Thanks for the response! I mean, I think they were dead. If there was only one or two dried and shriveled leaves I would just cut those. But there were quite a few branches where ever single one was brown and dry and crispy. I wonder why it’s doing this. Could it be the moving stress? it’s by a south facing window with filtered light through the blinds, a humidifier running 24/7 right next to it, only water with filtered water when the top few inches of soil are dry. And I used a cactus / citrus / palm organic mix and the pot has a drainage hole. These guys are supposed to be hardy, if I can’t manage him I don’t think I can manage any plants :(

also, just out of curiosity, does the after picture look over-pruned or cleaned up? I feel like it’s a fine line.

Bamboo Palm is a clumping plant that produces multiple trunks. Lower leaves die off as they age and fall leaving a tuft of fronds at the top. But if all the fronds die off on a trunk then that trunk is dead and can be cut off. But that's pretty unusual in a healthy plant. More trunks will come up over time.

They cope with dry air quite well but you need to keep the soil moist, not soggy. Good drainage is important. Keep checking that the fronds at the top of the trunk are looking healthy and don't worry about older ones below drying off.

Nothing appears wrong in either photo, it's a matter of personal taste whether you want a clumpier or more open look.

Thank you so much for your response. I feel better then, since all the top fronds, including the 3 new growth offshoots look really healthy. more than anything I’m hoping I didn’t shock the plant with the amount I have removed.

also as far as the soil staying moist, the place I got it from said water when the top 3 inches register “dry” on a moisture meter, does that seem right or is that letting it dry out too much?

thanks again!

I have several of them but growing outside. One of them goes the whole dry season without getting water and looks good, but is very slow growing. Another one is much larger but growing where it gets too much water. Has automatic irrigation during the dry season. It always looks sickly, but still keeps going with many trunks. Been meaning to move it (when I get time).

They're the extremes of the conditions they get, but they're much better at the drier end of the scale. A pot dries out quicker than the ground so be careful. However, I would say your advice from the nursery is good.

Thank you guys so much for all your help!!

For what it worth, moisture meters are not a very good tool. They measure salts in the soil and not moisture content. Stick a moisture meter in distilled water and it’ll read dry.

Use a wooden dowel and stick it in all the way to the bottom to inspect for moisture. Dark, damp with soil cling to it = moist.

Also, give it all the light you can and do not use any blinds or curtains.

"I’m hoping I didn’t shock the plant with the amount I have removed."

Just to be clear, if the material was really dead you couldn't shock the plant by removing it. Dead material contributes nothing to the plant's wellbeing.