Question
Hello,  I have what I think is a dying Yucca plant.  I originally thought it was a corn plant but was told it was a Yucca by a local nursery.  I can't seem to find a clear picture of the Yucca plant on the web.  How might I confirm it is a Yucca plant?

If in fact this is a Yucca plant, it seems to be dying.  It is in a 1 foot square pot and has 2 main stalks each with 2-3 branches growing from it.  One stalk is almost 6 feet tall and the other is almost 3 feet tall.  The branches that are growing off of the stalks are drooping I assume because they are heavy.  I currently have them staked so they don't fall over and the 6 foot stalk is also leaning.  Recently it seems to not be drinking a lot of water and the top leaves are now drooping and yellow/brown.  Might it be best to repot this plant?  

Thank you so much for your guidance!

Denise

Answer
Hi Denise,

If you can email a photo of your plant to my address below, I will be able to ID your plant for you and also may be able to add some additional insights.

If that is not possible, run your hand along the edge of one of the leaves. If it is sharp and feels like it could easily cut you and if the leaf tips have a sharp rigid point, then it is a Yucca. Corn plants have softer leaves and their canes (trunks growing out of the soil) are smoother.

The main difference in the care between a corn plant and a Yucca is that the Yucca does well in direct sun while the corn plant does not.

From your description, it appears that your plant is suffering from root rot. That could be due to your watering too frequently; from a pot that does not have drainage holes; a pot that is too large; or insufficient light.

In any case, a larger pot is definitely NOT a good idea. Moving it to a smaller pot may be helpful, but it really depends on just what the cause of the root rot is. If you provide some additional information I can help you determine the cause.

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

If this information has been helpful, please take the time to give me a rating and nomination.

   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.