Is this yucca rostata OK?

[newtopalmsMD]

I bought this Yucca R on line a 3 or 4 weeks ago and all of the fronds were blue.  I planted it in a 5 gallon pot of straight Miracle Gro all purpose potting mix and gave it full sun.  (wanted a patio plant this summer and plan to add to my tropical garden next spring)  we have had a fairly regular amount of rain and

So the proportion of dead leaves to blue leaves is growing (fast?  It arrive with mostly blue and the outer ring ones had started to turn green).  I know this is how they grow, new stuff in the middle old stuff on the outer edge dies off and becomes the trunk.  But I was wondering if I was getting too much dying off and not enough new stuff.  Let me know if this looks like a problem and if there is something different I should be doing.  Thanks

[5150cycad]

Yucca rostrata are pretty hardy plants so I am pretty sure it will be just fine. The brown leaves might just be the older leaves dying off. Out of precaution I would make sure that your potting mix is very well draining. I know yuccas can take a lot of water but I would avoid keeping them constantly wet in a pot. I would let the soil almost completely dry out before watering again. Btw, that’s a nice looking rostrata. Probably my favorite species of yucca. I have two of them and one of them has gotten huge. I will post pictures later today. 

[jimmyt]

I have to agree with 5150cycad.    Don't keep it wet.  We have different species of Yuccas here in Texas and the older leaves will begin to brown and die as the new ones are formed.  This may accelerate in the hot dry periods of summer, but those Yuccas don't even flinch.  I have some juvenile Y. rostratas in pots and they look like yours.  Maybe yours looks a tad healthier than mine. I hand water mine(in the pots) and sometimes I forget.  They get desert dry and no damage is done.  They do appreciate a drink though they dont like to swim in the lake.

jimmyt

[Gonzer]

Get it out of the MG mix pronto and into some type of gritty (sandy), fast draining soil.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Amazingly enough rostrata are the one yucca that can handle wetter soils.  

[Merlyn]

FYI - MB Palms here in Orlando has a bunch of 2-4' tall Rostrata.  The guy helping me load my last palm buy said they are a big hassle here in FL.  He said they didn't like the daily rainstorms and they were having continuous problems with fungus.  I think he meant the leaves, but he might have meant the soil too.  I had leaf fungus problems with a Yucca Gloriosa / Spanish Dagger type in the part-shade area in my front yard, it eventually grew out of it.

[Meangreen94z]

Actually a lot of yucca don’t mind additional rain, they just don’t like their roots sitting in standing water. Plant it in a high point in the yard and elevate it over that point with fast draining soil. The only Rostrata (out of 6) that Ive lost was mistakenly put in a low point. It was in an elevated bed but when I pulled it from the ground the roots were in water. 

[palmsOrl]

On 7/19/2019 at 5:06 PM, Gonzer said:

Get it out of the MG mix pronto and into some type of gritty (sandy), fast draining soil.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[newtopalmsMD]

Thank you all.  The yucca rostrata is doing quite well.  A few other questions

Location   I have a location that gets sun from 8 am til 2pm (at which point it is shaded by evergreens) all year around.  Also have a location that gets sun 10-3pm in summer, but sun all day long when there are no leaves on the trees.  Which would be better for the rostrata?

Also what will the root system do as it matures.  Will it tend to choke out plants around it or damage foundations near it.  Or is it pretty benign to its surroundings.  Many thanks