How to Revive a Dying Yucca Plant

Overwatering and inadequate drainage are the usual reasons of a dying yucca plant, which results in the yellowing and wilting of the leaves. The tips of yucca leaves turn brown due to low humidity, indoor heating, and underwatering, which also causes the leaves to droop and look to be dying.

Yucca plants tend to grow in areas with lots of bright light and some sunlight.

Yucca plants can get scorched brown if they are abruptly relocated from shadow or less strong light to full sun without having had time to acclimate. They can also become brown and droopy with spindly leaves if they are in excessive shade.

The most frequent causes of a dying yucca plant are overwatering and damp soil because yucca plants have various adaptations to resist dryness (as they thrive in somewhat arid areas) and require slightly dryer soil than most houseplants.

By watering when the top 2 inches of the soil are dry, placing yucca plants in bright light with some sun, and keeping indoor yucca away from heat sources, you can resuscitate a dying yucca.

To combat the drying effects of indoor heating in arid locations or during the winter, some humidity is required. Mist the yucca plant’s leaves frequently to prevent brown leaf tips.

Although they prefer a temperature range of 65°F (18°C) and 90°F (32°C), yucca plants can endure a broad variety of indoor temperatures for brief periods of time, including as low as 43°F (7°C) and as high as 100°F (38°C).

To learn how to put the answers to work saving your dying yucca plant, keep reading.

Table of Contents

Yucca Plant Leaves Turning Yellow

Symptoms. The base of the plant is typically where yellowing leaves appear, however yellowing leaves can also affect the entire plant. Eventually, leaves may fade and fall off.
Causes. As the plant ages, the lowest leaves shift from yellow to brown. If all of the leaves are turning yellow, there may have been inadequate drainage in addition to under- or overwatering.

The most frequent cause of yucca plants becoming yellow is moist soil brought on by over irrigation or poor drainage. Between waterings, yucca plants need the top 2 inches of soil to dry off. Yucca leaves turn yellow and the stem begins to decay, giving the plant a dying aspect if the soil is too wet.

Native to Mexico and the South-Western United States, yuccas thrive in arid climates with well-draining soil and infrequent rainfall.

Yuccas have a variety of adaptations for surviving in arid areas, including thick, meaty roots that store water and an oily coating on their leaves to minimize water loss (transpiration).

The most prevalent error is overwatering yuccas because they do well in arid environments.

When yucca is watered excessively without giving the soil a chance to somewhat dry in between irrigations, the excess water releases oxygen into the soil, inhibits root respiration, and interferes with the yucca’s ability to absorb moisture and nutrients.

The leaves turn yellow and frequently droop as a symptom of stress if the roots do not distribute water and nutrients throughout the plant.

The conditions for root rot and fungal disease, which can render yucca leaves yellow with a drooping appearance and result in stem rot, are encouraged by saturated soil.

The yucca turning yellow and dying may not be directly related to overwatering.

If your indoor yucca plant has a saucer or tray underneath (to stop water from spilling in your home), this results in water pooling under the base of the pot and prevents the soil from fully drying out between each watering.

Additionally, yucca plants are occasionally marketed in attractive outer pots without drainage holes, which stops water from evaporating from the pot’s bottom and causes soggy potting soil to form around the plant’s roots, causing yellowing leaves and root rot.

This can be attributed to the yucca plant’s natural process, in which the lower leaves turn yellow as the plant expends more energy on growing new leaves that have greater access to light as the plant grows taller. If your yucca generally looks healthy aside from a few of the lower leaves turning yellow, then this can be attributed to the yucca plant’s natural process.

Some lower leaves becoming yellow is a normal occurrence and does not indicate that there is a problem with how your yucca plant is being cared for or grown. If the leaves begin to droop, simply trim them off with a good set of pruners.

