HELP! my yukka plant is dying!?
Question:Our office has a yukka plant. One of the arms was snapped off a few months ago shortly before i repotted it. We left what was left of the arm alone hoping it would regrow. Today a colleague decided to cut the rest of the arm off and the inside is black and looks mouldy. There are also little black flies crawling around in the soil. Can anyone tell me what has happened and how i can save my yukka? also the ends of the leaves look like they are yellow/blackening.
Answers:
Are you certain the insects are flies. I have yuccas outdoors, and I hve to annually treat for sand fleas. They feed off of the juices in the plants. Use a good pesticide and I think the plant may recover. Also, they are very quick to produce an underground offshoot and should the mother plant die, the shoot will continue to grow. But, this depends on the age and size of the plant.
good luck
sorry you need to buy a new one
they are prone to fungi infection
I grew up in Arizona and have had cacti wherever I lived. Some of the cacti lived, too--but they're touchy.
I'm afraid that once the core is black and molding, your yucca is probably a goner. Since it's also infested with some sort of pest (possibly feeding on the rot), you might as well tote the whole thing outdoors to the dumpster.
If you plan to re-use the pot, it's got to be washed thoroughly, with soap or detergent.
Check other plants in the office for the same pests.
BTW, it sounds like the yucca may have been overwatered or potted it soil which didn't drain enough, and/or didn't get enough sunlight. I mix about half sand, half potting soil for cactus, and place it at the sunniest window. Artificial light just doesn't seem to be enough, even if it's on all day.
try a good insectiside spray and dont over water it, if the main plant trunk is soft, then its being over watered, also try using a good house plant feed to give it a lift.. it may help but if all else fails, you might need to get a new one. Yukkas are very difficult to look after when you dont know much about them
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