Sick aurea?

[bamboozal]

I've been monitoring my Aurea for the last couple of weeks now and I think it has caught something. The leaves have black spots and the plant just looks unhealthy. New leaves start out rather promising, green and crisp but after awhile, the edges start to yellow/brown and these spots start showing up.



Anyone knows what it could be?

[rfgpitt]

I would first question the amount of moisture it receives. Could the roots be constantly wet?

[Roy]

I've been monitoring my Aurea for the last couple of weeks now and I think it has caught something. The leaves have black spots and the plant just looks unhealthy. New leaves start out rather promising, green and crisp but after awhile, the edges start to yellow/brown and these spots start showing up.
...snip image....

Anyone knows what it could be?

Is this plant in the ground or in a pot?

[bamboozal]

There is a distinct possibility that it's a little too damp. After the record heatwave, we've had LOTS of rain in the last 3-4 weeks.
The plant is in a pot (suspect no. 1 on the extreme left) identical to the other pots in the picture. The other Aureas seem to be doing well though.

[Roy]

There is a distinct possibility that it's a little too damp. After the record heatwave, we've had LOTS of rain in the last 3-4 weeks.
The plant is in a pot (suspect no. 1 on the extreme left) identical to the other pots in the picture. The other Aureas seem to be doing well though.
...snip image...

Looking at your pots. How does your plants gets any aeration? I don't see any holes on the bottom side and the bottom holes are flat against their stands. I think you are on the right track with the idea of too much water remaining in the pot and not enough aeration.

[Eastlandia]

The bamboo in my pond spillway sometimes gets the same leave pattern. It doesn't change colors that bad anymore tho...i think its adapting. My condition was caused my water for too long. The water in the spillway just sits cause its flat. -eastlandia

[bamboozal]

The commentator's curse has struck again. Taking advantage of the good weather this morning, I inspected the other Aureas and suspects no. 2 & 3 are beginning to show signs of black spotting.
The pots do have holes on the underside and drain rather well, but it would appear not well enough for the Aureas liking. Well, back to the drawing board...
Thanks for the rapid diagnosis!

[CJW]

I've been monitoring my Aurea for the last couple of weeks now and I think it has caught something. The leaves have black spots and the plant just looks unhealthy. New leaves start out rather promising, green and crisp but after awhile, the edges start to yellow/brown and these spots start showing up.



Anyone knows what it could be?

Tip burn caused by excess HOT fertilizer... You use chiken manure? The blackening looks like it could be ?Mildew?.. More photos plz. It is difficult to tell what you got going here.
Moisture problem will cause the leaves to droop downwards.

[satx78218]

I have Ph. nigra, henon, and Semi. fastuosa in 19-gal containers, and have a hard time keeping them looking healthy and vigorous. I doubt I've burned them with too much fert, but they drain so well and I water them so much in summer that any excess fert should have been rinsed out by now. They are all alive and growing, but none of them as vigorously and as healthily as my magnificent Ph vivax in the ground. They all have discolored leaves after a first year of perfectly green leaves. I'll have to put them out of their misery and into the ground.

This summer, I've put a lot of 20-2-20 and water on that 2-year-old vivax, and it looks fantastic, and has been shooting continuously, if still a bushy clump, from spring through now.

I'm sure growing 100% healthy boo in (big) containers can be done well, but I think it's a lot more touchy than in the ground.

[serenityinbamboo]

I guess multiple posts is one way to build your thread Must of had error bug also?!

I use a 6-6-6 fertilizer and SUPERthrive on my potted boo, with 2-3 waterings per day and they look and grow great. That is my opinion only

[rfgpitt]

The first one to go might have had a little more water than the others, and by the picture, it might not lose as much water from the wind being the closest to the house and or cover?

I would think if it were a "hot" fertilizer, there would have been a rapid change to dark green just before it began to turn to its current state.

Keep us posted bamboozal,

[CJW]

The first one to go might have had a little more water than the others, and by the picture, it might not lose as much water from the wind being the closest to the house and or cover?

I would think if it were a "hot" fertilizer, there would have been a rapid change to dark green just before it began to turn to its current state.

Keep us posted bamboozal,

Well, failing the "hot fert" therory, too much water, or boggy soil, thinking back to my first days of bamboo is possible. Fertilizer such as 20,20,20 can cause tip burn without causing total leaf discolouration, but in this case now that more info is out, I am thinking you got boggy or poorly airating soil just as others are pointing out.

[bamboozal]

Rick,
I was just thinking the same thing about aurea no. 1 being too close to the house and more sheltered than the rest. I've moved it to a sunnier and less sheltered spot today and I'll see how that goes. Thanks again!

[foxd]

I have a Buddha Belly that's leaves have started doing something similar. I also spotted a millipede in the pot which makes me suspect I am probably facing another millipede outbreak. I have read that millipedes will eat tender roots, which would explain some observations from last year.

Have you noticed any millipedes lurking around your aurea? Usually it will be case case that you will find a big one, then a few days later there will be hundreds of tiny ones crawling around in the soil.

I really hate those millipede infested Tree of Heaven next door.

[mito0]

my bissetii has exactly the same problem (mine's in a half whiskey barrel). i was going to post on here to ask about it, but you beat me to it.


i think my bissetii's roots may be getting too congested, so i'm wondering if that's causing it to have poor water drainage. the barrel itself has several drainage holes in the bottom covered with wire mesh and pea pebbles, and the soil drains very quickly, so i'm not sure what else could be the problem.

what's the best way/time to do some rhizome pruning?