Yucca leaves turning yellow: yucca plant problems & common diseases

Yuccas quickly get yellow leaves. We have helpful tips on how you can counteract this undesirable sight.

Yucca plants (Yucca) are among the most popular houseplants, some species of which are also suitable for the garden. These exotic desert plants are known mostly for their pointed, long leaves, although they often serve as an indicator of improper care or disease. We show how to interpret leaf discolouration and what to do about it.

Yucca with yellow leaves: possible causes

Yellow leaves are quite common in yucca palms and can have various causes, for example:

• Waterlogging/excessive humidity
• Water shortage
• Too little light
• Sunburn
• Natural falling of leaves due to growth of the trunk

Increased watering in particular often leads to problems with yucca palms, as in their natural habitat the agave family (Agavoideae) is adapted to a very dry climate.

Yucca with yellow leaves: countermeasures

First of all, it is necessary to determine which of the above causes has led to leaf discolouration. If you water too much, you should reduce the amount and frequency of water, in addition to always pouring off any water in the saucer. If you notice that the leaves turn yellow only on one side of the yucca palm, the light intensity at this point is probably not enough. In this case, find another location for your plant so that it gets even and sufficient light. If the leaves are sunburnt, on the other hand, you should look for a place where less direct sunlight hits the plant.

What to do if your yucca is losing its leaves

If your yucca begins to lose leaves at an increased rate, it may be due to both incorrect care (as mentioned earlier) and external diseases. As a countermeasure, the only thing that usually helps is to adjust the care in the case of known errors. In an emergency, such as when rotten and soft spots appear, the affected parts of the plant should be disposed of completely.

Yucca leaves with brown tips

In principle, brown leaf tips on the yucca palm can also be caused by too much water – but usually the opposite is to blame. Especially in winter, many yuccas are placed near to radiators and suffer from the very dry and hot air. Similarly, dark leaf tips can be a sign of sunburn. Therefore, try to provide a little air movement in the room, prevent too much sunlight at the window and slightly humidify the air in winter.

Yucca: the most common diseases and pests

In addition to the wrong handling of the yucca in terms of watering and location, there may also be diseases and pests that because trouble for the plant. Here are some of them:

• Root rot: Occurs as a result of waterlogging and leads to the death of the plant in the long term. A remedy consists in repotting and reduced watering.
• Mildew: Fungal disease that manifests itself by white furry coating on the leaves. Reducing the humidity of the air prevents infestation.
• Spider mites: Small white animals that thrive in very dry air. If an infestation is present, increase humidity by spraying moderately with water.
• Aphids: These are mainly greenfly and scale insects that feed on the plant.

An overview of other care measures for the yucca plant can be found in this article.