Ask the Expert: Hi,

I have a question about caring for my lucky bamboo plant.  I have had the plant for 2 and a half years, and the branch has gotten so large that it cannot even stand up straight anymore because of the weight.  It seems like the base node of the stalk is too thin to support it, though it is green and looks healthy.  What would you recommend?  Should I try to find some kind of wooden pole for support.  Your advice is highly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Alaina Kiskaddon

Plant Expert Reply:

Lucky bamboo stalks that are flimsy because they are too long need to be topped.  This gives you a great opportunity to create new stalks.

Before you top your lucky bamboo, you will need a few things: a sharp knife, rooting hormone, a container for the new stalks, and a water mist bottle.  I recommend using distilled water with lucky bamboo, but you can use tap water. If you use tap water it will need to aerate it overnight  before you use it.

Once you have assembled your tools, determine how short you want your existing stalk to be after you top it.  Now find a node close to the height you want the stalk to be.  The node is the raised ring on the lucky bamboo stalk.  Cut the lucky bamboo stalk off an inch above the node.  The part that is still attached to the roots will form new leaves and the part (top) that is left will become a new lucky bamboo stalk.  Dip the cut end of the top in rooting hormone and let dry.  When the rooting hormone has dried, place it in the new container filled with water.

In a couple of weeks the top will develop roots.  In a few weeks the existing stalk will form leaves. However, to help the leaves form you new leaves you will need to mist the stalks.  Start misting the stalk a couple of days after you have topped it.  Mist it once or twice a day until the leaves form.

You can create new stalks any time by repeating the process. Good luck and keep me posted.

Picture of a lucky bamboo node.

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo

Yellowing Lucky Bamboo

I have a Lucky Bamboo and it was doing fine. All of a sudden the leaves have turned brown and are limp. It has stopped growing in height also. I have made sure that it doesn’t dry out. We have well water here and I was wondering if there could be something in that, and this is why the plant is now this way, or is it possible that it has outgrown its container?
Any suggestions???? BARB

Plant Expert Reply:

Do you keep the jar filled with water?  If you are only watering evey few days, the lack of water would be the porblem.  Lucky bamboo grown in water needs at least 3inches of water at all times.  The problem is more likely a fluoride problem. Believe it or not private well water oftem contains fluoride which can cause yellowing in lucky bamboo.  I suggests you pour some of your well water into a container with a wide mouth and let it set over night.  The fluoride will evaporate during this period.  You can then use it to water your lucky bamboo.   I also suggest cutting the tops opf your lucky bamboo off  - the stalks will create new leaves.

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Ask the Expert: Why is my lucky bamboo yellowing and droopy
My 5yr old lucky bamboo is in a small pot glued in under pebbles and can’t be repotted.  It’s leaves used to stand straight up, but over the last month, it’s leaves have begun to yellow and are now yellowing rapidly.
The stalks are still dark green, but the leaves are drooping badly.  Can I save my plant? Jan

Plant Expert Reply:

All good this come to an end and so has your lucky bamboo and it’s container.  The container no longer gives the lucky bamboo what it needs - a good home.

I suggest you propagate new lucky bamboo stalks.  To do this you will need rooting hormone (a powdery substance from your local garden center), a new container, a sharp knife and some distilled water.  Begin by locating a node (raised ring on the stem of you lucky bamboo stalk) that is half way up the stalk.  Now take the knfie and cut the stalk at a 45degree angle about an inch above the node.  Now you have a top with no roots and a bottom with no leaves.

Take the top and dip the cut side in rooting hormone.  Wait any where from 2 hours to 24hours and place the top in the new container with water. In a couple of weeks, this stalk will form roots and you will have a new plant.

Usually the bottom will develop new leaves beside the cut.  However since the container is small and glued in this may not occur.  I would still give it a try.  Beginning 2 days after cutting, start misting the plant twice a day.  Do this until you see new shoots for on the sides of the cut.

Once you have roots and leaves treat your plants as you did before you propagated them.  Good Luck and Keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: What is the name of this plant/flower?

Pinnate Leaves & Blooms

The growth habit is erect.  It’s leaves are pinnate, in an alternate arrangement, they are oval, scalloped, have an uneven base and a blunt tip.  I live in zone 3, southern Alberta Canada.  Shelly

Plant Expert Reply:

Can you tell me a little more about this plant.  I am having trouble
identifying it.  It could be Agastache (hyssops) or Sanguisorba (burnet) or something in the mint family.  Does it have a scent? Are they growing in a high and dry environment or a low boggy environment?  In sun or shade?  The bloom-like structure in the picture - fresh or a spent bloom?

