Basically, the yucca is considered to be a very easy-care and robust plant that is rarely attacked by pests and pathogens. Of course, even the most robust plant can get sick - which usually happens as a result of improper care or an unsuitable location. Such mistakes weaken the plant and make it more vulnerable to uninvited guests.
Above all, too much moisture can lead to diseases in the yucca palm
Diagnosis and finding the cause
For this reason, you should not only fight the actual disease, but also search for the cause. If the cause is not eliminated, the disease can break out again and again and eventually cause the death of the plant. For example, you should never water the yucca just because its leaves look brown and dried up. On the contrary, these symptoms can also be caused by excess moisture. In this case, more water would be fatal.
Symptoms of illness caused by care errors
Yucca palms often develop brown or yellow leaves, which can be due to a variety of disease-related causes. Behind it are often
- too much or too little water
- Over- or under-fertilization
- too little light
- too small a pot
- or an infection with fungi or bacteria
- pest infestation also causes leaf discoloration
In the vast majority of cases, the cause is to be found in the wet and/or lack of light. Fix these problems as soon as possible and the plant will recover quickly. However, discolored leaves do not color back again, which is why they can be removed.
Diseases
Fungicidal or bacterial infections or pest infestation often affect plants that have been weakened by incorrect care. That's why you should always treat the yucca according to its species - which is sometimes not that easy, because there are about 50 different species, some of which have very different needs. There are hardy yuccas that can safely be planted in the garden and indoor yuccas that feel most comfortable in warm and sheltered locations. But all yuccas have one thing in common: They are not tropical plants with a high need for warmth and moisture! On the contrary, because most of the members of the large yucca family are native to the deserts and semi-deserts of the southern USA - where it is rather dry and often quite cold during the winter months.
fungal infections
Fungal infections such as powdery mildew also affect the yucca. Frequently, not only the leaves are infected, but also or mainly the trunk. This then becomes soft, hollow on the inside and can break off. As with any other affected plant, you should remove and discard the affected parts of the yucca and then treat the growth with a fungicide. You don't have to resort to the chemical club right away, because there are a whole range of very good biological preparations.
root rot
The root cause of any root rot is waterlogging, which eventually leads to rotting bacteria taking root and causing the roots to rot. A rescue is usually only possible if the yucca is severely cut back both above and below ground and potted in a new pot with fresh substrate.
tips
Pests such as spider mites, aphids, etc. also appear more frequently on the yucca during the winter months. Check your plants regularly for signs of infestation so you can take timely action.