Bamboo problems can include diseases such as molds, root rot, yellowing leaves and stems, leaf spots, etc. Pests like aphids, mites, mealybugs, etc can also cause problems for your bamboo plant. Sometimes physiological agents such as low light conditions or direct sunlight can cause problems too. Here, you can find a comprehensive collection of bamboo problems including its diseases and pests and the causal agents along with treatments.
If you spot unusual symptoms in your bamboo plant and are concerned about its health, Keep reading to find out what you need to distinguish its problem and treat it to have a healthy bamboo plant.
➡ You can also hear the audio version of this article:
Bamboo Problems: Bamboo Diseases Photo Gallery
1- Bamboo Leaves Turning Yellow (Overall Yellowing)
Causal agent:
It is one of the common bamboo problems, as a general rule when you spot the foliage turning yellow (as you can see in the picture) it’s a sign that the roots are damaged and cannot take water and nutrients from the soil.
Most of the time it’s due to fungal soilborne diseases such as Fusarium solani or Rhizoctonia solani. Overwatering can increase the risk of root rot. I discussed this in my previous article about Bamboo disease and showed you how to treat your bamboo plant.
In addition, underwatering or overfertilization can also damage roots and cause these bamboo problems. I recommend you to read my article about the best fertilizer for bamboo plants. it will help you with this issue.
2- Bamboo Stalk Turning Yellow
It’s one of the common bamboo problems that often occurs in two different forms:
A: Bamboo Stalk Turning Yellow from the Bottom
Causal agent:
If the bamboo stalk turns yellow from the bottom up, the roots have been damaged. most often it’s due to soilborne fungi that cause root rot. Remove your bamboo from its planter (or soil) and check its roots.
B: Bamboo Stalk Turning Yellow from Top
Causal agent:
If the bamboo stalk turns yellow from the top down, please check the top of the stalk, most often it’s not completely sealed. When you cut the top of the bamboo stalk off, you must completely seal it with wax.
In addition, seek to find the sign of mites on leaves. It can also cause problems for your bamboo foliage. I will discuss it later.
3- Bamboo Leaf Tips Turning Yellow/Brown
Causal agent:
If you spot the tip of leaves turning yellow and brown and extending down, it’s due to you watering your bamboo (especially lucky bamboo) with tap water. There are some chemical elements as salts in tap water that some plants such as bamboo are sensitive to them. The chloride and fluoride in tap water will cause tip burn (tip yellowing or browning) in lucky bamboo.
If you spot these symptoms on your bamboo plant, start watering with distilled water or rainwater.
In addition, in low humidity conditions, the tip of leaves will turn yellow. so, you must put it in a bright place with indirect sunlight.
4- Bamboo Root Rot
Causal agent:
it’s often caused by Fusarium solani or Rhizoctonia solani and the roots and even the down of the stem will turn to soft and black. If you plant your bamboo in soil or rocks, spotting the roots is difficult. Hence you will be informed about root rot after seeing your bamboo leaves turning yellow. In addition, its stalk may also turn yellow from down.
If you become aware of this problem early, you can save your bamboo plant. Read my article about bamboo diseases to find out how to treat your plant.
5- Bamboo Virus Infection
Causal agent:
Bamboo Mosaic Virus specifically infects bamboo plants and after spotting its signs, you must eliminate the infected plants (or infected parts), sterile the trim tools and use healthy plants for propagation.
Please note that the lucky bamboo is not real bamboo and belongs to Dracaena gnius. So, it cannot be infected with the Bamboo Mosaic Virus. But the “Dracaena Mottle Virus” can cause problems in lucky bamboo. In the below, you can see its symptoms.
6- Anthracnose of Bamboo Plant
Causal agent:
The early symptoms are pale green-yellowish lesions on the stalk that will be extended to the upper and lower internodes. So, after a while the stem will turn yellow and soft and your bamboo plant will wilt and die. You may also see numerous tiny black spots on the stalk.
Anthracnose in the Bamboo plant is one of the dangerous bamboo problems if you become aware of it early, you can save your plant by eliminating the infected part of the stalk and propagating from healthy parts to produce a new bamboo plant.
7- Fungal Spots on Bamboo Leaves
Causal agent:
As you can see brown spots that are rounded with a yellow halo, it’s the sign of a fungal leaf spot. The spots may be white to pale yellow in the center. Trim the infected leaves and eliminate them. Spraying the foliage with water can increase the symptoms of your infected plant.
8- Sunburn Symptoms of Bamboo Leaves
Causal agent:
As I told you before (bamboo care), this plant thrives in a bright place with indirect sunlight. if it is exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, its foliage will turn to white and you see brown and yellow spots on leaves, as you can see in the picture.
The damaged leaves will never turn green, you must prune them, and put your bamboo in a place with bright indirect sunlight. if you have any problem with detecting the best place for your houseplant bamboo, read my article about the light requirements of Lucky bamboo. you must also provide humid conditions for it. It will reward you with new leaves. To provide humidity for your bamboo plant, read my article about “Lucky bamboo humidity”.
Bamboo Problems: Bamboo Pests Photo Gallery
9- The Symptoms of Aphids on Bamboo
Causal agent:
The bamboo aphid feeds on the sap of bamboo plants and extracts vital nutrients, particularly sugars and amino acids, from the plant leading to stunted growth, reduced vigor, and even the death of individual culms (bamboo stems).
I discussed Aphids in detail in my previous article about bamboo pests. Aphids also secrete honeydew on bamboo leaves and stems creating a sticky surface. It promotes the growth of sooty mold (a black, powdery fungus) that can further hinder the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.
10- The Symptoms of Bamboo Mite Infestation
Causal agent:
You see them as small, white to pale yellow spots on the bamboo leaves giving it a speckled appearance. Sometimes you may see them like white strips on leaves too. They can kill your bamboo plants. if you are concerned that they bite you too, read my article “Do Bamboo Mites Bite Humans?”. There, I will also show you how to get rid of bamboo mites.
11- The Symptoms of Mealybugs on Bamboo
Causal agent:
The adults of Mealybugs have a cottony appearance and feed on plant sap. they cause the below symptoms on your bamboo plant:
- The foliage will turn yellow and your bamboo plant will wilt.
- You see the growth-stunted symptoms in your plant.
- Mealybugs produce Honeydew on leaves that will cause the growth of sooty mold that gives a dusty appearance to your plants.
Read my article about Mealybugs on houseplants to show you how to get rid of them.
12- The Symptom of Dipteran Leaf Miner on Bamboo Leaf
Causal agent:
Cerodontha unisetiorbita causes the above symptoms on the leaves of bamboo. They feed on the leaves between their upper and lower parenchyma. Spinosad and permethrin are pesticides that can help you with this issue.
13- The Symptoms of Bamboo Scale Insect
Causal agent:
Kuwanaspis pseudoleucaspis is the most important scale insect on bamboo plants. they are small, hard, shell-like tiny bugs on houseplants like bamboo that cover stems and leaves. They feed on the sap of your plant and Reduce plant vigor along with Yellowing or browning of the foliage.
Conclusion
I tried to collect the most common bamboo problems with their images and causal agents here. I also told you how to fix them. Did you find your bamboo problem among them? What was it? if you have seen symptoms that were not mentioned above, please inform me below this page and send its images to my email.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.