Diseases and treatment of yucca palm. Yucca - leaves turn yellow
How to increase a plant's resistance to stress? What to do if problems could not be avoided? How to recognize approaching trouble? Let's talk about everything in order.
A healthy yucca is distinguished by a strong trunk, bright and juicy foliage, and excellent shoot turgor
The evergreen indoor yucca is endemic to Central America, a region with a hot and dry climate. This could not but affect the formation of the annual cycle of its life activity, one of the stages of which is a period of pronounced dormancy.
When the plant goes into “sleep,” which occurs around the end of October and lasts until February–March, it sharply reduces its moisture consumption and nutrients, growth stops. Accordingly, the watering and fertilizing regime needs to be adjusted. What if you don't do this? WITH high degree the likelihood of illness will not be long in coming, and yucca will already need not only preventive measures, but also their treatment.
The health of yucca is determined by a combination of factors such as light, humidity, and temperature. What should they be like during the rest period?
- There should be a lot of light. If in summer yucca is recommended to receive diffused sunlight and keep it at some distance from the window, then by winter the pots can be moved closer to the light source, for example, as in the photo below.
- Optimal winter temperature– 10–14° C. It is undesirable for it to fall below 8° C or rise above 25° C.
- Watering is reduced to 1-2 times a month.
- Feeding is suspended until spring.
It happens that it is not possible to lower the temperature to optimal parameters. In this case, the earthen ball will dry out faster, and you can water the plant a little more often.
But the greatest harm to yucca comes from a combination of low temperature (for example, the pot is on a cold windowsill) and excessive watering. Mold and pathogenic bacteria will 100% settle in wet, cold soil. And further. Yucca is very afraid of drafts.
By the way, if the “palm tree” is transplanted during this period, it will probably get sick. Dormant roots will not be able to absorb the increased volume of soil and moisture, and this is a direct path to fungal infections.
Common Yucca Diseases
Most diseases of yucca are associated with improper maintenance - waterlogging of the soil, depletion of the soil mixture, and, consequently, weakening of the plant's immunity. But it happens that the infection enters from the outside, for example, with the substrate or other indoor flowers. What problems most often arise with palm trees?
Fungal infections affecting the crown
Several groups of fungi manifest themselves by infecting yucca leaves. All sorts of spots, yellowing, and sores appear on them. If you don’t catch it in time, the spots increase, merge, and eventually the leaves dry out and the plant itself droops. We’ll tell you how to revive it at home using the example of several diseases.
Cercospora is an infection caused by a fungal pathogen (Cercospora)
A favorable environment for this fungus is high humidity. It occurs due to constant overflows, as well as when the grower gets carried away with spraying plants. Round spots of light brown color with a dark border appear on the leaves, which gradually grow, affecting new areas.
Having noticed the disease, first of all remove the affected leaves as much as possible.
Then treat with a systemic fungicide, first a “light” one (Fundazol, Topaz). The number of sprayings is 2–3 times with an interval of 10 days.
And, of course, it is necessary to eliminate the factors that led to the yucca disease - dry the earthen ball, reduce watering, stop spraying the crown.
Brown spot
The causes of the lesion are similar to the previous disease, but are caused by a fungus of a different group. It primarily affects the lower (old) leaves. First, discolored areas appear, then they turn yellow, and after 3–4 months they become brown. At this time, you can notice fungal spores located in the center of the spots.
Control measures are the same as for cercospora. If the disease has progressed, you can use a stronger fungicide, for example, Ridomil Gold.
Leaf marginal necrosis
This fungal infection is diagnosed by gray-brown spots affecting the edges of the leaf blade. Sometimes the spot can be “wet” and have a pronounced concentric shape.
If the speck is small, the sheet can not be removed, but only the diseased area can be cut out, capturing part of the healthy tissue. To disinfect the wound, treat the edges with crushed activated carbon.
After the “operation”, spray the yucca with a fungicide solution.
Fusarium rot
This is dangerous fungal infection, leading to leaf rotting. They are usually affected at the base and rot completely.
To combat fusarium fungus use systemic fungicides, such as Fundazol, Previkur, Profit. If the damage is severe, it is better to throw away the plant along with the pot.