How to Revive a Yucca Plant with Yellow, Drooping Leaves

Before watering again, wait until the top 2 inches of the soil have dried out. This results in a balance of soil moisture that mimics the typical watering conditions that yuccas encounter in their natural habitat—a deluge of rain followed by a period of drought.
Feel the soil with your fingertips to determine your yucca’s proper watering schedule. Wait a few days before watering if you can smell dampness. The ideal time to water your yucca is when the soil seems as though it is beginning to dry out. It is ideal to water once every two weeks, however this can change. For information on how frequently to water your yucca plants based on various situations, climates, and seasons of the year, read my post on how to water yucca plants.
Replant the yucca in a mixture of 2/3 potting soil and 1/3 horticultural grit. In their native habitat, yucca plants grow in sandy or rocky soils that drain rather fast. By adding horticultural sand or grit to the potting soil, it is crucial to mimic the soil conditions of the yucca’s natural habitat. The ideal soil mixture includes roughly 1/3 grit and 2/3 regular potting soil or compost. It reduces the dangers of overwatering and root rot and offers the ideal balance of moisture and drainage.
Yuccas should be planted in containers with drainage holes at the base. You can grow yucca in any kind of pot as long as it includes drainage holes in the base and is proportionate to the plant’s size (to prevent roots from being entrapped in the pot). Avoid planting the yucca in an ornamental outer pot without drainage holes since this may lead to water pooling at the pot’s base and root rot. The ideal pots are made of terracotta, unglazed clay, or ceramic because they are porous and enable the potting soil to dry more evenly.
The drainage pores in your container should not be blocked by roots or compacted potting soil so that any surplus water can drain freely from the base.
If you use a saucer or tray underneath the pot, make sure to empty it frequently to allow any extra water to drain away and allow the soil to dry up between watering sessions.

The yucca plant has a chance to recover if the potting soil has had time to dry out, you’ve adjusted how frequently you water it, and you’ve replaced the soil (if it holds too much moisture).

The yucca’s recovery time will mostly rely on how long it has been harmed by overwatering, but it should start to show signs of improvement over the next weeks.

To prevent the possibility of causing unneeded damage, remove any yellow leaves that are still present (gently) and those that may be readily clipped off.

With Severe Root Rot, save the Yucca…

When you repot the yucca or change the potting soil, keep an eye out for any roots that have a terrible tiny and soft mushy texture and seem to be rotting. Use a clean pair of pruners to restore the health of these rotting roots.

To prevent the transmission of any fungal diseases to otherwise healthy growth, wipe the pruner blades with a towel dipped in disinfectant.

To give your yucca the best chance of healing, thoroughly clean the pot with a disinfectant and repotter it with fresh soil. While the yucca is healing, place it in an area with bright indirect light, morning sun, and afternoon shade.

Since yuccas can withstand drought conditions, it is usually advisable to err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering if the plant does have serious root rot.

(Read my article to learn why the leaves on my yucca plant are yellowing.)

Yucca Plant Leaves Turning Brown and Leaf Tips Turning Brown

Low humidity, which is frequently brought on by indoor heating during the winter and causes the leaves to lose moisture too quickly, is the reason indoor yucca leaf tips turn brown. Whole yucca leaves going brown is typically caused by drought stress brought on by underwatering.

Since they are indigenous to Mexico and the South-Western United States, yucca plants are well suited to dry environments.

Although yucca plants can adapt well to indoor situations, they can develop brown leaf tips from a rapid change in humidity.

When the inside heating is put on in the winter, brown leaf tips on yucca leaves are most common. Heat from radiators or forced air quickly dries out the air and reduces humidity.

The yucca plant’s leaves quickly lose a lot of moisture due to this abrupt change in humidity, which results in the brown leaf tips that signify drought stress.

The entire leaf turning brown and possibly drooping is an indication of underwatering from:

not providing enough water to the yucca plant or
Overwatering the yucca plant.

In order to recreate the regular cycle of rainfall followed by drought in their natural environment, yuccas need the top 2.5 inches of the potting soil to completely dry between watering sessions.

Watering the yucca plant on average once every two weeks is required (although this can depend on climate).

Weeks without watering cause the yucca to react with brown, wilting leaves as an indication that it is not receiving enough moisture.

The potting soil can also become overwatered, which can result in the yucca plants’ leaves turning brown and drooping.

