Moso seedling leaf tip die-back

[Agrobambu]

Hi everybody

Í'm sending pics of Moso resulted from my last seedling. What's happening?

[Dean W.]

Agrobambu,

How much do you water? Could it be your watering too much?

Dean

[Agrobambu]

Hi Dean!

This is the first question everybody asks me :). Answer: I have many packs with moso seedling and I have tested all situations with different watering, from low to high water amount. Makes no difference in this case, the leaves becomes yellow with little, medium or to much water. I suppose may be some fungus or other. Now I'm tryng to change the packs(100g)where they are to another pot 1/2 kg(bigger). The seed are coming from a covered box where they germinate.
Well, thanks about your suggestion! Send me other tips. Will be well received.
Bye,
Ene

[Dean W.]

Hi Ene,

I had the same problem on some Dracaenas, though not bamboo the leaf burn looked the same. I asked around, some told me there was a build up of salt in the soil from tap water. I repotted and leached the soil heavily w/ distilled water to no avail. A nurseryman told me it was a fungus caused by too much watering. He recommended I water less and use a Copper Soap Fungicide spray.

Good Luck,
Dean

[Agrobambu]

Hi Dean

Yes! This information is the same that I had from peoples of nurseries were I had contacted. I did the same. I re-potted some moso and others to observe, but I did that only 6 days ago. Have no time yet to see positive results or not. But I think that you are right. The soil over the original packs have white points all together, like a colony. Will be important to use this fungicide that you recommend. I had used this copper sulfite solution frequently, over adults bamboos.
Thanks! I will send you news about this.
Bye,
Ene
Agobambu-CF&T

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Ene.
Yes, sometimes this can be the result of an excess or deficiency in soil nutrients etc.
Also Moso - Phyllostachys edulis AKA P. pubescens prefers soil that is acidic.

I have read articles that put the PH range anywhere from 5 to 6.5

Also to consider is the irrigation water ... Is it alkaline or acidic?

Does it contain high amounts of chlorine or chloramine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine)?

I personally don't think this is a fungus problem, but this is just an opinion.

Mark

[Agrobambu]

Mark
Probably you are right too. But I'm sure that I have problems with fungus on the soil. When I change the substrata this problem disappears (with others propagules). But have too many factors when talking about plants from seeds, especially Moso.
Your information is good about pH. I will pay attention next time. This soil I'm using now is the same I had used with other bamboos (only screened). I can test pH to see if it is in 5/6.5.-
These plants are in the city and here I'm using water from public service, but on my ground where I have others bamboos and the nursery I'm using water from artesian well (55 m deep)- Pure potable water- and mostly, water from the lake (pH???) or from rain stored in a cistern going after to a adequate plastic container. pH?????- I will answer next time...
To be continued.
Bye,
Ene

[bambookid524]

This problem is from too much sun light. Seedlings can't handle too much.

This happened with a few of mine so what i did was covered it so sunlight doesn't hit it as much, only in morning and evenings.

[ocimum_nate]

I also had the problem with my moso seedlings at first the problem is a micronutrient deficiency I found that adding some chelated iron, copper and zinc made the problem go away and made the plants much greener and healthier. You can find these without nitrogen in most garden centers typically they are sold as acidifiers or liquid iron. http://www.evergreenofjohnsoncity.com/images/Product%20&%20Company%20Logos/LiquidIron%202.jpg
Any how I have also noticed that bamboo seedlings need some silica added to the mix to add this and create good drainage I will typically add about 25 % sand to my potting mix.

[R e x]

Hello! Let me share my experience with leaves tipping/dying-back.

Out of my 3 seedlings, 2 of them grew funny looking leaves like the ones in your pictures. After they put their up 4th leaves, they stopped producing weird leaves. Basically, as my seedlings got older they started producing much healthier leaves. In addition to this, as my seedlings grow taller their lowest leaves turn brown and fall off. This is happening to all 3 so I think it's normal.