My Lucky Bamboo Is Turning Yellow in Spots

The wrong type of water can damage a lucky bamboo.

Spider mites, light, water or fertilizer all could be the source of problems with your lucky bamboo. Examine each of these factors one by one to decipher what is bringing about yellow spots on the leaves of a lucky bamboo.

Water

A plant that is native to equatorial West Africa -- specifically Cameroon -- the lucky bamboo is biologically positioned to appreciate fresh rainwater. Unfortunately, using modern-day tap water to hydrate the small tree typically can cause yellow spots to appear on the leaves due to concentrations of fluoride, salts and chlorine in city water supplies.

Mites

Yellow spots on a leaf may also indicate colonization by the plant's primary pest -- spider mites. These tiny bugs feed on the juices of the lucky bamboo, damaging the shrub until it begins to yellow. Fortunately, it's relatively easy to rid the plant of mites. "Washing the leaves off can control them," advises the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Fertilizer and Light

The lucky bamboo requires only moderate, indirect sunlight, so too much light may bring on a gradual yellowing of its leaves. Growers of the plant should also be conscious of the presence of salt in some fertilizers, as this sodium can injure the lucky bamboo -- just as it does when present in water. Organic liquid fertilizers suit the plant well.

References

• University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension: Lucky Bamboo
• University of California: Integrated Pest Management Program
• Plant Care: Lucky Bamboo