Please help somebody. I have a yukka plant that is about 6ft high, unfortunately the bark twists in all directions,And it is top heavy,It is in a large container, but I dont know if it needs re-potting,or if it,s safe to do so. Apart from this it seems to be quite healthy. Can it be cut down to a reasonable height? Or is this not possible. Thanx Pat.

Hi there! I used to have a yukka which went all tall and spindly so I "saved" one of the side shoots before deciding to throw it away, which I put in a pot of compost. That ws almost 20 years ago! It is still growing. It's only grown about 18 inches but its leaves are still lovely and green and shiney. :d

Thanks jill it,s not that the yukka is tall + spindly It has lots of leaves. It,s just that the bark is not straight + bends all ways. I have tried turning the plant round to the light , but I think that just makes it bend even more.A vicious circle I,m afraid. Pat :(

Yuccas will always grow towards the strongest light source and if you wait for it to bend in one direction before turning the plant, you will get one with a twisted trunk. The solution is to turn the plant weekly so that each side gets adequate light, or to move it to a much brighter spot with better all-round light.

The Yucca commonly grown indoors is Yucca elephantiphes, which is one of the fastest growing of the family. It is a native of Guatemala down through to Brazil and has a high light requirement if it is to grow well. In southern coastal regions of the UK, this Yucca is hardy and can be planted out of doors in a sunny spot where it will grow to 15 feet or more with a markedly thickened stem at the base.