My bamboo plant is getting yellow. I water it twice a week. it gets a little sun, but why yellow?

i've had mine in a container of water with marbles at the bottom... added a little bit of plant food (a couple drops of the liquid kind works well for a few weeks) and put had it in indirect sunlight with no problems -- nice and green....





bamboo actually needs a lot of moisture... yellow leaves are due to dry roots, lack of nitrogen (nutrients), and the cold.





so you're probably doing fine with the water, but place your plant in a warmer spot... a little more sunlight wont hurt!





here's a website for bamboo care:


http://www.mrbamboo.com.au/bamboo_care/t...

My bamboo plant is getting yellow. I water it twice a week. it gets a little sun, but why yellow?
you are over-watering it. Too much water causes the discoloration.
Reply:to much water, don;t need sun.
Reply:I have one too, and heard you need to give it plant food in the water, the one I have sits in water with some rocks. It also had turned a little yellow and was told to give it some fertilizer for those types of plants.
Reply:Too much water yes, your roots may be whats called water logged. You have a couple options here. One is to stop watering it for a few weeks, and see what happens. Probably something that a novice would suggest. Its ok, we've all been there. I would recommend taking your pot outside, removing the bamboo from its pot, and trimming back its roots, that is if you want to to remain in the same size pot. Just give the roots a nice tease, after you remove it from the pot, try to shake as much dirt off as possible. Trim back the roots vigorously, as bamboo is a vigorous growing tree, you wont do it any harm, and it will do just fine. When you plant it back into the pot, I'd recommend placing a screen at the bottom, then some small rocks, then sand, then a really good sandy type of soil. I wondlt worry too much about providing it with much fertilizer, unless you really want to to take off.....





But normally, the yellowing of leaves on most any plant or tree means that it is getting too much water, and not enough nitrogen. I see this all the time with my tomatoes, which means I gotta add some fertilizer, and slow down on my watering a bit.
Reply:Lucky Bamboo Care FAQ's





1. Q: How do I care for my Lucky Bamboo?


A: Just keep in water and out of direct sunlight.





2. Q: Can I cut the leaves?


A: Yes, but we recommend plucking off the yellow leaves off as soon as possible rather than cutting since it leaves cut marks.





3. Q: How do I make it grow faster?


A: Keep it in an elevated spot. Warmer rooms such as rooms upstairs have more heat since heat rises. But if it's too hot like leaving the package in your cars for a couple of days will make it wilt.





4. Q: Can I revive dying bamboo?


A: You can revive wrinkling bamboo. Wrinkling happens when a healthy plant doesn't receive enough water through it's roots. Just place it a tall glass or pitcher of water for a couple of days. You can also save a plant by plucking the yellow leaves. However, if the stalk is yellowing best to remove it and get another.





5. Q: What causes yellowing?


A: If the plant is exposed to too much sun even once in it's life time it will turn yellow. During the winter if it is kept in extremely cold water it will turn yellow. If it is infected it will turn yellow. Room temperature is the safest.





6. Q: Do bamboo plants grow roots, branches and spread out and take over your house?


A: The Lucky Bamboo does grow roots but it will not take over your house. The growth of real bamboo is hard to control. Luckily, this kind of bamboo is a stick that will only grow a few inches of roots and sprouts.





7. Q: Will my lucky bamboo stick grow curly?


A: Lucky Bamboo actually only grows straight and does not grow curly or wavy at all. The bamboo farmers have to lay them on a huge long table in a greenhouse, cover 3 sides in the dark, one side has bright light and let them naturally grow towards the light, and manually rotate them occasionally; more work, more curl, more expensive. It takes the farmers an average of 1.5 years to make one curl.





8. Q: Can I get the bamboo plant stick to curl?


A: Yes, (make sure you have time for this) you can do this yourself and make it curl like farmers do. The stick is not going to grow any longer but the leaves will grow towards the light.





9. Q: Will the bamboo plant sticks grow taller?


A: No. All the sticks receive special treatment when they have reached the shape and length needed. They only keep growing green leaves and stay green in either water or soil.





10.Q: Can I plant them in soil or grow them outside?


A: This type of Bamboo cannot grow outdoors. It gets sunburn easily and the leaves will turn yellow and eventually die. You can try planting them in soil but it is not necessary. If you do decide to plant them in soil, remember to always keep the soil damp.





11. Q: Can you eat Lucky Bamboo?


A: No. The lucky bamboo plant arrangements are not meant for human consumption. Their purpose is to bring beauty and decorum to your home and office. And hopefully bring you some luck and money.





12. Q: What do I do when the leaves or stems turn yellow?


A: If the leaves turn yellow, cut those off or it will affect the rest of the plant. Then take out the bamboo arrangement out of the container and rinse the rocks, the container, and the roots of the bamboo and put everything back together, then add fresh water with a few drops of Green Green plant food. If the stems turn yellow, it is too late for that stalk. Please remove it and buy another stalk to replace it.





13. Q: Can I cut the leaves or the sprouts off?


A: You can break off the sprout and place them in a different container and try growing them (sometimes this works but sometimes they die). The leaves will grow back on a different spot.





14. Q: How much light does the Lucky Bamboo need?


A: As long as it is not in direct sunlight, it is fine. The lucky bamboo can thrive in an office that has no windows and only the light that you turn on when at work.