Question
A friend gave me a stalk of African bamboo (5' tall) to plant back in April.  It had no leaves at the time.  Over the summer months, it grew beautiful branches and very green leaves.  Within the last month, the leaves are turning yellow, then brown and are falling off the main shoot.  I live in Zone 9 (Tampa, Florida) and hate to lose this once beautiful stalk.  Any thoughts?  Thanks so much!

Answer
Hi Sara, Not sure what heuge bamboo is?  Lucky bamboo that they sell at target in a glass jar?  Or a real bamboo?  If it is the first it needs to grow in distilled water and that is in a jar, I have not heard of anyone planting it.  If so it is dumb cane not bamboo.  If it is bamboo for real, it is getting yellow leaves as it needs more water.  I would be very careful to make sure that it has a round clum not one that has a flat side to it.  If it has a flat side I would dig it up and grow it in a pot on a cement slab.  If it is round it should be a clumping bamboo and I would water it more.  It is so hot in this area the ground in drying out.  kathy