The evergreen sweet grass is becoming more and more popular in gardens, not only because of its natural and imposing appearance, but also because it is quite easy to care for. Bamboo is suitable both as a solitary plant for a single position, as a bamboo hedge, and as a container plant on the balcony or terrace. For good growth, the plants need a sheltered and warm location. Sometimes, however, the beauty of the bamboo can be spoiled by the formation of yellow leaves or brown leaf tips. It is then always important to get to the bottom of the yellowing of the leaves in order to prevent further damage to the plant.
Yellow autumn leaves
But be careful, not all yellow discoloration of the leaves ultimately indicates a care error or infestation by pests and diseases. Intensive breeding has resulted in around 1,500 different bamboo species to date. Some of these cultivars already have yellowish leaves, such as Fargusia muriclae "Green Arrows" or Pleioblastus viridistiatus.
In addition, however, it is also quite normal for this wintergreen plant to have an annual fall in autumn foliage change to renew the foliage. The intensity of the yellowing of the leaves can vary greatly depending on the variety. Yellow leaves in autumn are always a sign that the plants have an adequate supply of nutrients. First the tips of the leaves turn brown and then finally the whole leaf turns yellow.
Should, however, now yellowing of the leaves outside of the autumn months occur, caution is always required. There are other different causes that are responsible for this color change. These should then be explored as soon as possible.
When deciding on bamboo in the garden, the winter hardiness of the plants must always be taken into account. Not all varieties survive the winter in our region without any problems. This can lead to frostbite, yellow and dead leaves.
Bamboo Fargusia muriclae
tip: Bamboo varieties that are not hardy can simply be transplanted into a bucket and overwintered in a bright and frost-free room or greenhouse.
Causes and countermeasures
care mistakes
Waterlogging is poorly tolerated
Like all plants, bamboo is very sensitive to waterlogging. Yellow leaves can quickly form. If nothing is done about it, it won't be long before the bamboo dies.
So if waterlogging occurs, action must be taken as soon as possible. There are now various options.
When planting in a tub, the following must be observed:
- Constant control of the water drain for blockages
- Immediate repotting in case of already existing damage
- Use of loose, sandy and humus-rich substrate
- Check the roots, removing diseased and rotten parts
- Cover the drainage holes of the bucket with potsherds
- Then fill in a 15 cm high drainage layer made of expanded clay or clay granules
- Cover the drainage layer with fleece
- Then fill up new plant substrate and insert trimmed bamboo
- Pour everything lightly. Normally, healthy leaves will soon sprout again.
When planting bamboo in the garden, it is important to remove the soil and lay drainage if waterlogging occurs. To do this, the plants must be taken out of the ground. The roots should dry slightly. The potting soil is then mixed with gravel and sand to avoid waterlogging again.
tip: So-called hill plantings with bamboo are particularly good in the garden. This is planted slightly elevated on a sand-soil mixture.
Nutrient deficiencies lead to chlorosis
When planting bamboo, the supply of nutrients must never be neglected. Only the right composition of the required nutrients ensures a magnificent growth of these evergreen plants.
- Nutrient deficiencies result in chlorophyll deficiencies in leaves
- Consequence: yellowing of the leaves, while the pathways remain green
- Deficiency of iron, magnesium and nitrogen causes chlorosis disease
- a single watering with iron fertilizer, for example Fetrilon, will help
- Usually repetition necessary in the following year
Other causes for the development of chlorosis are also possible, such as:
- Incorrect soil conditions, such as salinity due to over-fertilization
- excessive lime content in the soil
fertilization
In order to prevent a lack of nutrients in bamboo, fertilization should be carried out all year round, except in winter during the rest period. The special bamboo fertilizer Toolisan is recommended here.
tip: When applying fertilizers, these must be calculated precisely. Over-fertilization also leads to damage, such as yellowing of the leaves. The only remedy here is a complete earth exchange.
Don't forget to water
Since the evergreen plants have a lush mass of foliage, watering is necessary all year round, even in winter. A lack of water usually causes the leaves to curl up, but also brown leaf tips can be a sign of this. This process reduces the evaporation surface and lowers the natural protection of the plants.
- sufficient watering in dry and warm weather and before long periods of frost
- watering necessary on frost-free days in winter to avoid drying damage
- Watering during the summer always in the early morning hours or in the evening
- less watering of older plants, where roots have already penetrated into deeper regions of the earth
- Young plants during growth phase need more water
Sometimes there is also the possibility that just freshly planted bamboo gets brown and yellow leaves. This process is called plant shock designated. Plenty of water can be helpful here.
tip: Please note that regular watering of the plants also flushes out nutrients. It is therefore important to always intervene to compensate.
pests
Normally, the bamboo is quite robust against pests and diseases. Nevertheless, it can happen that mealybugs and mealybugs, for example, settle under the culm sheaths of the plants. These lead to brown and yellow leaves. Constant monitoring is therefore necessary.
- Always dispose of diseased leaves in the household waste
- Shower affected plants with nettle manure for several days
- Use a mixture of potash soap or acaricide as an alternative
- Plentiful watering and the setting up of blue glue boards help preventively
However, “natural insect police” such as ladybugs, predatory mites, hoverflies, wasps, ground beetles or ants can provide better protection. They like to be found in a natural cultivation in the garden.