Once I get the answers to these questions, I should be able to pinpoint the
id.

Lucky Bamboo Pot Option

Ask the Expert: Re-plant my Lucky Bamboo
As you can see from the pictures my lucky bamboo plant has (I think) all but outgrown its original glass planter.
I would like to re-plant it in the new planter (see picture).
Will it look okay in this new planter?
Can I use rocks to fill it (along with the small pebbles it came with) and if so what kind of rocks I should use?
Clean and wash them?
What else do I need to be aware of?
Thanks
JD

Plant Expert Reply:

I think the lucky bamboo will look fine in the crytal shoe.  You have two options: 1) You can place river rock pebbles in the container.  You will need to wash the rock first with warm soapy water and then rinse them before placing them in the shoe. 2) Don’t place any pebbles in the container - I have had lucky bamboo in a vase without pebbles.

When you transfer the lucky bamboo use distilled water.  You might lightly prine the roots at this time. The lucky bamboo may go into transplant shock for a couple of weeks. Don’t panic just let it be and it will come out of it.

Ask the Expert: Lucky Jello?

Lucky Bamboo Roots

My Lucky Bamboo was a birthday present from my mother almost 3 years ago. I guess I never really looked at the plant, but today I noticed a gelatinous substance in the roots. Also my plant has stopped absorbing water as often. . .

Lucky Bamboo With Gelatinous Substance

Plant Expert Reply:

Your plant may have come with water crystals ( a polyacrylamide substance that helps retain water).  These crystals absorb water so that later they can release water when the plant needs it.  I don’t know why some lucky bamboo sellers do this - it is unnecessary.  After all the lucky bamboo is in water.  The crystals shouldn’t cause a problem.

However if the substance seems more organic or has a bad odor, decaying material may be the problem.  The rooting plant material may have caused a fungus which will cause problems with the lucky bamboo stalks.

Either way you can get rid of the gelatin-like substance by washing the roots.  It may also be a good time to prune the roots or move the stalks into a larger containers. Before you place the stalks back in the container, test all the stalks making sure that they are all firm.  Remove any stalk that feels soft. This way if any disease has occurred, you will be removing it.

If your plant looks healthy, I wouldn’t worry to much about the water intake.  It could be related to a humidity factor in the environment.

Ask The Expert: lucky bamboo i just bought isin a “pot” (more like a glass) about 5-6″ high.  It has rocks init. You can\’t see through the container, so how do I know how much water to keep in the plant. do i just keep it so i can feel it at the top of the rocks ?

Plant Expert Reply:

You will want to keep the water level at least an inch or so above the rocks.  It is acceptable to fill your container half full of water.  You will want to keep this level all of the time. Depending on the hum idity of your room, you may have to add water every couple of days.

Keep in mind, lucky bamboo likes water but doesn’t like the chemicals - chlorine and fluoride.  So you will need to use distilled water or you will need to leave your water in an open container, for a minimu of overnight and up to 24hrs, before you place it in your lucky bamboo container.

To help with humidity, you can mist the air around your lucky bamboo every so often.

Good Luck and Keep me posted.

Schefflera

Octopus Plant

I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of plant this is so that I can look up more information on the care of this plant. Thank you. Tammy

Plant Expert Reply:
This plant goes by many names Brassia arboricola, arboricola, schefflera, octopus plant and umbrella plant. We have great schefflera care instructions for this plant in our flower gallery.

Ask the Expert: Bamboo Plants
I have a small top vase with 3 curly Bamboo plants, they have been beautiful for the 3 years that I have had them. I recently bought some orange glass disks to put them in to match the new colors in my kitchen. They started turning yellow, and the smaller new leaves were falling off.

Thanks,
Wanda Graham

Plant Expert Reply:
You may need to clean the container as well, just in case the discs had a residue that affect the lucky bamboo.

Any time you add elements such as pebbles, glass discs, rocks, etc. to your lucky bamboo container, you need to wash them first. Why? Because, you want to make sure they do not have any chemical residue on them that might harm the lucky bamboo. So I suggest you first let the lucky bamboo recover from it’s trauma. You can then wash the discs with soapy water, rinse them thoroughly and then place them in the lucky bamboo container.

You might check to see if the discs you purchased are safe for plants especially lucky bamboo. Not all pebbles, rocks or decorative discs are safe to use in aquatic situations. So check before you place your discs back in with the lucky bamboo.