Lucky bamboo turning yellow indicates that there is something wrong with the plant. Many factors trigger yellow leaves and stalk.
The main causes of lucky bamboo yellow leaves are high fluoride content in water and direct bright light.
Whereas other reasons that are responsible for yellow lucky bamboo are Excess fertilizers, low humidity, bad water quality, pest infestation, etc.
You need to learn about each one to identify what triggers yellow leaves in your lucky bamboo plants.
Read the article till the end and know about every single cause of lucky bamboo turning yellow and the solution.
Let’s start
Is it possible to turn yellow lucky bamboo plant green again?
If the leaves are yellow and the reason is over-fertilization or low nutrients. It is possible to turn them green again. Otherwise, you need to remove them.
Yellow stalks at the bottom are the result of the root rot. Once a stalk turns yellow you cannot turn it green again. The only possible solution is to cut it, remove it and save other parts of the plant.
What causes lucky bamboo to turn yellow?
There are many reasons that turn green lucky bamboo into yellow lucky bamboo. Some of the main causes are discussed below with the fixes.
Read carefully and make notes if necessary.
Learn how to grow a lucky bamboo plant?
Direct bright light
Lucky bamboo is a short-height plant. It is naturally found in rainforests. There it gets only a limited amount of sunlight. This means you have to protect it from direct bright light. Even the plants under bright ceiling lights turn yellow.
This is the reason we never suggest growers put this plant on the windowsill. Bamboo plants do well in corners where they get a limited amount of bright light.
Direct sunlight can burn the plant leaves. This is the main cause of leave dropping. Now that you know that direct light can cause many problems to lucky bamboo plants. Always save it from bright light.
Fix
The very first thing that you can do is change its place. Put the plant in a warm and less bright place. Make sure the sun rays cannot fall directly on the plant.
In the next step remove the yellow and brown parts of the plant. Because these parts are not going to be green again.
Therefore, save the plant’s energy by removing yellow parts. Then the plant uses the same energy to produce more green vibrant leaves and stalks in the place of old ones.
You can take the help of grow lights to grow lucky bamboo plants in dark locations.
You May Also Like: Best Moonshine Snake Plant Care
Overdosage of Fertilizers
Wilting, yellowing, and brown leaves are the results of over-fertilization. When you give excess nutrients to plants then their requirements. Most of the nutrients get collected near roots. This creates a block between the plant roots and water.
The water supply gets disturbed and plants develop yellow leaves.
Extra nutrients also do another thing and that is they increase the pH level of the growing medium. Right pH is very important for houseplants. The pH of the soil decides the acidity and alkalinity of the soil.
Most of the time pH level is responsible for the sudden loss of plants.
Fix
Do not use granular fertilizer they get stuck in the roots of houseplants. Use the liquid form of nutrients. Lucky bamboo needs moderate fertilizer applications. Only fertilize it in its growing stage and stop it on winter days.
It is best to use synthetic fertilizers. Because these do not have living organisms like organic nutrients. Follow the instructions written on the nutrient bottle.
Remember that a high dosage of nutrients will not grow it fast. In fact, such actions result in leaf loss, leaf burn, and yellow stems.
If you know your plant is suffering from overdosage. Then remove the plant from the pot and flush the soil. Use fresh soil and plant it again in the washed pot.
Quality of water
The quantity and quality of water directly impact lucky bamboo health. Bad quality water helps lucky bamboo turning yellow.
Make sure the water you are using for the watering does not have high fluoride content. It is not good for plants. It causes yellow leaves and brown leaf tips.
Hydroponically growing lucky bamboo plants also need fresh water. If you leave the plant sit in the same water for months. This results in the build-up of algae and another fungus in the water. The water becomes dirty and unclear
In hydroponic, plants absorb all the nutrients from the water. So, you need to give them clear freshwater. You cannot use your tap water for growing plants hydroponically.
Tap water contains many heavy minerals that are not necessary for plant growth.
Regular tap water results, lucky bamboo turning yellow.
Fix
The best method of watering lucky bamboo is using the best available water. Now that you know you cannot use tap water. Therefore, which type of water will be the best for lucky bamboo.
Always use bottles of filtered water. This does not mean you give bottles of water to all your plants. Garden plants do well in tap water. Filtered water is necessary for indoor plants.
Do not buy a $10 dollar spring water bottle for your lucky bamboo plants. A 10-cent water bottle will be best for them. The purpose of filtered water is to protect them from unwanted chemicals.
For hydroponically growing lucky bamboo plants change the water twice a month.
Or whenever you see the water looks dirty and unclear.
Incorrect Temperature
The ideal temperature range for the lucky bamboo is 18 degrees C to 33 degrees C. If the temperature drops below 15 degrees C. Then the water content in the plant leaves starts freezing. The temperature above 33 degrees C burnt the plant. It doubles the plant breathing rate. This directly affects the plant leaves and roots.
This put stress on plants gives it sudden stress.
Save your plant and give it the ideal room temperature to grow. Most of the workplaces and houses have the ideal temperature for the lucky bamboo plants.
