Question
I have 5 stocks of "bamboo" in the same container in indirect light They started turning yellow from the bottom up. (First one stalk then three) I added a small amount of fertilizer to the water, however the yellow spread quickly
and three of the stalks are almost completly yellow now!
(within 1 week) what am I doing wrong?
any help will be much apprieciated.
Kathy

Answer
Hi Kathy,

Once the stems start to turn yellow, rot has set in and there is nothing you can do to stop it except to cut off the yellow part before it continues to spread. And that doesn't always work.

Changing the water frequently will sometimes prevent this from happening. Poor water quality water will also contribute to yellowing. Finally, the quality of lucky bamboo plants varies considerably.

In general, I recommend that lucky bamboo be moved into small pots with peat-based potting mix if you want to keep them for a long time.

If your stems are mostly yellow, but the side shoots are still green, then you can cut off the side shoots and root them in water. They will grow taller, but they will never be  as thick and they won't spiral.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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