Yucca palm with yellow leaves: causes and solutions

Yucca palm with yellow leaves: causes and solutions
Yucca palm with yellow leaves: causes and solutions
Anonim

Yucca “palm” is actually a misnomer, because the so-called palm lily is by no means a type of palm tree. Instead, the popular houseplant belongs to the asparagus family. As a result of incorrect care, the yucca sometimes turns yellow, which can have various causes.

Yucca palm turns yellow
Yucca palm turns yellow

Why is my yucca palm getting yellow leaves?

Yellow leaves on a yucca palm can be caused by several factors: too much moisture or high humidity, overfertilization, too little light, or a pot that is too small. Treat the plant according to the suspected cause and remove the yellow leaves.

Various causes lead to yellow leaves

In most cases, the cause is an excess of moisture - whether from the air or from the watering can. But there are also other reasons to consider. So before you start treating the yellow leaves, it's better to first find out the specific cause - otherwise you could quickly kill the plant.

Causes Measures
Too much moisture / too high humidity Reduce the amount of water you give the plant and avoid spraying it with the spray bottle. The Yucca plant prefers dry and warm conditions.
Overfertilization Fertilize your yucca plant only every two weeks to once a month, and then only moderately with a liquid green plant fertilizer (€14.00 on Amazon).
Too little light Make sure your yucca plant gets enough light. However, keep in mind that not all Yucca species require a lot of light.
The yucca plant has too little space If the yucca plant starts to get yellow leaves because it doesn't have enough space, you should repot it in a larger container with fresh substrate.
Wintering too warm Make sure that the yucca plant is kept at temperatures around 10°C during the cold season.

Too much moisture / too high humidity

The rumor is still circulating in internet forums and specialist books that the yucca palm needs a lot of moisture, especially high humidity. As a result, the hard-working indoor gardener diligently sprays his yuccas with the spray bottle and is surprised that they turn yellow. Most palm lily species do not grow in moist rainforests, but rather in very dry areas of the world - so they prefer it to be dry and warm.

Too much fertilizer

Overfertilization also leads to yellow leaves. Fertilize your yucca every two weeks to once a month - and then only moderately with a liquid green plant fertilizer (€14.00 on Amazon).

Too little light

Many Yucca species come from deserts or semi-deserts and therefore need a lot of light. These turn yellow leaves very quickly if they are too dark. But be careful: This does not apply to all yuccas!

Yucca needs to be repotted

If the yucca becomes too crowded in the pot, it will feel uncomfortable. It shows this – of course – with yellow leaves. Repot the plant into a larger container and fresh substrate as soon as possible.

Treatment options

If your yucca has yellow leaves, you should remove them immediately. Cut or pluck the leaves and then further treat the plant for the suspected cause. Yuccas that are kept too moist and over-fertilized should definitely be replaced with fresh substrate.

Tip

The yucca can also develop yellow leaves as a result of overwintering that is too warm. The houseplant feels most comfortable during the cold season at temperatures of around 10 °C.