When you water your plants too little, the water just penetrates the top inch or two of the potting soil and does not reach the roots where it is needed.

Due to drought stress, yucca leaves become dark and droop if the roots cannot access the soil’s moisture.

Sunburn can also cause leaves to become brown.

Although yucca plants can withstand direct sunlight, their leaves can scorch and become brown if they are suddenly transferred from a mostly shaded region to a sunny one.

The greatest times for yucca growth are often in the early sun, followed by midday shade or partial light when the sun is at its highest.

Brown leaves may not always be a warning that something is wrong with the care and culture of your yucca plant and the plant should continue to grow. Lower leaves of yucca plants also turn brown as the plant ages.

How to Revive a Yucca Plant With Brown Leaves and Brown Leaf Tips

Increase the humidity for yucca plants with brown leaf tips by spraying the leaves every few days. Spraying your yucca plant’s leaves every day or so, or anytime you notice the leaf tips beginning to turn brown, will help counteract the dry air and create a humid microclimate surrounding the plant. This ought to mitigate the effects of the dry air and reduce the pace at which water is lost from the leaves.
Yucca plants should be moved away from heat sources and air currents. If the yucca is close to a heat source, the leaves may lose moisture and the potting soil may get overly dry. Once they have had time to acclimate, yuccas can frequently withstand the heat of a heated room, but it is recommended to keep the plant away from any direct heat sources.
When the top 2.5 inches of the soil feel a little dry, water yucca plants. Normally, watering yucca plants once every two weeks is sufficient, though this can change according on the season and climate. Testing the soil with your finger at a finger’s depth can let you to determine when your yucca needs watering. Wait a few days before watering if the soil is wet. The optimum time to water your yucca plant to prevent the leaves from turning brown is when the soil feels as though it is just beginning to dry up.
Every time you water, give the yucca’s potting soil an ample soak. In order to guarantee that the water has permeated the soil and reached the roots where it is needed, water the yucca until excess water drips out of the drainage holes in the base of the pot. After watering, the soil should be equally moist to allow the roots to get the water they need.
Avoid exposing yucca leaves to direct sunlight right away; instead, gradually increase their exposure to brighter light. Yucca plants become sunburned when they are abruptly moved from a shaded region to a sunny one. Over the course of two weeks, move the yucca to a more sunny spot to gradually expose it to more light, allowing the leaves to acclimate and prevent sunburn-related browning. For around two weeks, leave the yucca in the sunny location for at least 20 minutes every day.

Any brown leaves that have dried out and become crispy should be removed (with a good pair of pruners).

Cutting back can aid in promoting new growth if the leaves have dried out and are not likely to recover.

After a good soak in water and frequent misting, yucca plants should start to recover since they can withstand drought well.

The yucca should begin to recover after a few cycles of watering (wait until the top 2.5 inches are dry between bouts of watering).

Yucca Plant Leaves Wilting And Leaves Dropping

Symptoms. leaves that appear to be fading or drooping.
Causes. inadequate lighting, flooding, overwatering, or bad drainage

The absence of sufficient sunlight or infrequent watering are the two main causes of withering yucca plant leaves. Yucca plants prefer a lot of bright light, including some sunlight. The growth becomes spindly and starts to wilt if the yucca is in the shade.

Yuccas thrive inside thanks to their adaptability and tolerance of drought, but if they are in too much shade, their leaves can become thin, spindly, and withering.

The yucca plant’s leaves lose their ability to grow in the absence of enough direct sunshine and droop or wilt as an indication of stress.

In order to avoid appearing withering, yuccas like to grow in brighter light or with some direct sunlight. (A yucca should not be moved from partial shade to full sun right away; otherwise, the leaves will scorch and become brown.)

The leaves of yucca plants will also wilt if they are not given enough water or if it is applied too sparingly.

Some individuals interpret the false information that “Yucca plants do not need much water” to mean that they do not require a significant amount of water and may live with only periodic light irrigation.

Yucca plants should only be watered when the top 2.5 inches of the soil feel a little dry, but they do need a deep soak to ensure that the potting soil is evenly saturated.

