Help! Why is it turning brown? Too much water? Not enough...
6ft to light, indirect
4โ pot without drainage
Last watered 3 days ago
8
My guess is being root bound or not having any enough drainage holes in that ceramic pot of yours,
Lucky bamboo grows fast so you can still save this guy, just give it some bigger pots with enough room and water when only half the soil in the pot is dry, you can check via the finger test.
I would also recomemd just to snip of a cutting know just as insurance too which can then be given away as a gift
Lucky bamboo grows fast so you can still save this guy, just give it some bigger pots with enough room and water when only half the soil in the pot is dry, you can check via the finger test.
I would also recomemd just to snip of a cutting know just as insurance too which can then be given away as a gift
Hi Krista, how close is your plant to the window? One good test to place your arm next to the plant facing the window. Leave your arm there from about a minute if the heat is too much on your arm itโs too much on the plant. I would gently prune off all the dead foliage. They are not going to come back. You may also want to repot the plant. It could be pot bound. Put it in fresh soil and larger pot and make sure it has adequate drainage. Good luck. ๐๏ฟผ
@BeefyDewberry63 Hi Krista yes to much water can cause this along with not enough water. Then as @Malagueรฑa said about sunlight and how much . They canโt take direct sun at all hot or not . Iโm not so sure about it being root bound though. How long have you had it ? Iโd start by pruning the brown leaves off and going from there. But transplanting right now would probably send it into shock creating new issues. Please show pictures of stalk after pruning.
What type of soil are you using? I use small River rocks and keep it in water full time and it loves it. I also keep mine in about the same lighting as yours. Have you changed anything recently? To make it look better you should trim the dead or dying leaves so the plant can recover and focus energy on those still living leaves rather than the already dead ones. I hope this helps. If you have any questions let me know! ๐
Your Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) has healthy green upper leaves, so it can definitely recover with a quick tune-up. The lower yellow and brown crispy leaves are classic signs of under-watering/drought stress, light sensitivity, or mineral buildup (fluoride/chlorine from tap water).
Step 1: Clean and Prune
1. Remove dead leaves: Gently peel or snip away all completely dry, brown, and yellow foliage at the base of the stalks. This stops mold risks and improves air circulation.
2. Check the stems: Feel the main stalks. If they are firm and green, the plant is solid. If any stem feels soft, mushy, or completely yellowed all the way through, snip that specific stalk out entirely.
Step 2: Fix the Water & Medium
Check the pot setup: Ensure the roots are adequately submerged or planted. If growing in water, change the water completely every 1โ2 weeks and keep roots fully covered. If growing in soil/pebbles, keep it consistently moist, but ensure the novelty planter has adequate drainage so water doesn't pool and stagnate at the bottom.
Switch water sources: Dracaena are notoriously sensitive to tap water additive chemicals (chlorine, fluoride, and salts), which cause severe leaf-tip burn and browning. Switch to distilled water, RO (reverse osmosis), or rainwater.
Step 3: Adjust Light & Location
Bright, indirect light: Move it to a spot with plenty of ambient filtered light. Keep it out of harsh direct sunlight, which scorches the foliage rapidly.
Avoid drafts: Keep away from direct heat vents or cold air drafts.
Step 1: Clean and Prune
1. Remove dead leaves: Gently peel or snip away all completely dry, brown, and yellow foliage at the base of the stalks. This stops mold risks and improves air circulation.
2. Check the stems: Feel the main stalks. If they are firm and green, the plant is solid. If any stem feels soft, mushy, or completely yellowed all the way through, snip that specific stalk out entirely.
Step 2: Fix the Water & Medium
Check the pot setup: Ensure the roots are adequately submerged or planted. If growing in water, change the water completely every 1โ2 weeks and keep roots fully covered. If growing in soil/pebbles, keep it consistently moist, but ensure the novelty planter has adequate drainage so water doesn't pool and stagnate at the bottom.
Switch water sources: Dracaena are notoriously sensitive to tap water additive chemicals (chlorine, fluoride, and salts), which cause severe leaf-tip burn and browning. Switch to distilled water, RO (reverse osmosis), or rainwater.
Step 3: Adjust Light & Location
Bright, indirect light: Move it to a spot with plenty of ambient filtered light. Keep it out of harsh direct sunlight, which scorches the foliage rapidly.
Avoid drafts: Keep away from direct heat vents or cold air drafts.