Question
I inherited a sickly yucca 3 years ago, nursed it along and it seemed OK. It had one spindly 3-ft. growth stalk emerging about 1/2 way upa two-foot trunk that was capped with wax.  We put it on the deck for awhile this summer in par sun (Wis.), and it started to droop, with leaves dying from the bottom up.  In the meantime, a new sprout emerged from the soil near the base of the trunk.  We've moved it around to find someplace it likes, but we seem to be losing the old part of the plant.  What's the best way to nurture the new sprout/remove the old dying portion? Will the new sprout continue if we pull the old trunk with the dying stalk?  The whole thing is in a 10 in. pot, with perhaps not enough drainage; we water sparingly every 10 days or so.
Thanks--
Tim

Answer
Tim,

Yuccas are desert plants and it needs drainage and to be in sandy cactus type soil. I suggese repotting it into a smaller 8 inch clay pot with a large drain hole and a drain tray under it and mix some builders sand in with the current potting soil. Before you remove anything is there any chance you can send me a few pictures of the plant to [email protected] ?  If I can see it I can give you better advice. The new sprout is probably connected to the old trunk with the dying stalk. You can cut it down lower but I wouldn't remove it. If you get better drainage and let the plant dry out totally between waterings the old portion may perk back up. Too much water is usually the down fall of yuccas and if you repot you will be surprised how wet the soil is in the bottom  of the pot even if you haven't watered for 10 days, especially if it does not have good drainage. In the winter I only water my yucca once a month. If you send pictures remind me of our conversation. Good luck.

Darlene