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I think my new Dwarf Buddha Belly is dying... any tips?

Posted: Mon May 28, 2018 12:42 am
by Bamboonewbie
This is my first time doing anything related to gardening. I recently planted a dwarf Buddha Belly that was in a 25 gallon container. It was very healthy looking in the container. I plant it and less than 2 days later it was getting very yellow. I thought I might have under watered it and have been making sure the soil is always moist. I live in Hawaii.

I think the yellowing has slowed down, but now a few branches look white or dead. I planted the bamboo in a mix of miracle grow all purpose garden soil and the soil in my backyard. I have not added fertilizer yet because I want to confirm what the issue was first.

Any tips for novice on how to get my plant healthy?

Here is a link to a video of the plant in question.

https://youtu.be/_-7GwoRZolY

Re: I think my new Dwarf Buddha Belly is dying... any tips?

Posted: Mon May 28, 2018 10:44 pm
by needmore
Greetings, it sounds like it may have been allowed to get too dry, even once will cause the leaves to drop. Same species for me (assuming yours is B ventricosa) dropped all leaves on two plants when I dug them up and potted them, I know they did not get too dry they really seemed to hate being messed with. I just kept them fed and watered, now they are fine.

Re: I think my new Dwarf Buddha Belly is dying... any tips?

Posted: Tue May 29, 2018 7:11 am
by Glen
I am pretty sure your plant is Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin', and I agree completely with Brad about the problem. Maintain consistent moisture, and it should recover.

It is fine, and probably helpful, to fertilize. Almost any high nitrogen fertilizer will work.

Re: I think my new Dwarf Buddha Belly is dying... any tips?

Posted: Tue May 29, 2018 8:43 am
by Bamboonewbie
Thank you. It is Wamin. It isn’t doing any worse. Hopefully, it will slowly recover. I think putting it in the ground was just stressful.

Thanks again. It was an expensive plant and I was worried I was doing something wrong. It went from a very healthy looking plant to yellow in less than 48 hours.

Re: I think my new Dwarf Buddha Belly is dying... any tips?

Posted: Tue May 29, 2018 10:34 am
by dependable
Since you said you're new to gardening, I'll add to Glen's advice to not overdo it with the fertilizer & follow instructions on container. A little too little is better than a little too much. Osmocote is a safe way to fertilize potted plants, esp those not meant for consumption.

Re: I think my new Dwarf Buddha Belly is dying... any tips?

Posted: Tue May 29, 2018 1:32 pm
by needmore
For clarity, I'd use some form of manure rather than manufactured fertilizer, it will help to attract those giant Hawaiian snakes :wink: to the area and they'll be helpful.