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Please Help! My Bamboo Plant is Turning Yellow

last year

Please help! 2 of my bamboo plant's stalks are turning yellow, from the top down. Does anybody have any suggestions on how I can save this 17 year old plant?

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

last year

Lucky bamboo is not a bamboo at all but a type of dracaena, Dracaena sanderiana. And like any other type of dracaena, it will grow just as well in container potting soil as it will in rocks and water. And a lot bigger and faster as well. And like any plant growing in an artificial medium, it does benefit from some nutrient supplementation. Without any, growth will ultimately stop. But it doesn't need much - a well diluted liquid whenever the water is refreshed will suffice.

Rather than cutting them off, after removing the ties, I would carefully tease the two yellowed stalks and their roots out of the mess completely. There is no point to leaving them in place.

Then repot in the media of your choice - water and rocks or container potting soil. Keep out of direct sun and do fertilize lightly now and then :-))

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Comments (18)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
why doesnt it have any leaves.. and why is the sprout it has pointing down.. has it been laying on the table somewhere???

wonder why it doesnt have any fresh root growth.. how and when do you water ...

has it ever been repotted.. in those 17 years???

ken
S A
Original Author
last year
I had it for 17 years in the same pot and it was growing wildly. I water it once a week. Recently, I cut the stalks back and cut off the leaves.

On this forum it was suggested to me that I repot it and cut off half the roots so it can regenerate leaves. I did that and it seemed to be doing well. Small leaves started to appear.

Then I moved it to another room that still faces east and has similar light. Then I gave it a little Miracle Grow for the first time.

I noticed the stalks started turning yellow from the top down. I don't which one of my actions lead to this.

I don't know what to do to save this plant. Any suggestions would be very welcome!
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PLEASE HELP! WHY ARE ALL OF MY MARSHMALLOW PLANTS TURNING YELLOW?!
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I sincerely apologize for the delayed response! I never got any notification of replies to my question so I assumed there were none. I came back on here today because I have a new problem with my marshmallow. I have got them hardened off and they are all outside near my patio. They are definitely growing better but in the last few days, have all gotten purple leaves (still only a very minor issues with the yellowing)! It is only effecting the oldest of the leaves so far but the stems have turned purple too so I'm worried that whatever this is will make it to the beautiful newer leaves as well. I haven't put them in the ground yet because I am terrified of pests destroying them. Something, I think we've come to the conclusion it's birds, has taken every one of the 30 clary sage seedlings and 2 of my comfrey seedlings that I transplanted out. But why on earth would the marshmallow leaves now be turning PURPLE?! Gardening is supposed to relaxing
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Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
Previous post & pics:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6347287/my-bamboo-plant-has-no-leaves

Are the stems tied together?
S A
Original Author
last year
Yes, they're tied together.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
I think the ties are cutting off the circulation, girdling. The ties look indented. I'm sorry I didn't notice that in your previous question in the other discussion.
S A
Original Author
last year
Okay. I will take the ties off.
S A
Original Author
last year
Should I cut off the yellowed parts of the stalks or hope they turn green?
Matt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
last year
Those two plants are dead. No way to bring them back. Do not ever fertilize these plants. There is no need. I have only ever know these plants to grow well in water and rocks. That is what I have always grown them in. and yes remove the ties. If it is easier.. just chop the two dead plants down to soil level.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
last modified: last year
Agree with removing the ties and dead stems.

Matt, if you've only done things 1 way, you can't know the result of anything else, no basis for comparison.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
last modified: last year
Hmm, it doesn't like the last pic I was trying to add for some reason.
Matt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
last year
I didn't add in but Yes I sure have tried both methods of growing. In water always had better results. That's all.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
That's not what you said before.
S A
Original Author
last year
Thank you.
Matt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
last year
Miss understanding of the wording. quote for you" I have only ever know these plants to grow well in water and rocks. That is what I have always grown them in. " - meaning I have grown them in soil before they perform poorly so I only grow them in water.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
If you meant something else, saying always may not be the right word,
S A
Original Author
last year
This beautiful plant thrived for 17 years in its original pot with soil. All I did was water it. Now it's dying and I'm trying to save it. Thank you, everyone, for your advice!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
last modified: last year
It is not a single plant. It is a series of dracaena cuttings bundled together to create an impression of a full, thick plant. Typically, most dracaenas - and certainly 'lucky bamboo' - grows as a bare single stem with a cluster of leaves at the top. Cutting them back and effectively cutting off all the leaves on an evergreen plant has seriously affected their ability to photosynthesize. And if that is coupled with a consistent lack of any fertilization, it is not surprising that some stalks are dying off.

I'd consider myself lucky that the remaining stalks seem to have recovered from this radical treatment and are now pushing new leaf growth. The plant(s) is not dying....it just suffered a major setback. Tease loose the roots, separate out the yellow stalks and toss and then replant the green (no ties!). With proper care, it should be good for another 17 years!

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