WHY IS MY LUCKY BAMBOO TURNING YELLOW?

The lucky bamboo plant is a type of household plant which is very easy to take care of and grows well in indirect sunlight as well. The plant has gotten its name as lucky bamboo as is it one of the most popular Feng Shui cures that are said to bring good luck and prosperity to whichever place it is grown. The lucky bamboo plants also help in enhancing the flow of positive energy in your home and office if it is placed in the right direction. 

Whenever a lucky bamboo is turning yellow it signifies that it is suffering from one or the other problem. Turning Yellow is the plant's way of showing that it is suffering from some of the other problems such as compromised requirements, environmental issues, chemical damage, or any disease.

 The reasons for the turning yellow of the lucky bamboo are many and only when you know the reason, can you fix it back and regain its green vibe.

 Some of the various causes of the lucky bamboo turning yellow are –

 1.Direct sunlight 

 Lucky bamboos generally grow in rainforests where they are not receiving any direct sunlight rather they receive indirect light that is creeping out from the top of the trees. This means if your lucky bamboo is getting any direct sunlight it will lead to scorching of the leaves and sunburn which results in the leaves turning yellow and dropping of the leaves.

 2.     Excess use of fertilizers 

 Excess use of fertilizers or over-fertilization of the lucky bamboo results in the formation of excess salts and minerals, thereby creating conditions that will harm the helpful microorganisms of the soil. This will also alter the pH level of the soil and fewer nutrients would be available to the plants. Too much use of fertilizers especially nitrogen encourages the growth of plants with underdeveloped roots which will prevent the adequate supply of water to the entire plant. All these weaken the plant and leads to the leaves turning yellow.

 3.     Quality of the water 

Lucky bamboo is susceptible to damages that are caused by unfiltered chemicals present in the water such as fluoride and chlorine. These chemicals accumulate over time and will hamper essential processes of the plants like photosynthesis respiration and metabolism. Soon the plant leaves will start turning yellow or brown.

 4.     Deficiency of Nutrition

 Nutrient deficiency results in the leaves turning yellow, wilting, and dropping. It is caused by a lack of either micronutrients or macronutrients. The deficiency of macronutrients like nitrogen potassium and magnesium are usually the causes of yellowing of the leaves of the lucky bamboo.

 5.     Stagnant Water

 If the lucky bamboo is kept still for many months, unclean water leads to creepy organisms growing. These organisms include bacteria fungus etc, which weaken or reduces the defenses of the plant and leads to various kinds of diseases. Moreover, when the stagnant water is exposed to light, it leads to the growth of algae. The algae would steal the nutrients of the lucky bamboo and this will ultimately result in the discoloration and yellowing of the leaves of the lucky bamboo.

 6.     Injured Stem

 Any injury to the plant also makes them feel sick or unwell just like humans. the stem of the plant is necessary to help ensure that the nutrients flow towards the leaves. If in any case this team is broken this will cause an interruption to the supply of the essential nutrients. The disrupted supply would then result in yellowing dropping and weakening of the affected leaves.

7.     Insect Infestation

 A very rare case includes insects affecting the lucky bamboo. some of the most common pests of the lucky bamboo are Mealybugs and mites. These insects suck out the plant juices from the stems to the leaves and also secrete a growing medium for the fungi. the growth of the fungi results in black or brown spots on the leaves. This entire situation hampers the food production processes of the plant and eventually leads to yellowing curling or even falling off the leaves of the lucky bamboo.

 8.     Low Humidity

 A very common reason behind the yellowing of the lucky bamboo is the lack of humidity or low humidity. When there is a dry environment rapid transpiration which is the way of losing water through leaf pores takes place and water from the leaves tends to escape faster. If you fail to immediately replace this lost water it will result in yellowing of your lucky bamboo leaves. The level of humidity required by the lucky bamboo is about 50% which is not very difficult to maintain since the normal household humidity is around 30 to 40%. true

 9.     Incorrect Temperature

 When it comes to any plant including the lucky bamboo temperature plays a very important role in optimal growth as it affects certain physiological processes. A very high temperature leads to faster respiration and this breaks down plants' sugar and starch until there's nothing left of the plant.

 On the other hand, a very low temperature can cause chilling damage to the plant that leaves the cells frozen. The freezing of the cell will expand and destroy them internally.

Therefore both high and low-temperature result in yellowing, wilting and falling of the lucky bamboo leaves.

 REMEDIES FOR THE YELLOW LUCKY BAMBOO

 You must keep in mind the above-mentioned causes, and make sure to take care of all these to prevent your lucky bamboo from turning yellow. 

And even if your lucky bamboo has turned yellow, there is no need to panic or worry as you can make it green and beautiful again. Once you have identified the cause, any specific step can be taken to bring the plant back to its life. Never throw away the plant, until and unless you are sure that it is salvaged and cannot be recovered again.