How to Care for a Bamboo Plant With Yellow Leaves

Yellow bamboo leaves often indicate a cultural issue.

Bamboo provides evergreen color whether grown in the garden or as a potted plant. While most varieties are relatively hardy and resistant to disease, they are not immune to every problem. Several factors contribute to leaf yellowing on your bamboo plants. Most issues are cultural and easily corrected by providing proper care. Some are caused by insects and must be treated chemically.

Things You'll Need

• Fertilizer
• Miticide

Instructions

1. Insert your finger into the soil near the bamboo. Water the bamboo if the soil is dry at a 1-inch depth. Allow the soil to dry if it feels overly moist or sticks to your fingers. Wet soil is more likely to cause leaf yellowing.

2. Fertilize both container-grown and bedding bamboo with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Apply a slow-release fertilizer to bedding plants each spring and use a soluble fertilizer every two months on potted bamboos. Nitrogen deficiency can cause yellow leaves.

3. Inspect the leaves, especially the underside, for mites. These small insects feed on the bamboo foliage, causing it to yellow and die. Mite damage often forms in splotches on the foliage. Treat infested plants with a miticide formulated for use on bamboos.

4. Provide potted and indoor bamboo with sufficient light. Place varieties requiring full sun in an area where they receive six or more hours of direct sunlight. Set lower-light varieties in an area where they receive four hours of bright light. Lack of sunlight inhibits chlorophyll production and causes yellowing.

Tips & Warnings

• Bamboo sheds is leaves naturally in spring as new growth begins. Yellowing and leaf drop at this time is not a cause for concern.

References

• University of Georgia: Growing Bamboo in Georgia
• Brooklyn Botanical Garden: Bamboo: Graceful Grass or Jungle Giant