Yucca or palm lilies are popular and easy-care houseplants that are available in different types and designs. The plants quickly add greenery to any living room, but if care is made incorrectly they also react quickly with yellow leaves and brown leaf tips. This not only looks unsightly, but is also a sign that the plant is not doing well. The following article explains how you can find out the causes and fix them.
Why does my yucca palm have brown tips?
Brown tips on a yucca palm can be caused by various factors, such as too much or too little water, incorrect overwintering, lack of light or sunburn. Proper care, including appropriate watering and balanced lighting, helps prevent such problems.
Yucca is not a tropical palm tree
First of all: Even though the plant is offered as a yucca “palm” or palm lily, it is still not a type of palm tree - in fact, these groups of plants are not even remotely related to each other. While most palm species grow in tropical rainforests, where it is humid and warm all year round, many yucca species come from the deserts and semi-deserts of the southern United States. It is hot and dry here during the summer months, but it can get very cold in the winter. The correct care of the yucca can also be derived from these conditions, although this also depends on the specific species - not all yuccas like the same growing conditions.
Causes and their elimination
There are a number of possible causes for brown leaf tips, most of which are due to improper care.
Too much or too little water
As desert plants, yuccas are very sensitive to moisture. During the hot summer months, plants receive little water in their natural environment, which is why some species are even succulent - they store water and thus survive dry periods. Of course, this doesn't apply to all yuccas. In principle, however, the plants should not be watered too heavily and high humidity (for example by spraying with water) is also harmful. Water about once a week and only when the surface of the substrate has already dried out. Be sure to do a finger test before watering!
Incorrect wintering with dry and warm heating air
In principle, yuccas should not be sprayed with water, but there is one exception: In winter, the plants need additional moisture due to the warm and very dry air in the room due to the heating, which is why you should spray them about once or twice a week should be misted with low-lime water. However, most types of Yucca overwinter best in a light place, but at around 10 °C, cool and frost-free. Some yuccas are even frost hardy and can be left outside in winter in mild regions. In general, all yuccas feel comfortable in a bright and sheltered spot on the balcony or terrace during the hot summer months.
Lack of light / sunburn
You should only accustom the plants to the sun slowly, as they quickly get sunburned, which results in the leaves getting brown tips and/or spots. On the other hand, too little light also leads to brown leaf tips and/or yellow leaves - pay particular attention to this with yuccas standing in front of the windows. If the leaves facing away from the window turn yellow or brownish, they are not getting enough light.
Tip
Use low-lime or lime-free and warm water when spraying and watering. An excess of lime also results in discoloration of the leaves.
