How Much Water Does a Yucca Need?

Watering Free Yucca

• Yucca that is not in a pot may be more difficult to properly water than indoor yucca because the water will disperse throughout the soil more quickly. Wet the base of the plant with a garden hose until the soil is moist, but stop before any puddles develop. Yucca does not tolerate standing water very well, so the soil should be loose and well-drained. Wait until the soil around the yucca plant is bone dry before you water again. You will not need to water it at all if it rains at least once a week.

Watering Potted Yucca

• Potted yucca is somewhat easier to properly water because the water will be confined to the soil in the pot. Water the yucca until the top inch of soil is damp and then allow it to dry. This drying could take up to a week, if not longer, depending on how much water your plant sucks up. Do not water the plant again until the top inch of soil is completely dry. It is vital with both potted and unpotted yucca that you allow the soil to dry in order to avoid overwatering.

High Light and Low Light

• The amount of water given to a yucca plant also depends on how much light it receives. More light means a more active plant because it can create more energy via photosynthesis, so it will inevitably need more water. Let about 1/4 of the soil completely dry out before you water a yucca plant kept in high light, usually outdoors. However, let about 3/4 of the soil dry out for a plant kept indoors in low light, since it uses water at a slower rate.

Overwatering

• Yuccas hail from arid environments and have adapted to survive without much water. Providing too much water could throw off the plant's internal chemical balance and lead to a myriad of problems. You may notice the yucca's foliage beginning to fall off as a result of chemical imbalances. The leaves may also turn brown or yellow. Too much water in the soil may also promote cane rot, a condition where the base of the yucca plant begins to die as the plant drowns.