To ensure effective control of diseases and pests, the crown, trunk and, of course, the soil are sprayed. Sometimes it is recommended to clean upper layer substrate contaminated with fungal spores or insect larvae. In case of fungal diseases, to be on the safe side, the plant is not only sprayed, but also watered several times with a weak solution of fungicide.
The photo shows a yucca affected by cercospora blight. Stem rot
If the loss of leaves is a temporary problem, new ones will grow after treatment, then everything is not so simple with the trunk. This is the main artery through which food flows; if it dies, the yucca will also die.
The trunk affected by rot becomes soft, brown ulcers appear on it, from which a watery substance oozes.
Only surgical intervention can save the plant. We definitely cut out the softened part of the trunk to healthy tissue. Further actions depend on what is left of the palm tree.
If this is the top, the cut is dried, treated with a growth stimulator (according to the instructions) and tried to root. This can be done in water or in a light substrate of peat and perlite.
Living root with part of the trunk? Wonderful! Treat the cut with activated or crushed charcoal, place in a bright, warm place. Apply Carbendazim fungicide solution to kill fungus in the soil. If everything is in order, the yucca will expel the shoots from the axillary buds.
You can try to germinate healthy fragments of the yucca trunk in the substrate by burying them flat Problems with roots
Often on forums you can “hear” the cry of the soul: “Yucca is dying, what to do?” Moreover, outwardly everything looks normal - no obvious diseases, no pests, but the plant is withering away. In such situations, the problem is most likely in the roots.
Root rot - horrible dream succulents, which include yucca. You can see it only when replanting the plant. Therefore, if you see that the plant is withering for no apparent reason, try to carefully remove it from the pot and inspect the roots. If they are dark and soft, this is root rot. Whether it will be possible to revive the yucca depends on the extent of the damage.
- If the roots have rotted completely, all that remains is to throw away the flower.
- Less than a third of diseased roots? Cut off anything suspicious and transplant the yucca into a new container with fresh substrate. After planting, water it with a fungicide solution and send the “sick” one to a warm and bright place.
- If more than half of the roots are damaged, but not all, you can try to save the plant. They need to be washed under the tap, and then all soft and darkened pieces should be cut off. Next, we plant, water with a fungicide solution, and place in the light. We are waiting for the result.
The reanimated plant should not be watered until you are sure that it has taken root and has begun to grow.
Healthy roots – light and elastic Yucca doesn't bloom
Some gardeners are concerned about the question of why yucca does not bloom; they even tend to attribute the problem to illness or improper maintenance. This is not entirely true.
The fact is that yucca almost never blooms in captivity. This is due to the fact that the conditions of its maintenance are far from the natural environment, the rest period is relative, which means flower buds they don’t have time to mature. Yes and in natural conditions Only mature “palms” bloom. Therefore, if the yucca is more than 10 years old and you provide it with peace in winter, there is a chance, although small, that it will throw out inflorescences with beautiful white bells.
If you want to see yucca bloom, grow garden varieties plants You need to know the enemy by sight
In addition to diseases, some insects are enemies of yucca. Pests rarely attack a plant with strong immunity, but diseased, depleted specimens often become their target. Let's consider who can live with your pet.
Mealybug
It most often affects a palm tree in the off-season, when the plant experiences stress from changes temperature regime. Externally, mealybugs look like small cotton wool rolls; if you crush the fluffy ball, they appear bloody issues. Its harm is enormous, since it sucks juice from leaves and branches and multiplies very quickly.
If you notice a mealybug infestation, thoroughly wipe the yucca leaves with a sponge dipped in warm, soapy water, removing all visible traces of the pest. After this, treat the plant with an insecticide (Aktara, Calypso, Fitoverm, etc.). The procedure must be repeated 3-4 times with an interval of 7-10 days.
Shchitovka
Another dangerous enemy of yucca is the scale insect. A tiny insect, similar to a small turtle, is generally mistaken by some for a growth on the leaves, since it is motionless. Having firmly attached itself to a leaf blade or cutting, the scale insect sucks out the juices of the plant. First sign dangerous neighborhood– sticky shiny discharge.
Not only the scale insect itself harms the flower, but also the sticky substance. It clogs the pores of living tissue, creating favorable conditions for fungal infections.
