Phyllostachys aurea dying? Help?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:20 am
Hey,
I recently got a Phyllostachys Aurea, golden bamboo. I have it potted and indoors next to a window. It's the first time I've tried taking care of bamboo, let alone a plant, and I'm having a hell of a time. I purchased a water meter and have been making sure that it reads moist and not wet and got a package of slow release fertilizer for it. Despite this the tips of the leaves began to turn brown.
I read it could be from overwatering, fertilizer burn, or even just from tap water. So, I stopped watering it till the leaves began to curl so I could water it again with room temperature filtered water that has been left out to get any cholorine out but then I noticed an aphid infestation. Never knew what aphids were they multiplied pretty bad. I purchased some insecticide a few days ago, got rid of the aphids, then removed the bamboo from the pot and left it out to dry out in the event I gave it too much water as the meter kept reading "moist" even after a few days.
Now through all of that, some leaves have brown/dark areas on them and the stems holding the leaves are turning yellow/brown. The stalks are still green themselves. Some older and even some newer leaves are wilting.
I feel like I may have gotten in over my head when deciding to try and take care of a bamboo plant. I stuck the meter into the soil and it read dry, so I thought maybe this was caused by a combination of damage from the aphids and a lack of water. I gave it just enough water to where it barely reads "moist" on the water meter.
I figure people here know way better than me what I'm currently doing wrong. Does anyone know where I'm going wrong and what my next step in taking care of this plant should be? Thanks!
I recently got a Phyllostachys Aurea, golden bamboo. I have it potted and indoors next to a window. It's the first time I've tried taking care of bamboo, let alone a plant, and I'm having a hell of a time. I purchased a water meter and have been making sure that it reads moist and not wet and got a package of slow release fertilizer for it. Despite this the tips of the leaves began to turn brown.
I read it could be from overwatering, fertilizer burn, or even just from tap water. So, I stopped watering it till the leaves began to curl so I could water it again with room temperature filtered water that has been left out to get any cholorine out but then I noticed an aphid infestation. Never knew what aphids were they multiplied pretty bad. I purchased some insecticide a few days ago, got rid of the aphids, then removed the bamboo from the pot and left it out to dry out in the event I gave it too much water as the meter kept reading "moist" even after a few days.
Now through all of that, some leaves have brown/dark areas on them and the stems holding the leaves are turning yellow/brown. The stalks are still green themselves. Some older and even some newer leaves are wilting.
I feel like I may have gotten in over my head when deciding to try and take care of a bamboo plant. I stuck the meter into the soil and it read dry, so I thought maybe this was caused by a combination of damage from the aphids and a lack of water. I gave it just enough water to where it barely reads "moist" on the water meter.
I figure people here know way better than me what I'm currently doing wrong. Does anyone know where I'm going wrong and what my next step in taking care of this plant should be? Thanks!