Why Is My Yucca Plant Drooping: Troubleshooting Drooping Yucca Plants

Why is my yucca plant drooping? Yucca is a shrubby evergreen that produces rosettes of dramatic, sword-shaped leaves. Yucca is a tough plant that thrives in difficult conditions, but it can develop a number of problems that may cause drooping yucca plants. If your yucca plant droops, the problem may be pests, disease, or environmental conditions.

Troubleshooting Drooping Yucca Plants

How to revive a droopy yucca plant depends on what is causing the issue. Here are some reasons for yucca drooping along with steps you can take to remedy the situation.

Improper watering

Yucca is a succulent plant, meaning that the fleshy leaves store water to sustain the plant when water is scarce. Like all succulent plants, yucca is prone to rot, a type of fungal disease that develops when conditions are too wet. In fact, occasional rainfall provides enough moisture in most climates. Yucca thrives in nearly any type of well-drained soil, but it won’t tolerate soggy, poorly drained soil. If you irrigate, the soil should be allowed to dry between each watering. If your yucca plant is grown in a container, be sure the container has at least one drainage hole and that the potting mix is loose and well-drained.

Fertilizer

Young yucca plants benefit from an application of fertilizer, but once established, yucca requires little supplemental feeding if any at all. If your yucca plant droops, it may benefit from a time-release fertilizer applied in spring. Otherwise, beware of too much fertilizer, which can damage, or even kill a yucca plant.

Sunlight

Yellowing or droopy leaves may be an indication that a yucca plant lacks adequate sunlight. If the problem isn’t resolved, the droopy leaves will eventually fall from the plant. Nearly all types of yuccas need at least six hours of full, direct sunlight.

Freeze

Yucca tolerates a wide range of temperatures, depending on the variety. Some types tolerate cold climates as far north as USDA plant hardiness zone 4, but many will struggle in anything below zone 9b. An unexpected cold snap that lasts for more than a few hours can cause drooping yucca plants.

Pests

A common enemy of yucca plants, the snout weevil can cause the plant to droop when the pest lays its eggs in the base of the trunk. The eggs hatch small, white larvae, which feed on plant tissue. Once established, snout weevil is difficult to eradicate. This is a case where prevention is worth a pound of cure, as a healthy plant is less likely to be attacked. Other pests of yucca that may cause droopy leaves include mealybugs, scale, or spider mites.