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Spineless Yucca - Browning leaves?

Posted by cali41 AZ (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 1, 10 at 20:06

Hi all -

I'm new to the forum and new to the world of Spineless Yucca as an indoor houseplant. I've had the yucca for about a month now, but each week, the lower level of "leaves" starts to brown at the end, then as the week progresses, the browning carries all the way through the "leaf" and ends up shriveling and wilted.

I've only watered the plant once, as I read indoors and with it being a desert plant, it does not need much water and prefers to be on the more dry side.

I also have it indoors, and being in Phoenix, we receive tons of indirect sunlight through our windows everyday. My unit faces north as do all my windows, so I do not receive any substantial direct sunlight, but based on what I read, the Yucca thrives with as much sun as possible, but will survive in minimal direct sunlight scenarios.

This is fine with me, I do not need the plan to grow grow, but I do want it to survive as I really like its look. I can email a couple pictures for reference.

Please help.

Much thanks.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Spineless Yucca - Browning leaves?

cali41, the lower leaves (lowest leaf?) start(s) browning backwards from the tip; you have watered the plant once in four weeks. You do not say how big is the root ball nor how much water you used.
My conclusion is that you should have used more water.
Here is why I think so. The soil must have been quite dry at the time you watered it. The soil would have grabbed that moisture and held on to it tightly. Visualise a strong magnet (soil) and you are making a paper clip chain hanging from it (watering). The first clip or two will be held so tightly that if you place a weaker magnet (the root) in the vicinity it will not be able to attract any paper clips. After several paper clips have been added this weaker magnet will be able to attract away some of the remote ones. If more clips are added to the chain, gravity will pull away some. I would use a probe to check the moisture inside the root ball. Use a dowel rod with a notch cut into it; push the rod into the root ball, give it a half turn and pull it straight out. It should trap a small amount of soil which you can examine for moisture content. You can choose the depth at which you want to measure; this is useful in many cases.


 
 

 

 


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