Find Your Ask The Expert: I have a bamboo for a house plant. One of my stems is turning yellow and the leaves are also turning yellow. I have not idea what the problem is. I moved in December from Florida to North Carolina. I clean the stone once a month. Any ideas of the problem and how to fix it.
Thanks so much. This was a gift from my grand children. I would hate for it to die.
Debbie
Reply:
Debbie,
As a result of the move, your lucky bamboo probably went into shock. When plants are stressed, they tend to be more susceptible to the effects of normal problematic issues. With lucky bamboo exposure to fluoride or too much light can cause yellowing. This may not have been a problem before because: (1) the plant wasn’t in stress or (2) the environment was different.
Different water systems have different levels of fluoride. Your North Carolina water may have more fluoride thus causing the problem. In this case as long as the stems are not soft or mushy, the plant will recover if you change the water using distilled water or by letting the water air out for 24hrs before you use it for your lucky bamboo. Does the lucky bamboo have the same light exposure as it did in Florida? If not, try to mimic the same light exposure in your new home. As long as, the stems are not soft and mushy the lucky bamboo should recover.
One more thing just popped into my head. When you moved was the lucky bamboo exposed to severe temperature changes or exposed to the cold for any length of time? If so, the lucky bamboo will simply need to ride out the shock. Don’t fertilize it until you see healthy new growth.
If the plant doesn’t look like it is going to make a recovery, I suggest starting a new plant from the healthy parts of the stalk. Good Luck and Keep me posted.
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