Wilting is the yucca plant’s first warning indication that it needs more water.

If yuccas are watered too frequently, the soil becomes persistently saturated, or the pot or potting soil prevents extra water from draining away effectively after watering, the plants may wilt and eventually become yellow or brown.

Because of this, yucca plants ought to always be grown in containers with drainage holes on the bottom.

Additionally, it’s crucial to regularly drain saucers and trays to prevent water from collecting at the base of the pot and making the soil too wet for the yucca’s roots to survive.

The potting soil releases oxygen when it is overly wet, which is necessary for root respiration. The leaves of the yucca are wilting because the roots are unable to transmit moisture and nutrients from the earth around the plant if they are unable to breathe.

How to Revive Yucca Plants with Wilting Leaves

The yucca should begin to recover once the soil has had a chance to partially dry out if the cause of your yucca wilting is due to damp soil (from overwatering pots without drainage or saucers and trays causing water to pool at the base of the pot).

There is a strong possibility the yucca should start to heal during the ensuing weeks if you dealt with the issue promptly. More light should be provided for the yucca, and the top 2.5 inches of soil should be left to dry out.

Yucca plants that are wilting from lack of water typically recover nicely from a thorough watering. The yucca should start to appear considerably more healthy and revitalized after 2 or 3 cycles of watering.

The yucca plant’s leaves should begin to recover from their drooping appearance if given enough time to acclimate to a region with more sun and possibly warmer temperatures. The amount of time it takes to recover depends on how long it has been in a shaded region, but given enough time and exposure to sunlight, yuccas can start to look healthy and produce new leaves.

Key Takeaways:

Typically, overwatering and inadequate drainage are to blame for a dying yucca plant. Yucca plants are tolerant to drought but do not enjoy constantly soggy, humid soil. The yucca plant will get root rot if the soil is excessively wet, which will cause the leaves to become yellow and appear to be drooping and dying.
Due to root rot brought on by overwatering, yucca plants’ leaves turn yellow and droop. If the potting soil for yucca plants is too wet, the extra moisture depletes the soil’s oxygen supply, preventing root respiration and resulting in yellowing and drooping yucca leaves.
Yucca plants’ lower leaves naturally turn brown when they ripen, as well as as a result of underwatering, sunburn, and aging. Yucca plants’ leaves can turn scorching brown if they are abruptly transferred from partial shade to full sun without having time to acclimate.
Yucca leaf tips turn brown as a result of heating indoors, low humidity, and underwatering. If the yucca is close to an interior heat source, the abrupt rise in temperature may rob the leaves of moisture and cause the soil to dry out too quickly. Brown leaf tips are a result of the abrupt reduction in humidity and lack of moisture.
Yucca plants’ leaves wilt when they are submerged, receive little sunlight, or have poor drainage. When the top 2.5 inches of the soil get dry, yuccas require a good soak in water. The first sign of stress in plants is wilting or drooping if the soil is either wet or too dry.
Lack of light is the most frequent cause of yucca plants losing leaves. Either strong indirect light or some sun is necessary for yucca plants. The yucca plant’s leaves get long and spindly and eventually fall off if it is shaded. As the plant becomes older, the lower leaves fall off.

FAQ

How do you revive a dying yucca plant?

After a good soak in water and frequent misting, yucca plants should start to recover since they can withstand drought well. The yucca should begin to recover after a few cycles of watering (wait until the top 2.5 inches are dry between bouts of watering).

How do you tell if yucca is overwatered or Underwatered?

Overwatering is indicated by browning leaf tips surrounded by a yellow halo. Keep an eye on your yucca plant; drooping stems, wilting leaves, and yellowing are all signs of either too much or too little water. A lack of sunshine may also be indicated by yellowing foliage.

What does a dying yucca plant look like?

What can I do to yucca leaves when they turn yellow and brown end?

Simply put them in the shower and give them a mild water wash to remove the leaves and thoroughly soak the soil. Since yuccas are extremely hardy and you shouldn’t really harm the leaves, you shouldn’t worry too much about maintaining low water pressure.