The “shell” of the scale insect is so dense that it is difficult to kill it even with chemicals. Adults must be removed first mechanically– using a swab moistened with a concentrated soap solution or vodka, clean the leaves and stems from brown “growths”. Remove the top layer of soil.
After this, treat the plant with an insecticide. As with mealybugs, repeat the procedure at least 3 times.
Spider mite
Can settle on weakened plants spider mite. First on back side light “grains” appear on the leaf, and then the finest web appears.
In addition to diseases and pests, there may be other reasons why yucca leaves turn yellow -.
To increase the plant’s resistance to stress, do not neglect feeding in the summer - a balanced diet will help build strong immunity. In winter, give the yucca a rest and gain strength for the new season. Proper care – best prevention diseases.
A video about caring for yucca will help you avoid many problems.
A beautiful plant resembling a palm tree with evergreen leaves, called yucca, enjoys the well-deserved love of many lovers of home flowers. This palm-shaped plant does not grow quickly, but over time its size can reach four meters in height. You need to understand that such a powerful plant, when it grows, will require quite a lot of space. If you do not pay proper attention to yucca, its leaves turn yellow and dry, and this is a very alarming signal. If you do not respond in a timely manner, this can even lead to the death of an adult plant. The problem begins with the tips of the yucca leaves drying out, and then they completely turn yellow and fall off. We hope that this material, which contains expert advice, will help save your home beauty.
If, due to excessive excess moisture, the roots become susceptible to rotting, the plant must be carefully removed from its pot, the rotten areas of the root system must be removed, and all cuts must be treated with a fungicidal solution. After treatment, the plant is transplanted into 
updated substrate mixture, and also replace the flower pot with a new one.
Please note that in winter root system should dry thoroughly inside the pot, here you need to especially carefully monitor the health of the plant. And in summer time The substrate should not be allowed to dry out to a depth of more than five centimeters. If the root system has completely died as a result of rotting, do not despair! You can get a full-fledged flower from the top of the plant, but for this it needs to be rooted.
Behind your evergreen beauty, yucca is the key to a healthy plant. We hope that this material will help you avoid possible difficulties, which amateur gardeners most often encounter.
Yucca – popular plant among flower growers, it will become the first in your collection of home flowers. Easy to grow, unpretentious and has an attractive appearance, similar to a palm tree. However, incorrectly chosen conditions or an attack by pests also lead to the loss of the plant’s appearance - the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out.
A common cause of yellowing is improperly selected conditions of detention. Yucca is photophilous, but direct sunlight causes burns. Helping the plant - change permanent place.
The plants also get stressed after transplantation. Rough replanting with damage to the root system leads to the dropping of the lower leaves. Yucca needs peace; 4 days in a dark place will help it cope with stress.
At this time, moderate watering must be observed; the root system does not absorb excess moisture. good drainage system and light soil will help to survive stress after transplantation.
Often yucca new place is not suitable. Slow growth and yellowness indicate an incorrectly chosen location for the plant. Rearrange and observe whether the appearance and speed of new leaves improves.
In autumn winter period you need to remain calm: reduce watering, put it in a cooler place, but no less lit. In this case, the yucca will gain new strength and will actively grow in the spring.
Lack or excess of moisture, lighting, pests are the main factors affecting the growth and appearance of the plant.
Also, do not forget about natural shedding - this is a self-rejuvenation mechanism inherent in nature. The leaves live for two years and then die.
Waterlogging of the soil
Yucca has a well-developed ground part, but the roots are less developed. Abundant, frequent watering leads to rotting of the root system and the trunk of the plant. Watering is carried out with settled water at room temperature.
Light at the base withered leaves indicate waterlogging of the substrate, water the yucca less.
Yellowed on which appear brown spots also a symptom of waterlogging of the soil.
It is necessary to dry the soil and loosen the top layer of soil. If this is not enough, replanting the plant will help.
During transplantation, the roots are treated with a fungicide solution. Disinfection will help cope with the fungus.
Brown spots on the leaves are definitely a fungal infection. Yellowed ones must be removed or cut back to healthy tissue. If the yucca's shoots have darkened, the plant cannot be saved; the root system and trunk have completely rotted.
