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Hi, I'm new to Davesgarden and fairly novice to growing aswell. I've had this Yucca since late December 2007 and I've been trying to figure out if it is healthy or not. There is regular new growth but ever week or 2 a couple of the leaves (always on the outside only) will suddenly turn brown from the ends and then quickly dry out completely.
I've been trying not to over water it but I'm not sure if the dry leaves is due to too much, too little watering, or normal death. I water usually once every 7 - 10 days. When I water, the soil is always dry down as far as I can stick my finger (2 - 3 inches).
Do you have it in a real sunny window? Yucca likes LOTS of sun and it does like it dry. Your plant looks fairly healthy other than the yellowing leaves. They could easily be from either too much water or not enough light. Can you start transitioning it to the outside of your house? When I had yucca growing in my yard at our other house, cold weather never bothered it at all--it just didn't grow during the winter months but bloomed real well during the warm weather.
Thanks for the info. No, it is in a corner next to a large window. I sometimes move it in front of the window for the afternoon direct sunlight. Maybe the problem is light as I am conscious about over watering. Some of the leaves are actually reaching towards the window...I suspected that it was crying out for more light.
Thanks, I haven't been turning it. I just went home to move it in-front of the window. You know I've also got another problem that is bugging me. The soil has become infested with gnats.
I've let the soil dri out but they are still there, I've also tried spraying with insectide soap spray aswell as leaving a glass of apple cider vinegar with dish soap (it only attracted 1 gnat in 2 days). I'm thinking I should just change the soil?
If you've got gnats, then at some point there was too much water around and that could explain why your leaves were yellowing. Yuccas definitely don't like to be too wet.
Changing the soil should help, and you can also get some yellow sticky traps and that'll catch any gnats that already hatched.
I water my yuccas only every 10 days to 2 weeks when they're indoors, and they are as happy as can be with lots of Albuquerque sunlight. Might be too much/too frequent watering.
Really I think the above yucca looks real good. I think it is overwatered. From hence it came originally i was a desert in poor dry soil. They thrive on more water but can be overwatered. It may not like treated water.
I like your indoor application. Put them out on the patio for the summer to perk them up.
