Common Problems and Fixes
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The two most common reasons for the leaves turning yellow or brown are too much direct sunlight and using tap water that contains too much chlorine, fluoride, or salts. The lucky bamboo needs to be kept in indirect sunlight only. For chlorine or fluoride issues, you can let the water stand in an open container for 24 hours before using it with the lucky bamboo. This allows the chlorine or fluoride to evaporate. For salt issues, you should use filtered or distilled water instead of tap. The leaves will also turn colors if the fertilizer is too strong. In this case, change out the water and don’t use any fertilizer for a few months. Low humidity can also be a problem. There is no need to add more water as this is not the problem. The roots aren’t drying out but the leaf tips are. You just need to mist the leaves daily to prevent drying.
If the bottoms of the stalks are turning yellow, then you are using too much fertilizer. At this point, it’s most likely too late to save the plant. Immediately change the water and don’t use fertilizer for a while, and there’s a slight chance the plant may recover. If it doesn’t recover, then you can cut off any healthy tops and grow the plant again. If it’s just one stalk that has turned yellow, then you can just remove that one from the group.
If the stalks have turned brown, then the roots have died. This usually occurs from overfeeding or overwatering soil-potted plants. You can cut off any healthy tops and grow the plant again.
If there is an insect problem, remove the lucky bamboo from the water and soak them in diluted soapy water. Regular dishwashing detergent is fine, and only a few drops are needed. Wipe each stalk and rinse well. Wash out the container and any stones, marbles, etc. Replace the stalks and stones, marbles, etc. and add fresh water.
Algae grows when there is too much light and/or fertilizer. If you are feeding the lucky bamboo plant food, then it’s best not use a see-through container to help prevent algae growth. To get rid of the algae, wash everything and then start over with clean water.
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