Unless there is another problem, the browning of the tips is caused by low humidity. This is understandable because the lucky bamboo plant is a tropical rainforest plant where the humidity is high, like 60 degrees and higher. Mulching around the roots of your bamboo plant can help to retain moisture. Bamboos range from the giant bamboo, which grows to over 100 feet in height and is common in the forests of Asia, to much smaller species, which stay between 1 to 2 feet high and are popular as indoor houseplants. Verify that the plant is receiving the proper amount of water, if it's planted in soil. If your soil pH is too high, add compost or other natural nitrogen-rich fertilizer; if your soil pH is too low, add lime or wood ash to increase alkalinity. These pests can often be removed by applying natural pest deterrents, such as baking soda or canola oil. Small indoor plants can be grown with their roots submerged in water with pebbles for support or in damp soil. Traditional attributes given to colors of ties | Lucky Bamboo Shop. Ann Pedtke has been writing about science and the environment since 2001. Prune your bamboo plant to stimulate growth. Cut it back regularly to ensure that your outdoor bamboo does not "escape" into neighboring yards. Trim at a diagonal to from a point and the plant will form a scar that is barely noticeable. Most bamboo, especially large varieties, grows best when exposed to full sun. Bamboo plants prefer slightly acidic soil (with a pH of around 6.0). How to Care for an Indoor Bamboo Palm & Cut Its Dying Leaves, American Bamboo Society: Planting and Caring for Bamboo, American Bamboo Society: Asian Bamboo Pests, American Bamboo Society: When Bamboo Flowers. Outdoor bamboo plants require aggressive pruning. Some species of bamboo can grow as much as 12 inches per day and can spread extremely rapidly through underground rhizomes. Her work has appeared in "Isotope," "Green Prints," "The Hudson River Almanac," "The Conservationist" and other publications. Cut off flowering stems, as bamboo plants that expend extra energy on creating flowers often weaken or die soon afterward. Ends of the leaves of lucky bamboo are drying out and turning brown, Unless there is another problem, the browning of the tips is caused by low humidity. Keep the dirt moist … Check your bamboo plants for signs of insect pests. So people living in Arizona or anywhere else should expect a brown tip or two. The brown tips can be trimmed with a sharp scissors. While bamboo does not succumb easily to most pest species, it is sometimes susceptible to infestations of aphids, mealybugs, mites or scale. Indoor bamboo may require transplanting and repotting if not frequently trimmed back. Test your soil using a test kit purchased from a nursery or garden supply store. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. What Is the Best Potting Soil for Bamboo? Pedtke holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Kenyon College and works in environmental education in New York City. Moving the plant from a drafty location to an area where the humidity is constant would help. Insects, especially sap-sucking bugs, can cause browning of true bamboo and lucky bamboo as they leech the juices from the plants. Make sure your bamboo plant is receiving enough water. This is understandable because the lucky bamboo plant is a tropical rainforest plant where the humidity is high, like 60 degrees and higher. Check that your bamboo plant is getting enough sunlight. Remove any dry or yellowing leaves or stems. Ends of the leaves of lucky bamboo are drying out and turning brown. Lucky Bamboo will adapt well to low humidity if provided with plenty of clean water. Check that your bamboo plant is getting enough sunlight. Most bamboo, especially large varieties, … Bamboos are a tribe of woody grasses comprising over 1,000 different species. While bamboo is a hardy plant that grows quickly and generally requires little maintenance, bamboo plants are sometimes susceptible to insect damage and other adverse conditions and must be treated with care in order to revive. Using an ax or sharp-edged hoe, cut back the rhizomes, or underground stems, at least once a year to ensure that your bamboo stays healthy and does not spread outside its desired bounds. Whether grown indoors or outdoors, bamboo needs moist conditions to survive; insufficient water is the top cause of poor health in new bamboo plants. So people living in Arizona or anywhere else should expect a brown tip or two. Outdoor bamboo plants must be watered at least twice a week when first planted and intermittently thereafter. (Humidifiers cannot be turned up that high!).