Transplantation is carried out in a pot with a thick layer of drainage and large drainage holes. Rotten roots are cut off with a disinfected knife. The sections are treated with root growth stimulants. In case of severe damage, the plant is placed in water until roots form and then planted in the ground.
Low air humidity
Hot dry air, especially in winter, when streams of hot air rise from the radiators and the air is dry, makes the yucca fold its leaves into a tube, the ends dry out.
In the natural environment, yucca in Mexico, Central America and in the southern parts of the United States in dry and warm climates. Low humidity is not a strong irritant, but in winter dry air is harmful, which is why additional humidification with a spray or steam humidifier is required.
Lack of lighting at home
Light leaves, almost white at the base, the plant stretches upward - obvious lack of lighting. If this happens in the autumn-winter period, the yucca needs to be additionally illuminated with fluorescent lamps.
On a north window, an adult yucca suffers from a lack of light, this will lead to loss of appearance.
Small specimens feel good on all window sills. Yucca will feel good on a south or east window, but direct sunlight should be avoided. If the plant is mature, you can place the pot on the floor or on a special stand, then it will receive diffused lighting without the risk of foliage burns.
Soil drying out
Withered leaves that have lost their elasticity, signal a lack of moisture. After watering, the leaves become elastic again and do not turn yellow. A systematic lack of water leads to shedding of leaves and drying out of the root system. It is necessary to increase watering, the top layer of soil should dry out between waterings.
How to save yucca from pests
Daily inspection of the plant for insect damage will allow you to begin pest control in a timely manner. Slow growth, yellow leaves or sticky coating indicate pest infestation.
Two pests that often attack yucca are spider mites and false scale insects. The first appears in rooms with dry air, more often it appears among residents of the first floors; spider mites, along with street dust, move to indoor plants.
When there is a lot of crowding potted plants Everyone will be in the affected area. Control: treatment with insecticides and washing in the shower. The top layer of soil is replaced with a new one. Prevention - increasing air humidity.
False shield sucks out the juices, the fight against it will last for a couple of months, since one treatment will not be enough. False scale insects must be removed using a solution of water and laundry soap with a cotton swab or brush, depending on the pest infestation and the hardness of the leaf, or each scale insect must be removed manually.
Shields hide in parts that are difficult for the eye to reach; a week after the first treatment, re-treatment is carried out. The top layer of soil is replaced with a new one and treated with an insecticide. You can contact folk medicine and treat the plant with garlic tincture.
The main thing is that treatment should be done as new pests appear until complete destruction. The sticky coating left by the false scale insect is covered with sooty fungus. It causes darkening and rotting of leaves.
If pests are detected, treatment is carried out as quickly as possible. The pest carries diseases that spread quickly.
What to do for fungal leaf diseases
Overmoistening of the root system or general hypothermia leads to fungal infections. Dark spots on the leaves - a fungal disease caused by high humidity and excessive watering.
Changing the watering schedule and permanent location of the yucca will help combat the fungus. Diseased leaves are removed.
Another fungus that attacks the trunk causes stem rot. In the first stages, the fungus may not be noticed; in advanced cases, rot is detected too late, when the stem is affected, and inside it is filled with rot.
If the rot has not yet spread to the entire trunk, then the plant is cut back to healthy tissue and rooted. In advanced cases, it is disposed of along with the pot so that healthy people do not become infected.
Prevention is V correct selection soil. Fine expanded clay, sand and coconut shavings should become faithful companions of the new soil; the soil will become softer and airier. Watering is moderate; between waterings the top layer of mail should dry completely.
Yucca is and remains a plant that does not require constant control. The right location is the key to active and healthy growth. Care and periodic spraying, average soil moisture and fertilization will have a positive effect on appearance.
As Yucca grows older, when its trunk becomes bare, it becomes like a tree - indoor Palm. At the same time, its decorative effect is lost, and it becomes increasingly difficult to care for it. The question arises: how to return a flower to its usual acceptable size and former attractiveness? To do this, you can use our tips and one of the ways to propagate Yucca at home. In addition, in the article we will talk about common problems in growing Yucca, treating diseases and controlling pests.
