Perhaps it depends on what's in your tap water. I have never had a problem watering mine with tap water. Usually the water I use, however, I let sit out in a glass or watering can for a day or so, which I've heard allows the chlorine to evaporate from it. But I do sometimes water straight from the tap and I haven't had a problem. My bamboo is about 8 feet away from a west-facing window. Where it is does not seem very bright at all, and yet it flourishes. A friend of mine just put the same kind of bamboo that I have directly in a south-facing window, and his leaves started yellowing. So I agree with jentsu926 that it could be too much sun!

No its the water because it's not in very much sun

How often are you changing the water? Or are you growing it in soil? If it's in soil then it sounds like the roots are compromised.

same if it's in water but then it would have a different remedy.

they can also yellow out in too little light.

Its in soil

I think maybe the roots are a bit soggy.

You're probably right. Its one of my few plants that's just in Miracle Grow. I'll check out the roots and post a pic when I get a chance

Whoops. I assumed that it was just in water. Yes, the comments about fertilizer, light, and tap water are still true in this circumstance.

I ordered some bamboo from ebay and it arrived with rotted roots. I had to cut the bottom stalk to the next node and re-root in water (spring water). Rooting lucky bamboo takes forever, but I am seeing small root formation finally...3-4 weeks later. So if you have do to that because the roots have rotted, it is possible to save it.

So I checked out the roots and they're fine. Yaaayyy. She was pretty dry though. Smh. So I gave her a drink of distilled water and plucked off the yellow leaves.

That's good news! The tap water problem is easy to solve. Root rot is way harder.

When was the last time you had watered it? I think you let it get too dry and it started using the bottom leaves.

i have very hard and flouridated water and I am just not buying the whole "dey tips are from salts in the water" thing for many different pants.

my darcaena warmeckii is fine with the water and as long as I don't wait for drooping from my Spathyphullum, it doesn't get dry tips either. Same goes for my spider plants.

the salts may contribute to the problem for many people, but that could also be people who overwater or leave or sitting in a puddle of water, killing root tips and thus causing the plant to sacrifice the tips of its circulatory system. Kind of like how when it's really cold and you may die of hypothermia, your body takes all the valuable warm blood and circulates it more through your core and away from your extremities. Then we get frost bite.

Plants get drought or swamp bite.

My plant was in a drought!!! And you are right about the water!!! I just couldn't figure out why the leaves turned yellow and the only thing I did differently was use tap water on it for the first time. So it just kind of made sense til I saw how dry it was. I guess my poor bamboo got overlooked in lieu of new babies :-(. She forgave me though!!!

At least you don't need to waste money on distiller water lol.

I actually do buy distilled water!!! LOL. I swear my Spider Plant really does hate tap water!!! But idk. Ha ha

lol, I'm probably going to have to do it for my sans. They like acidic conditions and my water is pretty basic as is my substrate, typically.

maybe I'll just add a bit of vinegar every once in a while lol.

LOL. Our plants are so spoiled!!!