Yucca plants are amazing as they serve as beautiful decorative purposes to add life to your room and as a result add more dimension too.
Having black spots on them deceives the purpose and can indicate that your plant is not as healthy which is why it is important to find out the underlying cause behind such issues.
Why does my yucca plant have black spots?
Yucca plants tend to be quite sensitive in nature and if they start showing black spots it can be an indication of the plant getting too much water. That combined with a hot environment can trigger fungal growth. Besides that, bacterial or insect infestation can also lead to black spots on leaves.
There are a variety of reasons that you must keep an eye out for if you notice that your yucca plant has started to showcase black spots on its leaves.
Fungal Infection:
Fungal infections in plants are quite common and yucca, in particular, is quite sensitive to that.
There are some fungi present in warm and humid conditions that can start invading your yucca plant if it is way too moist which causes it to be more sensitive in nature.
If you are into overhead watering, this can particularly affect your plant more as these fungal spores feed on them.
Bacterial infection:
Another common name for leaf spotting is a bacterial infection that can cause black spots on your yucca leaves. This is very common in such decorative plants and feeds more through their soil.
Pest Infestation:
If your plant is manifested by pests it can start feeding on the leaves on your yucca plant which can end up dehydrating your plant.
This as a result ends up causing the black unattractive spots on the leaves. There are some pests that also leave behind discharges which end up causing nasty and sticky black spots.
Bad soil:
If your soil is too old or way too moist it can end up rotting the root of your plant. When that happens, fungal infections start to occupy your plant. This can also cause bacteria to affect your plant and cause black spots.
Direct exposure to sunlight:
It is never a good idea to keep any of your plants in direct sunlight, especially decorative ones. This is because their foliage tends to be more on the sensitive side.
Keeping them in an area where the sunlight is reaching their leaves directly over a prolonged period of time can end up scorching the leaves at one point. This ends up leaving black areas on some parts of the leaves as they end up getting damaged.
What are the black spots on my yucca plant?
The black spots on yucca plants are usually caused by bacteria or fungus. Overwatering your plant is a common ground that allows the fungus to invade your yucca plant and spread throughout the leaves. Fungal spores cause the nasty black spots that you see on your plant.
Not only that, but pests themselves can also spread through your plant. These pests start to feed off on the leaves of your plants and leave behind discharges which end up causing the beautiful foliage to have black spots over them.
Bacteria is also a common reason behind black spots as they end up causing a common disease known as leaf spot. It damages the tissue of your yucca plant and leaves black spots. This bacteria also spreads through old soil.
How do I treat black spots on my yucca plant?
There are some ways that you can treat the black spots on your yucca plant to help you restore the health of your plant.
Using Fungicide:
If fungus and bacteria have evaded your yucca plant then the very first step you must follow is to stop overhead watering your plant. This causes the fungus and bacteria to spread even further.
To treat such leaf spot diseases you must also use a strong fungicide to prevent the spores from invading the entire plant.
If it is the bacteria that is causing the leaf spot issues then you must also ensure to change the soil as the bacteria spread through the soil.
Using pesticide:
If the cause behind the leaf spots is due to pests sucking the life out of your plant then you must ensure to use a pest spray aimed towards handling such insects.
If you think that the pest spray might end up damaging the delicate foliage of your plant then you can also clean your plant with alcohol to get rid of the pests.
You will have to ensure to continue doing it for a period of time as it takes a while to get rid of the pests fully.
Avoid overwatering:
When you see black spots on your plant you might immediately be tempted to water it, even more, to get rid of the black spots. Ensure to not do that and instead tone down on the watering.
The root cause of such black spots on yucca plants tends to mostly stem from overwatering.
It becomes a feeding ground that attracts bacteria, pests, and fungus in the first place. And they end up thriving in an overly moist as well as a warm environment.
How to revive a drying yucca plant?
Not giving your plant an ideal condition to thrive can cause them to start drying in which case you should maintain proper guidelines to help revive it back to life.
Bright light:
Your plant will need bright and indirect sunlight to thrive. Keep it near a window sill where it receives bright and filtered sun. It will provide your plant with enough energy to revive it and encourage the new growth of leaves.
Fertilize it properly:
It is important that you fertilize your plant a few times and especially in the growing season to encourage the growth of your plant.
It requires all the necessary nutrients for it to be back to normal and healthy. But do ensure to not over-fertilize your plant as it can end up stressing out your plant.
Maintain proper levels of watering:
One of the greatest reasons your plant might be going through and thus be susceptible to diseases is due to overwatering. Your plant does not need a lot of water.
You must only ensure to water it when the soil starts to dry up. Ensure to keep a good drainage pot so that excess water can end up leaving your plant and prevent its health from declining further.
Re-pot your plant:
If your plant’s roots have dried or started to rot then you must re-pot it immediately.
Use a bigger pot with well drainage and soil with adequate nutrients so that there is enough space for the new roots to grow and support the growth of your plant. This will help you revive your plant and allow it to be healthy.
Why is my yucca plant drying?
The general reasons that you might see that your yucca plant has started to perish can be due to overwatering, low light levels, sudden environmental changes, or pest issues.
Overwatering is the most common cause as it allows a ground for bacteria and pests to feed on which reduces the overall health of the plant.
If actions are not taken soon enough it can cause your plant to perish. Overwatering can also end up rotting the roots of your plant which also can cause it to perish as it is not receiving enough nutrients.
Besides that, low light is also a factor because it means that your plant is not getting sufficient energy to grow and it can start to affect the health of your plant and leaves will start to fall off and your plant might start to perish.
Not giving your plant enough fertilizer means that it might not get proper nutrients which can halt its growth and ultimately cause it to start drying.
How can you tell if yucca is bad?
On visual levels, there are certain indicators that will tell you that your plant is dwelling. This includes black, brown, white, or yellow spots on your plants. Browning on the edges and tips of the leaves can also be an indicator.
If the leaves have started to wilt or droop down and if excessive leaves are starting to fall it can mean that the health of your plant is not good. Zero growth and root rotting can also indicate that your plant is not doing great.
Can black spots spread to other plants?
Yes, black spots especially caused by fungal spores or bacteria can spread to other plants. One of the main causes of spreading can be due to overhead watering which moves the fungal spores around to other plants and causes them to spot the black spots as well.
Bacteria can spread through the soil and cause other plants to get invaded by it. It can even spread through planting gardening tools, and this is why it is important to look out for such diseases if you own a lot of plants.
The most common cause behind black spots is overwatering as it can trigger a lot of other issues such as bacteria and fungus. Water only when the top layer of the soil is dry and as long as you are providing your plant with ideal conditions and not giving it any stress, it will do great.
Final Thoughts:
The black spots on the yucca plant are not any random spots. So, when you see them on your plant, it is important to point out the reason behind them. The main reasons for the black spots on yucca leaves are a bacterial infestation, overwatering, or fungal invasion.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can Yucca Plants Grow in Pots?
Can Yucca Live & Grow in Water? How Much Water Do They Need?