Common Questions

Why do I have yellow leaves? As new leaves appear in the spring one-third to one-half of the older leaves turn yellow and fall off. This shedding is mostly during spring and then at a lesser rate in the fall.

What causes leaf tips to brown? There are various possible causes. It may be due to excess fertilizer, an imbalance of soil nutrients, or too much water. Some of the dwarf varieties normally get brown tips during the winter cold and may be sheared early spring.

Why have the leaves become sparse? This may occur if the canopy of leaves becomes too dense to let light into the interior, so prune for light exposure. On culms 5 or more years of age, they will decrease their leaf production as the culms begin to die. Prune these out to allow for new culms. If the old rhizomes are tightly massed, remove sections of rhizome to allow space for new rhizomes. If there is significant leaf loss on a newly planted bamboo it may be from transplant shock, from either insufficient or excess water, or from the root-ball shifting in the wind and destroying new feeder roots.

My bamboo is looking healthy but not spreading after two or more years in the ground. Why? The most common reason for this is that a sun-loving bamboo is in an area with too much shade. Another reason could be that it was planted in very compacted soil. Try amending amending the planting bed with compost about 1 foot deep and adding fertilizer in spring and early summer.

Why do some new culms shoot up a few feet and then die? If this occurs after some healthy shoots have successfully grown then it is just that the bamboo has tried to overproduce. This is not cause for concern. However, if most shoots wither then you may need to test your soil for deficiencies or problems.

A few culms came up at a 45-degree angle and never straightened. This can occur when the growing tip of the new rhizome comes out of the soil. It will try to act like a new culm. Cut it off at ground level.

Snow has bent the tops of the bamboos. Should we remove it? The typical Pacific NW snowfall will cause the bamboo to bend and be covered with snow for just a few days. Leaving it this way will protect leaves from the winter sun or drying wind, and the bamboo will pop back up when the snow melts. If the snow-pack is heavy or likely to remain for more than a few days, then shake it off. If culms have broken and leaves remain, cut right above a node and the culm below will live.

Is bamboo a good house plant? Our bamboo are not grown to tolerate the dryness and changing light of interiors so we do not recommend it. If you are very talented with indoor plants and want to try, the risk is yours.

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