Question
Hi Will,
my name is Mark and I moved home last September. We had an indoor Yucca in our last house and had no problems with it. Since Christmas 2010 I put some fairy lights round it and the three branches coming out of the trunk have began wilting. The one that went first appears to have lost its internal structure half way up. Kind of like the insides have been sucked out. I have taken the lights off it now but since doing so no change has occured. There is still a good 2 foot from the tree to ceiling so not sure if its a height thing. Our last house had much higher ceilings. My grandmother says we should cut the branches from just above where they grow out of the trunk and they will shoot again. We are worried if we do that the tree may die so would be grateful if you could advise the correct course of action.
Regards
Mark

Answer
Hi Mark,

I don't think the decline of your Yucca is due to the lights unless the light cord was wrapped extremely tight around the stems or the bulbs generated an unusual amount of heat. Likewise, the distance from the ceiling is not a factor.

The shriveling of the stems is due either to inadequate light and/or improper watering.

Yuccas must be kept close to a sunny window that is uncovered throughout the day. If your Yucca has been too far away from a sunny window, then it will gradually starve to death and finally show the symptoms you have described.

Roots are what absorb water and nutrients for plants. If the roots die, then the plant has no source of water and it gradually uses up its own resources and the stems shrivel and die. Roots can die from extreme drought, which is rare indoors, or from over watering. With a Yucca you must allow the top quarter to third of the soil to dry out in between waterings. If the light has been inadequate, then it will take even longer for the soil to dry out properly. Poor light and inadvertent overwatering often go hand-in-hand.

Ordinarily your grandmother's advice is correct. However, once the roots have died back, then new growth normally triggered by pruning will have no means of support.

I hate to say this, but unless you have at least one healthy stem, then there is no real future for your Yucca. If you do have  healthy stem, then you might consider pruning it back and trying to root it in a small pot filled with damp potting soil. Of course it will need lots of good light and proper watering to survive.

I have written an article on Yucca care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends 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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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com