If you cut off the top of Yucca with a bunch of leaves and part of the trunk (at least 10 cm), you will rejuvenate the old plant and get one or more new ones. This operation is best carried out in the spring, when Yucca begins to grow. You should first water the plant well. After a couple of days, the top can be cut off. Use a sharp, clean knife or pruning shears. If the remaining stem is too tall, you can cut off another part of it so that the old flower has a stem of the desired height. Let all the sections dry a little (about 20 minutes), and then treat them with crushed activated carbon or garden varnish.
Move the old pot with the stump to a slightly shaded place for a couple of months and do not water it - having lost its crown, Yucca will stop using water. Overwatering can lead to root rot or other diseases. When the side buds begin to wake up on the stem, when new rosettes of leaves begin to appear from them, then the flower should be brought into the light, watered and then cared for according to all the rules.
Reproduction by flower tip
We did not forget the cut off top of the flower. This is magnificent planting material for rapid propagation of Yucca. To do this, cut off the lower leaves with a clean knife or scissors. Place the end of the cutting into a pot with damp coarse sand (perlite, vermiculite) and cover the entire structure with a bag to create a greenhouse effect.
You can also root Yucca in water. It will take about a month for rooting. All this time, the cutting should be in a warm place with diffused lighting. When the top has acquired its own roots, it should be transplanted into its own pot with suitable soil, where the young Yucca will grow further.
Reproduction by part of the trunk
From the trunk of an adult Yucca, after the top is cut off, another part is usually cut off for propagation if there are dormant buds on it. The sections are dried in air for about 20 minutes, then sprinkled with activated carbon or lubricated with garden varnish. Place this stem in a container with a lid, in wet sand, horizontally, and compact well. New rosettes of leaves will form from the awakening buds. How many buds wake up - so many new shoots you will get. All that remains is to carefully separate them, dry the sections and treat them with activated carbon, and then plant each shoot in a separate pot.
Reproduction by daughter lateral shoots (cuttings)
If you choose this method of propagation, then carefully separate the daughter side shoot from the adult plant. For rooting, you can place it either in a jar of water, where you put the tablet activated carbon to prevent rot, or in a container with wet sand, after pre-treating the cuts with the same crushed coal. When roots appear on the shoot, you can transplant it into a pot with prepared soil.
Propagation using seeds
This method of propagation at home is used very rarely. As a rule, it is not possible to collect your own seeds, since indoor Yucca blooms extremely rarely. But, if you got seeds somewhere, you can try - Yucca seeds usually germinate well. First prepare the planting container. It is good to use a container with a lid for this purpose. Fill it with a mixture of sand and turf soil in equal parts, moisten it. Spread the seeds on the surface, slightly deepening them into the substrate. Close the lid. Place the container in a bright and warm (25–30 degrees) place. Ventilate the container every day and, if necessary, moisten the substrate using a fine spray bottle with warm, settled or boiled water. Expect the first shoots in a month. Then start transplanting seedlings from separate pots.
Yucca diseases and their treatment
Indoor Yucca is quite hardy, rarely gets sick, and endures illnesses with great endurance. It’s just important not to miss the moment of defeat. The health of Yucca is usually judged by its leaves. Any change in their color or shape should alert you.
If the leaves are covered with large light brown spots, you may have been too carried away with watering and spraying the flower. Due to waterlogging of the substrate and air space, a fungus has settled on the Yucca leaves. All leaves affected by the fungus must be removed. Treat the plant with some fungicide against fungal disease(Topaz, Maxim, Cabrio). Move the pot to a room with lower humidity. Stop spraying the flower and the air around it.
If the fungus has infected not only the leaves, but also the stem of the Yucca, most likely the plant cannot be saved. You will have to get rid of it so that the disease does not spread to other flowers in your collection.
If the tips of the leaves of a seemingly healthy Yucca dry, this is a signal that the plant does not have enough moisture when watering or there is dry air in the room. Adjust watering, if necessary, start spraying the room and flower.
If brown spots appear on the leaves, dry and brittle to the touch, this is a reason for more frequent watering in the hot season. It seems that you often forget about watering and dry out the substrate too much. The plant needs watering after the top layer of the substrate has dried 5–7 cm.
