Is my house palm dying?
Betty44
Posts: 2
Hello would anyone be able to help me. 
I have been growing this palm for 6 years. I used to water it about 2/3 times a week sometimes less if I am away. It has always been very healthy. Recently I noticed small white bugs on its soil. So I stopped watering it for a couple of weeks and followed advice to dry out the bugs... then a few days later leaves started dying which has never happen before. I have been watering it loads Now to try and save it. also the smaller side seems to be worse of in colour- this was the side facing away from the window so maybe it was blocked out of light by the bigger side? I have rotated it for now. It is kept quite close to a radiator. I think I have been lucky up to now- can I save it? How?!
Thank you so much for any advice
Sorry photos seem to have uploaded sideways!
Posts
Common causes of leaf yellowing on Yuccas are (a) too wet and (b) not enough sunlight to maintain a healthy green plant .
Yours is Yucca elephantipes ; requiring very little water at this time of year . Minimum temperature of 12-15C .
Originating from the tropical and sub-tropical Americas , this species is quite unlike the hardy Yuccas seen in parks and gardens .
As for the 'bugs' , you could try re-potting in a fresh growing medium after cleaning off all the old material .
Thank you So much for this advice- I will try and find it More sunlight!
As Philippa says , "a few months outside" ; this does them the power of good , but DON'T stand it straight in full sunshine after a period indoors . A gradual transition to brighter light is vital , otherwise you'll completely bleach the leaves and probably lose the plant altogether .
You'll be pleasantly surprised how outdoor conditions toughen up a plant like yours ; the leaves get greener and thicker , and fairly robust tips or soft spines will develop .
Make sure you keep frost-free though , bring in again around October time following a season in the garden .