Droopy and sick?

[Tifa333]

Good morning!
I'm new to the forum, but I already searched for my problem, so please excuse me if this post may be redundant.

Here's my problem:
I have a lucky bamboo that I've been taking care of at my office for a little over a year. It's been doing really well and grown quite a bit, but recently it has been looking a little droopy, with quite a few of the leaves developing browning dry tips.

Also, the shoots at the bottom that are the smallest have a few yellow leaves around the edges that are really soft like noodles and almost brown. The stalks are still very green and strong and the new leaves are very firm and green, though a little pale.

One other thing is that the water smelled REALLY bad this morning. Like sulphur. I rinsed all the rocks and the roots in cool filtered water and now it smells a little better, but I'm worried that my plant is sick.
Is any of this normal?

I've heard that some of the leaves will die and fall off normally, but it hasn't done that before, nor smelled like a rotten egg.
Help! I love this plant and I really want it to thrive. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[chako]

Hello!

It´s hard to say, what´s wrong with your Bamboo. Of course, it´s normal, that some leaves are getting brown! I cut them off usually or I wait until they fall down themselve. Dry tips of the leaves can be a sign of to much or to less fertilizer.

Maybe this problem is caused by the changing into the cold season with lower light, but I don´t know, from where are you from!?

The bad smelling water is more serious. Try to pot your Luckies into hydroponics, maybe this could help.

It would be easier if we can get a look at your Luckies. Please read this Posting, if you don´t know how to attach a picture to a posting!

[Guest]

So it turned out that one of the stalks was dead and turned bright yellow. That was the stench. I removed it and took out the rocks and rinsed them over and over in hot water till they smelled normal.
That was two days ago. Since, the tother three stalks seem fine and have had no returning odor. I'll try to post some pics here so you can see the three remaining stalks.

[chako]

I´m happy, that your bamboos are doing well now!

The dry tips are normal! I think your bamboos have to less fertilizer, if you "feed" them only with water since over a year. Try to give a little hydroponic fertilizer. But use a more lower dose, than the package insert recommends and be sure that it´s a real hydroponic fertilizer!
If you use a fertilizer for soil-potted plants, you will get really bad mould!

If you want to do a favor to me, please remove this wire! I hate tied up plants!
A little space between the stalks can prevent against sickness of them!

Also I propose to read this Posting for further using of this board!

I´m looking forward to read news from your plants!

[Tifa333]

Thanks so much for the help. I will try the fertilizer and let you know how my lucky is doing!

[Tifa333]

Hi, again!
So was looking up fertilizer online and there are a MILLION sites for hydroponic fertilizer. I have no idea which one to go to or what to buy. Does anyone know which ones are reputable and which brands/types to buy. I assume I won't need much, so I prefer not to buy a giant bag/jug of it.

Thanks!

[chako]

Most of my Luckies are potted in soil but I got some in a kind of hydroponics. It´s called “Seramis”. It looks like cat litter and it´s really expensive but it seems that the Bamboos like it! I also use the hydroponics-fertilizer of this company (Also very expensive!)
But you are right, there are millions of suppliers for hydroponics-fertilizer.
I think you should choose one of the cheapest because the basic elements of the fertilizers are nearly the same in each product.
Maybe you can tell us, what product you have chosen and which concentration is recommended for this product. Remember to begin fertilizing with a much more lower dose, than it´s recommended by the producer.
In the course of time you will get your own feeling, what is good for your bamboos.