In many a living room there is a magnificent yucca palm tree with a strong trunk, many dark green leaves and an impressive height just below the ceiling. Such a specimen is often looked after with particular care, after all it is the pride of its owner. But when the leaves suddenly turn yellow and the trunk becomes soft, good advice is expensive. Why is the plant dying all of a sudden and what can be done about it?
The yucca palm reacts sensitively to too much moisture
Waterlogging and root rot are usually to blame
If only the bottom leaves of the yucca turn yellow and eventually wither, there is no reason to worry - this phenomenon occurs in connection with the stem formation and thus with the growth of the yucca. However, if a striking number of leaves suddenly turn yellow and then dry up and die, in many cases there is an excess of moisture behind it - you meant too well with the watering can, which is why the yucca is now literally drowning in the water. The yucca comes from rather dry regions of the world and therefore does not tolerate too much moisture at all. Permanently wet substrate inevitably leads to root rot and thus to the death of the entire plant. You can recognize root rot by these characteristics:
- The leaves become limp and droop.
- Eventually they turn yellow, dry up and die.
- Trunk and shoots soften over time
- until they finally break off or snap off.
- The whole plant gives the impression of dying of thirst, although it is effectively getting enough water.
Of course, these characteristics do not appear all at once, but follow one another.
Often only a radical cut helps
In order to save the affected yucca, only a radical cut usually helps. You will most likely not be able to save the whole plant, but only parts of it. With a bit of luck, however, these will sprout again and hopefully grow as splendidly as the mother plant. Here's how you can do it:
- Repot the affected yucca.
- Remove any attached substrate and rotting roots.
- Also cut away all wilted leaves and soft spots above ground.
- Place the remaining healthy shoots and stem pieces in fresh substrate.
- Keep them only slightly damp - spraying with an atomizer is sufficient.
tips
Do a finger test before each watering. Then you can see whether the yucca actually needs water or not. Put your index finger at least two centimeters deep into the substrate - if this is dry, you can water a little (!).