the leaves are wilted. The basal shoots emerge only when the roots are mostly dead and are a sign that the plant is making a last desperate attempt to survive. My guess is you will also find that the outer bark is starting to pull away and is becoming papery. Finally, the heaviness of the soil indicates that it is too wet.

Yuccas require lots of sunlight and soil that dries out at least a third of the way deep into the pot. I suspect that the combination of inadequate light and too frequent watering have caused the roots to rot. I am sorry to say that the chances of recovery at this point are unlikely.

~Will
LeslieM peoria az
8 years ago
Yuccas are a desert plant and like it dry, dry, dry. Pretty sure its nearly impossible to underwater them. Pull it out of the planter and look at the roots- if they're a mess, clean it up the best you can, and put it in new, well draining soil. The fact that there are pups makes me think it may survive. You could also cut the trunk, and root it in another pot. My experience with yuccas is they root rather easily, although I don't have this particular variety.

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