Is my Yucca beyond hope?

fatbelly

If the soil feels completely dried out then i would give it water. Obviously don't leave it standing in water for any time.

I have used garden soil  sometimes to keep costs down but plants don't thrive in it. I have a bag of poundland potting compost which is surprisingly good (Moorland brand) but not on sale at this time of year. I also have some John Innes no 3 for plants that like a more freely draining medium.

I wouldn't repot yours again though.

Working_Mum

All plants need a bit of moisture b&b - you shouldn't let any plant dry out completely.
I was always told to water houseplants when you pop your finger into the top of the soil and it comes out dry.

I tend to check my plants every couple/3 days and water when required. I have ferns in my bathroom that I spray with water every day as they like moisture.

It sounds as if you've found a nice location for your yucca - I'd maybe not keep moving it whilst it's in recovery mode. Give it chance to rest and recuperate and you may be lucky and see some new shoots soon.

Keep us posted!

WM


 

twopenny

When you watered I'm guessing from the pot and tray that you watered from the top?

It could be that you repotted and the soil at the bottom of the pot just dried out and while it was trying to get roots into the new soil they couldn't get any moisture and died.

But it's atough old beast and will sort itself out in time.

If the soil is dry then stand it in a washing up bowl of tepid water. Stand tap water for a day or more to allow the chemicals to clear and a tad of boiling to warm it. Tepid because cold will just shock it more at this time of year.

And then leave it. Not near a heat source and not in a dark draught.

booksandbikes

Ok it's now been three weeks and I think it is dead. The trunk in the middle is soft....I can squeeze it as easily as I can squeeze an empty loo roll, even though the remaining leaves are green. Any suggestions?

Note, this isn't the usual place for my yucca  - I have moved it here this morning as the sun actually came out. 

Shall I give up? Can anyone recommend a replacement plant that is hard to kill? Note I will NOT be using garden soil for the next one - whether that was the problem or not. 

Farway

If the trunk is soft & soggy very likely it's dead.

Tip it out of pot and check how the roots are

White & alive, there's a chance for it to come back

How firm is trunk near the base / soil? Could new growth come from there?

Hard to kill, try a money  / jade  plant. Crassula

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassula_ovata

Common and you'll find in most garden centres or sometimes supermarkets

Will love baking hot window or dry dusty corner, anywhere except damp like a bathroom

Easy to grow, hard to kill, new plants can be grown easily from any "leaf" you take off

It will even flower in right conditions

Mine in a baking conservatory

teaselMay

Spider plants are easy too, mine get a drink once a month or so if that. I run them under the shower to dust them now and then. Ask your friends someone might have one with 'babies, ' that's where mine were from.

Working_Mum

I think that you need to look at succulents or cactus for your next plants.

They need steady care - you can water them once every couple of weeks but they'll survive a bit of neglect too. All plants need a bit of water and feeding occasionally.

Spider plants are easy care, Christmas or Easter cactus and a jade/money plant are great value as they're green and look healthy.

Good luck with your endeavours 

((WM))

FreeBear

Working_Mum said: I think that you need to look at succulents or cactus for your next plants.

Or a  Selaginella Lepidophylla - Virtually impossible to kill, and will survive even it hasn't been watered for months on end.

booksandbikes

Working_Mum said:

I think that you need to look at succulents or cactus for your next plants.

We've got a couple of succulents and cactuses (or cactii?) that are doing quite well, but I wanted to try something a bit more lively.

Thanks for everyone's advice....we have binned the yucca, and went out to the garden centre and was recommended to try a snake plant. So....fingers crossed....!

Farway

booksandbikes said:

We've got a couple of succulents and cactuses (or cactii?) that are doing quite well, but I wanted to try something a bit more lively.

Thanks for everyone's advice....we have binned the yucca, and went out to the garden centre and was recommended to try a snake plant. So....fingers crossed....!

Ah ha, name change "For Modern Audiences"

Good old Mother in Laws Tongue when I was but a lad