As an evergreen plant, bamboo leaves retain their color even in winter. The bamboo only sheds some of the old leaves in spring when the new ones sprout. But leaf fall can also be an indication that the plant is not doing well and is drying up. Recognize and treat drought damage in good time.

What to do if your bamboo:

  • has more dry than green leaves
  • leaf tips turn brown
  • gets completely dry stalks

It should be said in advance: Like all evergreen plants, bamboo also loses leaves continuously from late autumn. He doesn't throw it off all at once. But in doing so, it rids itself of exactly those leaves that it no longer needs - namely the foliage that no longer gets enough light for photosynthesis!

This dropping of leaves is quite normal for the plant and the solution to the problem is simple. Cut dry, pale bamboo stems as low as possible. So that the others get enough light again. When you thin the bamboo, the inside of the plant stays green as well. You can also shorten the tips. Then even more light gets inside and ensures sufficient photosynthesis.

Recognize and treat drought damage in good time

On the other hand, you can tell whether it is dry damage that requires quick action by looking at these 3 types of damage:

  • Dried leaves: If individual leaves lose their color and fall off, this is not a problem, because new ones will form when new shoots appear in spring.
  • Dried, pale and sallow culms are also replaced by new culms from the root when new growth occurs. Simply cut off the dried stems.
  • Dried roots can cause the actual, but rare, complete damage to bamboo. This mainly happens when the bamboo overwinters outside in the tub or when the bamboo is planted in late autumn and has not taken root sufficiently before the winter cold. The result: stunted new shoots in spring or the bamboo dies.

Prevent cold drought and winter drought

Many of the bamboo varieties available from us tolerate winter temperatures down to - 25° degrees. The cold usually does not bother the hardy bamboo varieties. But the cold drought or winter drought all the more! As an evergreen plant, bamboo evaporates moisture even in winter. If it cannot resupply itself with water from the frozen soil, it will suffer drought damage. Normally the bamboo does not freeze to death, but dries up because its roots die!

As a rule, each bamboo needs 3 to 5 years to properly root in the location. Only after this time does it reach its specified winter hardiness. This means you have to water the bamboo additionally. Even on frost-free winter days.

tips and tricks

Give your bamboo a chance - no matter how dried up it looks! Because bamboo is extremely regenerative. Even at a very sad, dried up sight, there is still life in the plant. Cut dead stalks down to the ground. Do not worry! In spring, new leaves will sprout and your bamboo will unfold its graceful beauty and elegance again.

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Herbs