I have a similar problem with my bamboo. I had five shoots of bamboo and were growing beautifully, but then the shoots became yellow with yellow leaves; I guess they died. I did nothing different. What happened?

suegibson-
That's an unusual set of symptoms and an answer is not obvious. Two things I can think of are:
1) Watering. I know you think it's is properly watered, but have you checked it with a moisture meter? And how is this container set up? Does it have drainage?

2) Voles. This is a long shot, but voles can seriously damage bamboo that seems to be healthy. They tunnel down and eat the roots. Bamboo do not typically suffer terminal damage from diseases or other pests.

Diana-
Are you talking about a potted bamboo or one in the ground...or those stems in a vase which are called "Lucky Bamboo", but are not really bamboo?

At this time of the year in WA it could easily be seasonal drying of the soil. Plants in tubs will also not be able to go on indefinitely in the same soil without it being kept well fertilized and watered, and periodically replaced in some way like shaving the roots and packing new soil around the edge.

Although bamboos often stick to the pot walls and are hard to get out of the pots, especially after becoming crowded. You may have to destroy the container in order to get the plant out, and then use a new container to re-pot it with fresh soil.

I am having the same weird problem. Two 8-yr-old clumps of golden bamboo (Phyllostachys spectabilis) in my Seattle yard are also dropping hundreds of their new, green spikes of leaves--unopened--and the tops of the newest canes are stunted, soft, and breaking off. Canes less than full height are turning flaccid and dying back to the ground. Old leaves are turning yellow and dropping while others are still green and healthy. There are no rolled or wrinkled leaves indicating that the soil is too dry. An adjacent clump of black bamboo nearby looks normal.

I gave everything a good soaking yesterday even though the soil wasn't particularly dry within the root barriers. Wait and see are next.

I have no idea what stressed the golden bamboo so badly, but it was something very recent, judging by the full formation of the first spring canes and the dieback of the later growth. Maybe a family of voles moved in last month after my neighbor finally mowed his knee-high grass. Maybe it's the weird weather.

If anyone else is having similar problems, I would like to hear about it.

Yes I have had the same problem and my friend has also- seemingly healthy bamboo that have been in large containers and healthy are all turning yellow - they are in separate parts of my yard too. It happened so quickly- wondering if there is anything to do besides watering?