Q. Several of my bamboo shoots died completely and now
they are all starting to yellow and have a white film on them. Any suggestions?
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| White film on the culms or stems of bamboo probably a wax “bloom”. |
A. You didn’t say which bamboo it is, but I assume it’s one
of the bamboo tolerant of our winter temperatures. The so-called “running
bamboo” rather than the clumping types represent those that tolerate our climate
better.
of the bamboo tolerant of our winter temperatures. The so-called “running
bamboo” rather than the clumping types represent those that tolerate our climate
better.
The
white film is sometimes called a “bloom” of wax on the outside of the stem and
is normal. If these are instead white “fuzziness” in patches and appear to be a
problem, then you might be looking at mealybugs. But I think this white “film”
has more to do with the naturally occurring wax produced by many plants rather
than a pest problem.
white film is sometimes called a “bloom” of wax on the outside of the stem and
is normal. If these are instead white “fuzziness” in patches and appear to be a
problem, then you might be looking at mealybugs. But I think this white “film”
has more to do with the naturally occurring wax produced by many plants rather
than a pest problem.
Yellowing can be caused from water not
draining from the soil around the roots and suffocating them because of poor
drainage or watering too often. You may be thinking that this plant needs water
all the time, which it doesn’t. The soil needs to be kept to moist for good
growth but let the soil “breathe” so that the roots and rhizomes can get air.
draining from the soil around the roots and suffocating them because of poor
drainage or watering too often. You may be thinking that this plant needs water
all the time, which it doesn’t. The soil needs to be kept to moist for good
growth but let the soil “breathe” so that the roots and rhizomes can get air.
Invest $10
in a soil moisture meter for house plants. As long as the soil is somewhat soft,
push the probe slowly into the soil and get a soil moisture reading at the 4 to
6 inch depth. I would not irrigate until the meter on this gauge reads
approximately “6” at this depth in 3 different locations. On these gauges, “10”
is sopping wet and the number 1 is totally dry.
in a soil moisture meter for house plants. As long as the soil is somewhat soft,
push the probe slowly into the soil and get a soil moisture reading at the 4 to
6 inch depth. I would not irrigate until the meter on this gauge reads
approximately “6” at this depth in 3 different locations. On these gauges, “10”
is sopping wet and the number 1 is totally dry.
The
yellowing could be a soil alkalinity problem but I think instead it is probably
poor drainage. When planting bamboo, amend the soil with compost at the time of
planting and cover the soil around the plant, out to a distance of 2 to 3 feet, with woodchips. If drainage is a
big problem even after amending the soil, plant it on a mound.
yellowing could be a soil alkalinity problem but I think instead it is probably
poor drainage. When planting bamboo, amend the soil with compost at the time of
planting and cover the soil around the plant, out to a distance of 2 to 3 feet, with woodchips. If drainage is a
big problem even after amending the soil, plant it on a mound.