The yucca or palm lily - often incorrectly referred to as the yucca palm - comes from the dry and hot deserts and semi-deserts of Central America. There, in the south of the USA and in Mexico, the unusual plants are at home - and have adapted perfectly to the prevailing conditions. Yuccas that grow crookedly and appear somewhat bare usually suffer from the wrong site conditions - in order to successfully grow new shoots, you first have to ensure the right care, temperature and the right location.
If the head is completely cut off, the yucca will push out new shoots on the sides
Yucca mostly wilts due to lack of light
Yuccas are strong, fast-growing houseplants with a luxuriant tuft - and often one or two side shoots as well. If the whole plant appears weak, the trunk remains rather thin, grows crooked and the tuft is rather sparsely covered with leaves, this is usually due to a lack of light. Yuccas need a lot of light and should be placed directly in front of a window or even outside during the summer months. The plant can even take full sun if it has been gently acclimated - remember this is a desert plant after all. Another possible reason for the rather weak appearance of the yucca could be - in addition to the lack of light - also a lack of fertilizer. A yucca needs regular nutrition to keep it growing and thriving.
How to grow new shoots - without cutting it will not work
In order to encourage the dead yucca to grow new shoots, you cannot avoid cutting. At best, separate the tuft of the plant and make several shoots and stem cuttings from other shoots and from the trunk. Plant them directly in a loose mixture of sand and potting soil, put them in a bright place - if possible directly in front of a south-facing window! - and keep the substrate slightly moist. Within a few months, the cuttings should have rooted and form new shoots. Now it is important to care for the young yuccas in a species-appropriate manner so that strong plants with numerous leaves grow out of them.
tips
Many a proud owner of a yucca palm has been able to grow side shoots on his plant simply by scratching the trunk with a sharp knife. In many cases this method works, but not always.