Incorrect temperature surely causes Lucky bamboo to turn yellow. To protect it, follow the below-written steps. Never put your plants in front of the heating vents. The sudden hot air also increases the temperature of the plant. And evaporate the moisture content in the plant.
Fix
The only fix that plant needs when they are suffering from temperature issues is the correct temperature. You have to install the temperature monitoring device in the grow room. You need to set the max and min temperature in the device. Turn it ON it continuously monitor the room temperature.
When the temperature goes above or below the set range the system start alarm. This will alert you about the discomfort of the lucky bamboo plants.
On hot days of summer, you can duct a fan to keep the room temperature ideal for bamboo.
Low humidity
Low humidity is the very common cause of the yellowing of lucky bamboo. They need a minimum of 50% humidity. It is the water contents in the air. When the humidity gets low the moisture in the air reduces.
This puts stress on plant leaves and the water stored in the plant leaves starts evaporating. When the half of stored water evaporates it turn the luck bamboo into yellow color.
Humidity reduces the watering needs of plants. In case you forget to water them. The lucky bamboos will not turn yellow. Because the bamboo leaves absorb moisture from the air.
Low humidity increases the respiration rate of the plant. This is not good for plants especially plants like lucky bamboo.
Fix
All you need to do is maintain a minimum 50% of humidity in the grow room. There are many methods that increase the humidity. Plant humidifiers are inexpensive than room humidifiers. You buy any brand plant humidifier and turn it ON.
This small machine will make vapors of water and increase the humidity in the area.
Or
Use a pebble tray filled with water and put the plant in it only if the bamboo is growing in soil.
Remember that hot air and direct sunlight reduce the room humidity.
If you have many plant pots at home or in your workplace. Put all the pots close together and they will create a different environment for themselves.
You can also use the spray water bottle to mist water on plant leaves. This action also increases the humidity, especially in the summer months.
Note: Hot and dry months have low humidity. Never mist water on lucky bamboo in winter months. This will result in yellow lucky bamboo.
Pest infestation
Many pests turn bamboo leaves yellow. Insects like spider mites, mealybugs often attack the lucky bamboo. They live on the plant leaves and lay eggs. This way they multiply their population. Insects feed on the plants. They suck nutrients from the plant leaves. They stick themselves to the leaf veins and suck all the nutrients.
Slowly the plants become nutrient deficient and lose their green vibrant color.
Fix
To fix this problem you need to kill the insects and prevent them from returning in the future. The first step is getting rid of them. To do so use wipes and one by one clean the leaves. Once all leaves are clear. Then you have to use neem oil.
Neem has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. These benefits of neem oil help to prevent pests away from the plants.
The good news is neem is 100% safe to use on houseplants and on vegetable plants. Neem oil is totally safe for pets and children.
Broken stem
An injured or broken stem is another reason for lucky bamboo turning yellow. Stems are the main parts of the lucky bamboo. Healthy stems develop healthy leaves.
When a stem gets injured it becomes weak. Weak stems turn yellow and cause yellow leaves.
Leaves get everything through stems. Roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Then the stems transport the food into different parts of the plants.
Fix
Once the stem gets injured or broke. You cannot reconnect it together. The best possible solution is to remove the upper part of the broken stem.
This way you can save the plant energy that is going to the stem and get waste.
Nutrient deficiency
Plants need nutrients to grow and thrive. Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and potassium are the main nutrients for every plant. Green plants need more nitrogen than other nutrients.
Nutrient deficiency in plants causes yellow leaves, stems, and leaf drooping. Plants absorb light from the environment and water from the soil. Then they absorb nutrients through their roots from the soil.
They use absorbed light to make glucose from the nutrients and water.
If a plant does not get proper nutrients, it cannot make a good amount of food. We all know if plants do not get enough food. They will not grow properly and yellow leaves are the first sign of nutrient deficiency.
There are many types of plant nutrients you have to buy specifically for your plant type. You cannot give tropical rainforest plant nutrients to succulents.
There are some all-purpose houseplant nutrients. You can use them if you do not like to buy a separate nutrient bottle for each of your houseplants.
Fix
Just give enough nutrients to your plants and they will thrive again. It sounds simple but in reality, it is not that easy. You have to check the light, water, and nutrients. If anyone from these is missing your lucky bamboo turning to yellow is 100% sure.
All three things are required in balanced quantities to keep the lucky bamboo green and healthy. It is advised to use a specific type of nutrients for each type of plant. Never mix two or more nutrients. This will surely kill the plants.
For houseplants never use powdered nutrients. Because we have a limited amount of potting soil in pots. Powdered nutrients do not get dissolved in less soil.
Liquid nutrients are perfect for houseplants. They are easy for plants to absorb and utilize.
How to save a lucky bamboo plant from turning yellow?
Good care can save your lucky bamboo from turning yellow. Give it indirect bright light, moderate water, and put in a 50% humid room.
Do not over-water it, stop Fertilization in winter months can save your lucky bamboo. Also you need to follow the strict caring routine.
