Why Is My Garden Bamboo Dying? – 7 Reasons

Your bamboo suddenly got yellow leaves and doesn’t look nice anymore?

This can have various causes, and these should be resolved as quickly as possible. We’ll show you the most common reasons for yellowing bamboo leaves and also some ways you can get your plant healthy again.

1. Waterlogging In Bamboo

There is one thing that bamboo doesn’t like at all – namely waterlogging. This is arguably the most common cause of yellow leaves. If the roots of the plant are in the water for too long, they will rot, and your bamboo will get yellow dead leaves.

If you have poured too much, quick action is now essential.

The first thing to do is to remove the plant from the old soil to dry out the roots a little. Then the too-wet and dense soil must be replaced. Before attempting the next planting, use drainage so that excess water can drain away easily. The soil should be nice and loose, rich in humus and sandy. Under no circumstances should the soil used be loamy.

The drain in the bucket must then always be checked regularly so that it does not get clogged, and water can collect in the first place. If your bamboo is planted in the garden, a slightly hilly planting can help. This allows accumulated water to drain off better.

2. Yellow Leaves From Chlorosis

Another cause of yellow leaves on outdoor bamboo can be chlorosis. This term describes a disease symptom in plants that can be triggered by a lack of nutrients. As a result, there is a chlorophyll deficiency, which leads to yellow instead of green leaves. The affected plant is often lacking essential nutrients such as nitrogen, iron, magnesium, or calcium.

Chlorosis usually only occurs in young leaves and then spreads to the entire plant. If you don’t take action now, the bamboo can die. So don’t hesitate and provide the bamboo with sufficient special fertilizers.

Chlorosis can also be triggered by saline or calcified soil. It is best to report the bamboo into special bamboo soil. In winter, however, you should fertilize your plant; it is in a kind of hibernation.

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3. Yellow Leaves Due To Drought

Yellow, dry leaves with brown tips indicate drought damage in bamboo. However, this happens very rarely. This can happen, especially in winter, when the entire soil and roots are frozen. Since bamboo is an evergreen plant, water also evaporates from the other leaves in winter.

If there is no frost for a long time, the plant can no longer supply itself sufficiently with liquid water, and the stalks die off. To prevent this, you should water your bamboo regularly, even in winter. But with much smaller quantities than in summer. Just in such a way that the earth remains slightly moist.

4. Pests On The Bamboo

Unfortunately, bamboo is not entirely immune to mites, fungi, and other pests and can certainly catch a disease. As a result, yellow and brown spots can appear on the leaves, or they die off completely.

Disease from pests and how you can cope with them:

• Mealybugs can attack the bamboo plant and cause deformed leaves. These are often located on the branches of the bamboo stalks. In this case, the lice must be brushed off, and diseased parts of the plant removed. If the lice come back, a mixture of pure alcohol and water can help kill the lice.
• Aphids usually attack bamboo from spring onwards. If there are sticky spots on the leaves, you have to reach for the aphid killer and treat the plant accordingly.
• So-called grain rust fungi can attack the bamboo and cause brown-red spots. Collect the affected leaves and observe the further course. If the damage recurs, appropriate fungicides are available to deal with the situation. But please pay attention to environmentally friendly preparations.
• Bamboo mites can also infect your beloved plants. This type of mite is often introduced when it is imported from China. The small brown spots on the upper side of the leaves are striking in the damage pattern. At the bottom, you will find the webs of the mites. The only remedy here can be pesticides or special predatory mites.
• Whiteflies and fringed-winged flies appear around May and lay their eggs directly in the bamboo planting tissue. The offspring then vigorously suckles on the leaves and thus causes small silvery spots. A daily showering of the bamboo drives away the flies because they cannot tolerate water.

5. The Wrong Location

Usually, bamboo is a relatively undemanding plant that rarely causes problems. If the plant is in an unsuitable location, however, it will no longer stay beautifully green in the long term, and in the worst case could even die. Each bamboo variety has its location requirements.

You should check the following factors before you get the bamboo you want:

• Does my bamboo need shade / partial shade or full sun exposure?
• Is my bamboo sheltered from the wind?
• Does it have enough distance to adjacent plants?
• Is bamboo hardy?
• Am I using the right soil?
• Do I need a rhizome barrier?