If there are spots on Yucca leaves light color, then this is a signal of excess sunlight. You should move the pot to light partial shade or shield the flower from direct sun with blinds or a curtain.
If the Yucca leaves droop and begin to lose their elasticity, their ends begin to curl and wither, your beauty may be freezing. Rearrange it to more warm room, or find a place in the same room, but closer to the radiator or away from the window glass.
If the lower leaves of Yucca turn yellow and dry, and the upper ones continue to grow actively, then you should not worry - this is a normal process. The life of Yucca leaves lasts two years, then they die. Damaged lower leaves should be carefully disposed of (not torn, but cut off) to maintain decorative look flower. Due to the falling of the lower leaves in its natural environment, the Yucca becomes exactly like the Palm tree.
But, if the plant begins to shed many lower leaves at once, pay attention to its care. Perhaps the flower is in a draft, or the room temperature is too low.
Pests
Conclusion
Diseases and pests appear on Yucca only when they stop caring for it. If you create a good microclimate in your home and provide Yucca with the necessary comfort, then you will protect her from all troubles and troubles. (You can find out how to do this correctly in the article:). And she, in turn, will effectively decorate the interior of the house and protect the owner from the evil eye and negative emotions.
Very often, when growing yucca, gardeners are faced with yellowing and falling of the leaves of this plant. Its leaves dry out at the tips, and then the leaf blades die off completely.
If this happens to 2-3 lower leaves– the natural process of plant growth and development is observed.But if leaf mass is rapidly lost, it is necessary to look for the cause in improper care behind this palm tree.
Yucca can lose leaves due to poor or abundant watering, too dry air and insufficient lighting. Also, the leaves may dry out and turn yellow if the plant is damaged by pests.
Soil drying out
In winter, when the yucca is at rest, complete drying out of the earthen coma will not harm the plant. But in the summer, when the palm tree grows intensively, the soil in a pot with yucca should not dry out to a depth of more than 5 cm.
However, inexperienced gardeners who know the dangers of waterlogging can water their plants very rarely. At the same time, the soil regularly dries out, which affects the appearance of the plant: the leaves dry out and turn yellow, starting from the bottom, and then fall off.
It should be remembered that yucca is not a cactus that is not afraid of the soil drying out. Its roots are different from the root system of succulents. Frequent drying out of the soil can be detrimental to the plant..
Waterlogging of the soil
Also, do not allow the soil to become waterlogged and become stagnant in the pot. Yucca loves moderate watering, so any waterlogging can cause root rot, which is very difficult to combat.
In the early stages of the disease it will help in new soil after cutting off all diseased roots and treating the sections with activated carbon.
If the rotting has spread to the trunk of the plant, you can root top part palm trees or take cuttings from healthy branches.
Waterlogging of yucca soil at low temperatures is especially dangerous..
When at rest, the plant consumes almost no water; it needs to be watered very lightly so that the soil remains slightly moist. During this period, even a single abundant watering leads to root rot.
Watering yucca in summer cold water may lead to the onset of illness. To prevent this from happening, you need to water only with water whose temperature is 2-3 degrees higher than the room temperature.
Low humidity
If the plant is kept at room temperature in a heated room in winter, its leaves may dry out due to lack of moisture in the air.
Yucca tolerates well low humidity, but if the air is very dry and the plant is close heating devices, then even this unpretentious plant may begin to turn yellow.
During the cold period, you must first of all move the yucca away from the heating radiators.. Usually this is enough for its leaves to stop drying and turning yellow. You can artificially humidify the air near the plant by placing it in a tray with damp sand, expanded clay or moss.
Low light
Often in winter the plant experiences a lack of lighting. During the rest period, this cannot harm him much. But if yucca is kept at room temperature even in winter, during this period it continues to grow. If it doesn’t have enough light, it stretches out, its shoots become thinner, and its leaves turn yellow and droop.
To prevent the yucca from losing its decorative effect and weakening in winter, you need to move it to the most illuminated southern window.
Moving yucca to a south window is sometimes not enough, and to increase daylight hours You need to provide your yucca with additional electric lighting.
Pests
Pests can cause leaves to dry out or turn yellow.