What should you do when the leaves of a soil-grown lucky bamboo turn yellow?

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is loved by many people because of its strong ornamental appeal, its auspicious meaning, its certain purifying effect on indoor spaces, and the fact that it has always been easy to grow. However, during the growing process people often encounter one situation that makes them anxious, namely that the leaves frequently turn yellow. So what should you do when the leaves of lucky bamboo turn yellow? Here the editor analyzes the causes of yellowing leaves in soil-grown lucky bamboo.

Overwatering

Overwatering lucky bamboo is one of the most common causes. The usual symptoms are: the young leaves turn dull yellow and lose their gloss, but the old leaves show no obvious change, and the new shoots shrivel and stop growing. In this case, just take the plant out of the pot, let it dry in a cool, shady place, and then put it back in the pot.

Underwatering

The yellowing caused by underwatering lucky bamboo and the yellowing caused by a lack of water are completely different in appearance. Yellowing caused by water shortage mainly shows as the leaf tips or edges drying up, but the new leaves grow quite normally. In this case, you just need to water directly, but be careful to water thoroughly.

Strong sunlight

Lucky bamboo is a shade-loving plant. If strong light shines directly on it, it will also cause yellowing, which specifically shows as the leaf tips or edges drying up. At this point, just move it to a shady place.

Lack of light

Plant growth cannot be separated from light. If lucky bamboo is placed in a hidden spot for a long time, the leaves cannot get enough sunlight and cannot form chlorophyll, which will cause the leaves to turn yellow and then fall off. At this point, just place it in the sunlight.

Overfertilizing

This is a very common cause. Overfertilizing can also easily cause yellowing in flowers and plants. It mainly shows as the tips of the new leaves turning dry and brown, the leaf surface generally appearing thick and lacking gloss, and being uneven and not spreading out smoothly, while the old leaves turn scorched yellow and fall off. At this point, stop fertilizing immediately and rinse with clean water.

Insufficient fertilizer

Insufficient fertilizer means insufficient nutrients, so insufficient fertilizer will also cause the leaves to turn yellow. It mainly shows as the young leaves becoming lighter in color, appearing yellow or pale green rather than green; the old leaves generally show no major change at this point. In this case, check the potting soil; if there is dry, caked soil, it needs to be replaced. When fertilizing, be careful to apply thin fertilizer frequently and to water with some alum water at the appropriate time. One point deserves special attention here: another important cause of yellowing leaves is iron deficiency. At this point, you can put some ferrous sulfate in water and pour it onto the soil. Some people also find a few rusty iron nails, put them in water for a few days, and then use it; this method is actually also feasible.

Being next to a TV, etc.

If lucky bamboo is placed next to electrical appliances such as a TV or air conditioner, it will very easily cause the leaf edges and so on to turn yellow. At this point, you just need to move it far away and place it in a suitable spot, and it will grow very well.

Improper shaping

Lucky bamboo tends to grow in clumps, so when changing the pot and adding soil, be careful to prune the old and residual fibrous roots and thin out excess stems and leaves, so as to avoid excessive consumption of nutrients and to play a role in nourishing the roots and protecting the leaves. If you do not pay attention to shaping, it can also easily cause the leaves to turn yellow.