How to Get Rid of Fungus on Yucca Plants
Fungal growth on house plants is caused by improper watering methods, and promoted by inadequate lighting conditions. Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungi known to strike indoor specimens such as your yucca plant. You can effectively treat fungus with good common sense, and some simple everyday products that you already have around the house.
Repot the infected yucca plant. Either sterilize the current container, or buy a new one. Pour about ½ inch of gravel or small pebbles into the bottom of the pot to improve drainage. Use a new package of sterile potting soil.
- Fungal growth on house plants is caused by improper watering methods, and promoted by inadequate lighting conditions.
- You can effectively treat fungus with good common sense, and some simple everyday products that you already have around the house.
Place the yucca in a well-ventilated spot with plenty of indirect light. Move it closer to the window for as much direct sun as it can tolerate. Improve air circulation by adding a fan to the sick yucca’s room.
Water your yucca just enough to evenly moisten the surface soil. Don’t water it again until the surface feels completely dry.
Remove the source of the infection by cutting off the affected leaf as well as all those near or below it. Trim dying leaves from the yucca as soon as you notice them. Always dispose of infected plant material -- don’t add it to your compost heap.
- Place the yucca in a well-ventilated spot with plenty of indirect light.
- Trim dying leaves from the yucca as soon as you notice them.
Combine equal parts milk and water. Wipe the affected plant’s leaves with the solution, which will clean them of dirt, debris and fungus.
Mix a 1/10 solution of mild hand dishwashing soap with water. Wipe the milk residue from the yucca plant’s leaves with it. Follow with a clear water wipe, and then gently pat the leaves dry with a soft towel. Repeat steps 5 and 6 every two or three days for a week.
Red Bugs On A Yucca Plant
The yucca plant is a member of the Agavaceae family and is a flowering plant found in many yards and home gardens. While this plant is generally healthy, it is susceptible to infestations of a red and black insect known as the yucca plant bug, which damages yucca plants by feeding on foliage. The yucca plant bug is also known by its scientific name of Halticotoma valida. Both adult yucca plant bugs and nymphs cause damage to yucca by sucking plant sap from the leaves with piercing mouth parts. Insecticidal soaps are often effective in controlling the yucca plant bug on infested plants. Spraying your plant with insecticidal soaps and washing the soap from the plant is one way to eliminate this pest. Horticultural oils work by covering up the air holes of the yucca plant bug, causing it to suffocate. Both of these control methods rely on contact with the insect to kill it, making it necessary to completely cover the plant when applying them. Cover the entire plant thoroughly for best results. Repeat application of chemical control products periodically to prevent re-infestation.
- Combine equal parts milk and water.
- Insecticidal soaps are often effective in controlling the yucca plant bug on infested plants.
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Writer Bio
A full-time writer since 2007, Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient. He publishes online articles with major focus on pets, wildlife, gardening and fitness. He also covers parenting, juvenile science experiments, cooking and alternative/home remedies. Amistaadt has written book reviews for Work At Home Truth.
