If you are willing to add this plant to your green collection, then in this article we will share the most important information about this plant.

First of all, you should understand that lucky bamboo is not actual bamboo. The real name of this plant is Dracaena sanderiana and belongs to the Asparagaceae family.

The lucky bamboo as we know it comes from south-east Asia where the plant is associated with happiness and luck. Taking care of lucky bamboo is not very hard and can be very enjoyable once you get the hang of it.

One of the most common issues with lucky bamboo is yellowing leaves. In this article, we will focus on this problem and teach you how to revive bamboo leaves turning yellow.

How to prevent leaves from turning yellow?

The best way to prevent the leaves from turning yellow is to avoid direct sunlight and use filtered water.

There are several reasons why bamboo leaves turn yellow. Each reason has a different solution.

Overall, the solution is to choose the right space for placing the bamboo, providing suitable lighting and temperature, and watering the plant with filtered water.

Why are my bamboo leaves turning yellow?

As we mentioned, there are several reasons why the leaves turn yellow. The most common reasons are unsuitable living conditions, fluorides, and the age of the plant.Fluorides and salt in tap water are very damaging for lucky bamboo.

If the edges of the leaves start having brown tips, then you should change the water.

It is best to water a lucky bamboo with bottled water. Another very common choice for watering is distilled water. You should remember that tap water has fluoride, salt, and chloride that can burn the roots of some plants. This is the case for lucky bamboo.

Tap water causes burning roots and brownish tips of the leaves.

Overall, before having the final diagnosis, you should check if your lucky bamboo has good living conditions. There are several factors that create the best growing conditions.

Ideal growing conditions for a lucky bamboo

Just follow the next tips on how to take care of your lucky bamboo properly and your plant will thrive in no time!

1. Space

Ideally, lucky bamboo should live indoors.

Of course, you can plant the bamboo outside however, the plant prefers to be inside. Because indoors you can provide moderate lighting and temperature which is practically impossible outdoors

2. Lighting

Lucky bamboo likes indirect sunlight.

Super bright lighting might be the reason why the leaves are turning yellow. Make sure the plant is placed in a well-lit room, where it will get indirect sunlight during the day

3. Temperature

The ideal temperature for lucky bamboo ranges from 65°F to 95°F (18–35°C).

The plant does not like cold weather, that is another reason why planting it outside can be harmful to a lucky bamboo

4. Watering needs

You should water bamboo once every 7-10 days.

Make sure the soil is damp, but not overwatered. In terms of watering, lucky bamboo likes to be treated as a tropical plant. It does not require watering too often but enjoys moist soil.

If your lucky bamboo’s leaves start turning yellow, check if the living conditions.

Extra tip

Another reason for yellowing leaves is the age of the lucky bamboo.

If you are doing everything right, but the leaves still turn yellow, then it’s the age. In this case, cut off the yellow leaves and give your plant a chance to focus on healthy ones.

Can yellow bamboo leaves turn green again?

Unfortunately, yellow leaves cannot turn green again.

Thus, I advise you to cut off the yellow leaves. Otherwise, the whole stock will turn yellow and you will have to cut a bigger part of your plant.

Yellowing leaves should be a warning sign of aging or unhealthy living conditions. Once this occurs, pay more attention to your plant so you will avoid future damages.

How do you save yellowing bamboo?

First of all, determine the reason for the yellowing leaves. If it is aging, there is not much that you can do.

However, you can slow down the process by cutting the yellow leaves and stocks.

Be aware that this is not the fix and lucky bamboo will eventually die.

If the reason is unsuitable living conditions, then you can fix it by changing the location. So, remember all the recommendations and try to create the best growing conditions for your plant.

Should I cut yellow leaves off bamboo?

Yes, it is better to cut off the yellow leaves.

If you do not cut one, then others will turn yellow as well. Even if you improve the overall conditions, the yellow leaf will never turn back green.

So, the one and only option are cutting off the yellow leaves. Technically speaking, you could leave it as long as the stock is firm and hard, but in reality, the cutting works the best.

How do you revive a dying bamboo plant?

First of all, water the bamboo with filtered water and make sure the plant won’t get any harmful substances from the tap water.Secondly, relocate the plant.

If your bamboo is dying, it means that location is one of the factors. Make sure the plant is not getting direct sunlight, however, do not forget that bamboos love light spaces.

If you have your bamboo in water, then change it immediately. Algae might be the reason why lucky bamboo is dying and eliminating this harm will help to save your plant.

Most importantly, make sure the water is filtered. In case you are growing a plant in the soil, then the cause of bamboo’s bad condition might be bad drainage.

Bamboo should be in moist soil at all times, but this should not be the case of overwatering.

You might overwater your plant if the pot does not have good drainage. If you believe the pot might be the issue, then add holes on the bottom or repot the plant.

Taking care of lucky bamboo outdoors

Lucky bamboo has specific lighting and temperature needs. Therefore, it is preferred as an indoor plant. Outdoors you cannot control weather and sunlight at all times.

If you still want to grow lucky bamboo outdoors, then I recommend planting it in a pot, not in the soil. If the plant is in the pot, then you can move it around according to its needs.

Growing lucky bamboo in soil vs in water

You can grow lucky bamboo in water or in soil.

If you are purchasing a lucky bamboo, you will receive it in a container and the plant will be in the water.

If you decide to grow the plant in water, then remember to change the water every 1-1,5 months. When you have it in water, there is a risk of algae, but if you change the water regularly, then you will be eliminating this risk.

Baby lucky bamboos love water especially. That is why in the growing period of their lives it is best to provide as much water as possible.

Many gardeners decide to grow lucky bamboo in water. The growth is quicker and if you take care of the plant well, then it is an efficient option.

You can have your lucky bamboo in water for 1-1,5 years and then move it in the soil.

Plants thrive when they are in their natural environment. Most of the indoor plants are taken away from their natural habitat and our responsibility is to create similar conditions.

This is why it is best to have your lucky bamboo in the soil. While bamboos in the water last on average 5 years, in the soil it can live up to a decade.