1ST Q: does the pot have a hole in it? That's key, also your mix looks pretty water retentive, am guessing you have a drainage problem.

How long since the soil was last changed?

thank you for your reply. Ive never changed the soil and I have had the plant a good few years. I didnt know this was needed with a Yucca. The pot has no drainage as it is an indoor plant so sits on a wooden table so how would that work as it does advise not to have 'standing' water left in a tray? i wish i understood house plant care more. i am sure my questions must seem so stupid. Thank you for you help. Its appreciated.

House plant pots must have a drainage hole so they do not get waterlogged. You then need to stand them on a saucer or in a cache pot to avoid marking furniture. The saucer/cache pot is not there so the plant can sit in water. It is purely to protect the table or whatever from leaks.

A house plant needs nourishment just like an outdoor plant but it can't send roots out to look for it as it would outside in the garden. So you have to provide everything it needs. Hence the need for changing the soil occasionally.

thank you so much you have explained that so i can understand what i could do better. thank you.

Yes it must have dranage and since it's a desert plant it really only needs water every 3 weeks in the winter

All plants need a drainage hole.

And watering everything 3 weeks might not be the best advice.

Water as needed not on a set schedule.

The soil might be dry to the top 2-3 inches but I bet if you put a stick and push it down to the roots you'll find it's plenty moist. It takes a couple weeks to dry out if well watered in the winter.

I have just purchased a self watering pot to allow drainage and the correct amount of water. I really hope this works as it was £30 to try and save my beloved plant!

Please don't use a self watering pot. That's not going to help and may just make things worse.

I don't even know what a self watering pot is. Make sure you drill some holes in the bottom if there are none.

First year I'm not having any issues with leaves, It's getting lots of light outside.

You say you've had this plant for 4 years.. has it ever been repotted? What do you mean so it allows the correct amount of water? I see you're in the UK a lot less sun there.

Something to remember there is no wind, or sun beating down to suck the moisture out indoors. I watered this one yesterday. Will not water again until sometime mid Feb.

Roya - take the self watering pot back and get a refund. All you need is an ordinary plastic flower pot which will fit inside the pot it's in at the moment.

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!