13 Responses to “Why Would Lucky Bamboo Suddenly Turning Yellow”

1. Jamie Jamison Adams Says:
   December 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

   Patricia,

   At least once a month I receive a question concerning lucky bamboo that is turning yellow. There are two reasons that I automatically think of in this situation. One – Has the lucky bamboo been exposed to too much fertilizer? Second – Has the lucky bamboo been exposed to too much light. Both of these conditions can cause the lucky bamboo stalks to turn yellow.
   Depending on the over exposure it can even cause the stalks to die. However, you can try to save the stalks by removing the problem.

   With over fertilization, you need to immediately change the water and clean the container. Clean the container with soapy water and rinse well. Then place the healthy stalks back in the container and fill with distilled or filtered water. Tap water contains Fluoride and Chlorine which are not good for the lucky bamboo. If the stalk is slightly yellow yet still firm place in a separate container and fill distilled or filtered water.

   With over exposure to light, you need to move the lucky bamboo away from the direct light source. Lucky bamboo prefers bright filtered light rather than direct harsh light. I would still segregate the yellow stalk from the green stalks by moving it to its own container.

   It will take a few weeks for the lucky bamboo to recover from the damage. If at any time the stalks become soft or mushy it is too late. In this case if there is any part of the lucky bamboo that is still green and healty, you can start a new plant.

   In the blog post We are not always lucky with lucky bamboo", I detail how you can propagate lucky bamboo that has a yellowing problem. The post even has reference pictures. It might come in handy if starting a new lucky bamboo plant is need is your only option.

   There are other things that can cause yellowing but fertilizer and light are the most common. Insect and tap water issues can sometimes begin as a yellowing problem before they advance to a browning or whitish problem.

   You can always send me pictures if you can determine what the problems is. Good luck and keep me posted.

2. Barbara Says:
   December 9th, 2008 at 10:42 pm

   I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

   Barbara

3. Alix Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 am

   2 days ago I bought 3 stalks of lucky bamboo in the street at 2 Celsius degrees which is very cold for this tropical plant. The ground transportation from China to my country took 2 months and I don\'t know in which conditions the plant was kept in the meantime. The lower parts of stalks are yellow and brown, but strong. The upper halves are green and strong. There are no roots or side stems and green leaves just started growing on the top. Should I cut off the lower halves, put green ones back into water and give aspirin/fertilizer? I really would like to save them as they don\'t get imported into my country. Please help!!!

4. Jamie Jamison Adams Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 8:30 am

   Alix,

   Cut the yellow stalk off and throw away. Then dip the cut of the green stalk in rooting hormone. I use a powder type from Greenlight but you can use a liquid type. Let the hormone dry on the stalks while you fill a container with distilled water. (you can use tap water but it will have to sit over night in an open container before you use it) Place the stalks in the container filled with water – you only need two to three inches of water depending on the length of your stalks. It will take a few weeks before the new roots form. Do not fertilize the stalks during this time. Several months from now you can fertilize your lucky bamboo with a very light solution of liquid fertilizer.

   You might want to read our newsletter called Caring For Lucky Bamboo or the blog postWe are not always lucky with lucky bamboo. Both articles have very useful information about lucky bamboo.

   Good Luck and Please keep me posted.

5. Alix Says:
   December 29th, 2008 at 6:02 am

   Jamie,

   Thanks, I read your blog and it was really useful for me in identifiing that my lucky bamboo was actually dieing (the salesperson was trying to conveince me that it was OK for a bamboo to have yellow and brown spots!). Following your guidance I cut of the yellow part and placed it into a container with filtered water (no chlorine and heavy metals), however there is no rooting hormone available in my city. Is there any other method to care about the stalks before the roots form?

   Thanks again for all your help.

   Alix

6. Jamie Jamison Adams Says:
   December 29th, 2008 at 8:55 am

   Alix,

   You don't have to use rooting hormone it just gives you a little extra boost. Simple cut the lucky bamboo and place in water. It might take an extra week or two to form the roots but you should be ok. Time and solitude is the key. In other words just leave them alone. Good Luck – Keep me posted.

7. adam Says:
   February 1st, 2009 at 3:31 am

   I did none of this stuff I kept the bamboo is cactus soil which is low in nutrients kept it watered gave it distilled water. But its it yellowing and the top is turning mushy so I cut off the bad parts an put wax over the cut end. This plant was watered with deisitlled water and had partial sunlight yet it is still dieing.

   Is there a way to save it I have grown quite attached I don"t want it to die.

8. Jamie Jamison Adams Says:
   February 2nd, 2009 at 8:57 am

   Adam,

   Your lucky bamboo is in soil? Was it yellow from the top down? How moist are you keeping the soil?

9. Nicky Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

   I’m a gardener-beginner; grow cactuses, aloe, primroses. Accidently I’ve come across your site and found it very useful and informative. I’m sure I’ll find here any information I need.

10. Lori Says:
    July 15th, 2009 at 8:51 am

    Jamie,

    I've had my lucky bamboo for over a year. It is starting to turn yellow from the top down. It is in my office at work, which gets very cold lately. Is it the cold or do you think it is the water that is causing it to turn yellow?

11. Jamie Jamison Adams Says:
    July 15th, 2009 at 9:12 am

    Could be the water. However, more than likely it is the water.

12. Shanna Says:
    March 11th, 2011 at 11:34 am

    I received a 5 stalk bamboo plant as a gift. One of the stalks is turning yellow at the top and is almost the whole half top of the stalk. And another one is a curved stalk and it is getting brownish and wilty and crunchy ( thats the best way I can think to describe it) at the top. I was thinking maybe it was getting too much light cuz it has been right in front of the window. Should I cut the top of the yellow stalk off. And should I trim off the wilty part?

13. Jamie Jamison Adams Says:
    March 11th, 2011 at 11:53 am

    Remove any stalk that is becoming mushy, it will cause the other stalks problems. As for the yellow top, cut it off and let the plant produce new leaves. Also, move it away from the light.

    If you are not sure about the crunchy stalk send me a picture.