6. Your Bamboo Has A Plant Shock

Have you just planted your bamboo, and it loses its lush green after a short time? Then it can be a plant shock.

The bamboo needs to adjust to its new surroundings, and the roots have to grow first. Once the plant puts all its energy into root growth, leaves and stalks may turn yellow and fall off. You can help your bamboo by watering it more often.

But again, pay attention to the problem of water logging.

7. Incorrect Temperature And Humidity Can Kill Your Bamboo Plants

If the leaves on your lucky bamboo are turning yellow and you’ve ruled out all of the possible causes above, then it could be as simple as being too cold. The plant thrives best in temperatures between 65 ° F and 90 ° F (18 ° C and 32 ° C).

Replanting Plants In The Ground Can Save A Dying Bamboo

By giving it better-growing conditions, replanting a dying bamboo in the ground can help to save the plant. It is absolutely essential to choose an appropriate area for replanting bamboo that has well-draining soil, sufficient sunlight, and appropriate moisture levels. Also, the best approach for an over-fertilized plant that was already planted is to replant it in fresh soil that doesn’t have any additional fertilizer.

The damage may have already been done, and the plant has absorbed too much fertilizer.

In order to help the soil settle and get rid of any air pockets, it’s also essential to give the plant plenty of water immediately after replanting. As they establish roots in their new location during the first few weeks after replanting, bamboo plants might require more water. Observe the progress of the plant, in a few days, and you will know if your plant will survive.

Spray The Leaves To Increase Humidity.

A low-humidity environment is problematic. Remember, the natural environment of the plant is that of a very humid tropical forest. Since bamboo prefers a humid climate, you may need to remedy a dry one by lightly spraying the leaves every two to three days. This will give the plant a proper humidity level and should prevent the plant from turning yellow if low humidity is the cause.

How To Save A Dying Bamboo Plant

Dying Bamboo Stalk:

If you’ve tried all the recommendations and your plant is still in decline with yellow stems and leaves, it may be time for a drastic last-minute effort. You can save your plant. Never throw it away without first trying one of the two saving methods as this can be an expensive plant.

Pruning, Propagation, And Rooted Leaves:

If your plant has some yellow leaves, you can cut them with scissors. This is especially necessary if your plant suffers from too much water or direct light. Better to remove them so that new leaves can grow.

However, if your plant’s stem is dying, then you only have one recourse, and that is to cut off the green shoots and the root.

• Cut the leaves below the growth node sticking out of the stem to keep them intact. The place where the new roots will form.
• Dip the cut end of the shoot in growth hormone to stimulate root growth.
• Fill a vase with water to contain the shoots and allow the roots to grow.
• Once there are many roots, you can transplant the new bamboo into a water-filled vase or the soil.

Saving A Bamboo Plant With A Dead Stem:

If the roots are still good, but the top of the stem is yellow, you may be able to save the plant.

• The first thing to check when a plant starts to turn yellow is the root system. You can quickly assess its health by examining the roots. The color of healthy roots is reddish or orange. Diseased roots are brown, black, or gray and you must remove them by cutting where they protrude from the stem.
• Cut the yellow part along the line where it still looks green. Once you cut the stem, it usually stops growing in height or length but will develop new shoots that will grow vertically.
• Seal the cut part of the stem with candle wax to prevent it from rotting and getting sick.
• Place the stem in either water or soil and take care of it.
• Watch the plant for new shoots; they should begin to appear just a few weeks after pruning.
• Cover the new shoots with a protective layer, such as a cloth or plastic sheet, to protect them from disease and damage.

Be aware that not all leaves and stems will recover from a dead stem, and in some cases, the plant may not grow again. If the stem continues to turn yellow and no new shoots develop, you cannot rescue the plant anymore. The plant may need to be removed and replaced with a healthy, robust plant if it doesn’t start growing new shoots.

Conclusion:

Bamboo is an amazingly resilient plant that rarely causes problems. Should it come to yellow or brown leaves, you must find out the cause quickly and take the appropriate countermeasures. The plant can also survive an illness or damage and sprout vigorously in spring.