What is wrong with my yucca?

saragarner1980

I got this yucca about 6 months ago, it was super healthy. Now it’s leaves are paler in colour and look a bit matte and it has dead tips with some splits and black patches in leaves. The leaves are more wilted than when I got it. The new leaf spike has dried out and wilted on one trunk. The trunks are firm. There are no roots coming out the bottom of the pot. I tried to dig down to look at roots but I could only get down about 2-3 inches and they were brown and crispy, they broke away in my fingers. 

Is this from overwatering or under watering? Is it possible to save it?
Any help would be very appreciated as I really don’t want it to die.

Fairygirl

Hi @saragarner1980 - if you got it 6 months or so ago, it's quite likely that it's got dehydrated, which then makes it difficult to rehydrate properly. Unfortunately, the effects of a lack of water can be the same as overwatering. 
It also looks like a big specimen, and could probably have done with a much bigger pot to accomodate it and allow it to grow on. That will also help to keep the soil medium at a more constant level of moistness. What did you use to pot it up with? 

Also - they aren't fully hardy in all areas so it will depend where you are and what your conditions are like. I couldn't have left a yucca outside at this time of year here. 

saragarner1980

Hi @Fairygirl,
I have not re-potted the plant since I got it. I read that yuccas like small pits and being root bound?

It has been winter here, I’m in Australia, temps never drop much below freezing and not often at all. We are now coming into summer where temps can reach 40+ degrees. I watered it often when I first got it but as it started showing signs of yellowing/brown leaves and dead ends etc I stopped watering it as I thought it had root rot. It is a very large plant standing about six foot tall or more.
Would you suggest anything to try to save it? Maybe re-pot it and cut away dead roots?
thanks for your help

saragarner1980

Hi @philippa smith2
I am going to re-pot it and get it some shade. I have included a full length picture so you can see the size of the current pot in comparison to plant. The pot measures approximately 50cm across. What size pot would you recommend for it?
Thanks for your help 

AnniD

Hello Sara,
I have found this Australian site about growing yuccas - there is a small paragraph about growing them in pots, and how to calculate the pot size.
Hope this is of some use 
http://www.dotpointing.com.au/growing-yuccas/

Fairygirl

I'd reckon there won't be much in that pot other than roots, so it certainly needs a little bit more room.
Be careful about how big the container is though. Good, gritty, free draining medium, as it won't appreciate sitting in wet stuff for any length of time if you think about the conditions from which they originate 

saragarner1980

Thanks everyone for your help. I really appreciate it.