Question

Marginata  

Yucca Cane   Hi,

My name is Vio. I recently bought a Chinese Fan Palm ( like 2 months ago) and now the leaves are turning yellow. I live in an apartment in Ohio and I keep the plant by the window. I water the palm once a week. Any ideas what is the problem?

My yucca cane has these white with brown spots on and the leaves are more discolored than before.  The plant was doing great and suddenly changed. See attached pictures for details.

The same with my Marginata. Has the same white spots on. I don't know if it is a root problem or not. There are three plants in a 9 inches ( height) by 10 inches diameter pot. The plan is 25 inches high from the base. Any ideas?

Thank you so much,

Vio

Answer
Hi Vio,

You haven't provided enough information about your Fan Palm for me to properly diagnose the problem. Yellow leaves can be caused by too much or too little light or too much or too little water. Fan Palms need to be located just off to the side of a south window, but directly in front of and close to a north or east window. Assuming the plant is still in its original nursery pot, then it should be watered as soon as the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry. Do not water by the calendar.

I cannot see just where on the Yucca the discoloration is occurring because the photo is too close. If it is the new emerging leaves, then overwatering is the likely cause.

When new growth comes in stunted or discolored on a Dracaena marginata, it is because the roots are rotting. The soil is staying too moist and not being allowed to dry out properly. If you repotted into a larger pot, then that is the source of the problem because the extra soil retains moisture for too long. Otherwise you need to water less frequently, waiting until the top third of the soil feels dry. Add just enough water so that it reaches that level of dryness again in a week or less. In any case you need to cut back on your watering with this plant. And if you are overwatering one plant, you are probably overwatering the others, as well.

I have written articles on watering and on Yucca care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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