Is your bamboo drying out and are you looking for tips on how to revive it? While it is a resilient plant and suitable for beginner gardeners, if the conditions are not right, your bamboo can begin to suffer. You may notice that it fades, turns brown or yellowish, or that the stems curl. This looks pretty serious, but don't despair because there are many easy ways to revive your withered bamboo.
What to do if bamboo has dried up
Make sure the plant receives sufficient, good quality water
If the bamboo has dried leaves and turns yellow, it is best to replace the tap water with filtered water. Tap water often contains chemicals that can harm bamboo. So make the switch and you will most likely see an improvement.
Also, make sure your bamboo is watered regularly, especially in the drier, warmer months, as it needs moist conditions to thrive. Also make sure it receives an even, deep layer of water to keep the roots healthy. Test the soil and make sure the PH is balanced enough for the bamboo - you may need to add fertilizer and/or plant food to bring the soil back into shape.
Weekly watering should be enough, but check the soil moisture regularly whether your plant is indoors or outdoors. You can also add mulch to the pot or around the roots of the bamboo if it is part of a garden bed to ensure it retains moisture between waterings.
Top-Tipp: If your bamboo plant is really dried out, you should cut back any dead stems and submerge the entire pot in a large bucket of water or even a pond until all the air bubbles come out.
Bamboo dries up – fertilize the soil
If your bamboo is drying out – Fertilizer is not essential for bamboo to thrive, but if your plant is not looking its best, providing it with nutrients will help. Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer initially and then switch to a fertilizerwith a more balanced pH value. If you keep your bamboo in pots and containers, you should regularly supply it with a liquid fertilizer.
Trim the plant
Cutting back bamboo – If only a small part of the plant turns yellow, you can only cut off the dried bamboo so that the rest can continue to grow. You should always remove problem leaves and bad stems.
You should also prune your bamboo when it begins to bloom. While it's not a guarantee, a flowering bamboo can die or at least weaken the plant, causing it to turn brown. So if you catch a flowering shoot, remove it immediately to prevent further blooms. If you let it get to the point where the whole plant blooms, you can try to revive the bamboo by feeding and watering it regularly. Then cut the entire plant back to the ground after flowering. This may seem brutal, but hopefully it will encourage new growth.
Bamboo dries up – adjust the lighting conditions
Most bamboo species, including Fargesia rufa, which is suitable for growing in pots, like lots of sunlight. However, constant exposure to direct sunlight can cause the leaves to turn brown and the plant to dry out quickly. So if your plant is in a pot or container, consider moving it to a location that is still bright but receives more filtered or indirect sunlight. Bamboo also grows in shady places, it just grows more slowly, which could be considered a good thing since it can quickly spread out. But remember, if you want to use bamboo as a privacy fence, a sunny spot will help it grow large and quickly.
Make sure the location is protected and when planted in the ground the soil should be moist and fertile. Bamboo is hardy and can handle most conditions. However, if your plant is having problems, changing the lighting conditions and using soil that is not too bad will help the plant get back on its feet.
Check for signs of pests
If your bamboo dries up, make sure it isn't infested with pests! There are now many organic and non-toxic pesticides on the market - one natural pest deterrent is neem oil. If aphids are the problem, you can try soap spray. Simply mix soap and water in a 1/4 ratio in a clean spray bottle and then spray the plant, focusing on the underside of the leaves.
Bamboo protection in winter
Bamboo dries out in winter – When temperatures drop below freezing, the bamboo suffers. If it is not possible to bring your bamboo indoors or place it in a greenhouse, you can wrap it up in the winter to protect it from the snow that damages the long branches.
How can you make your own bamboo garden? Thefind out here!
