Ask The Expert:I've had a LUCKY BAMBOO for about 6 months and it was growing like crazy. I thought it was time to repot it. Well, since then the stalks are turning yellow. I haven"t had trouble in the past. I used bottled water an small stones, like the ones it came with. I would appreciate your thoughts.  Thank you, Dianne Deis

Reply:
If you added new stones but didn't wash them first, there may have been a residue that the lucky bamboo didn't like. Was the bottled water used the same kind you always used? Some bottled waters have additives that the lucky bamboo doesn't like, which is why I normally recommend distilled water. Did you move it to a different location? Sometimes this can cause a problem. Watch your stem. If it starts to soften, you will need to propagate a new plants and throw the afflicted part away.

Ask the Expert: My question is about the Lucky Bamboo Plant
Should you remove those little gold twists ties that the plant comes with? Cindy

Reply:

If the twist ties are binding into the plant, I would remove them.  However, if they are purely decoration and not interferring in the growth of the plant I would leave them be.

Ask The Expert: i have a lucky bamboo. and had always used bottled water ,which it seemed to love. then i had slacked and was using city water and noticed it started to turn yellow. so i went and bought spring water again. it started turning more yellow.i read other concerns on this page and went and got distilled. so i have now cleaned the marbles and plant in this water. an filled it with distilled. i even checked bugs nothing.should i got off the yellow leaves? and should i cut the long stem down as well that the yellow leaves were growing off of? i did notice as well that one of the stocks was not as green its not mushy. what else can i do and how long will it take for me to notice if its doing better? Sabrina

Reply:

Lucky Bamboo is very sensitive to many chemicals and tap water has two that lucky bamboo really hates: Chlorine and Fluoride. Both of these chemicals can cause yellowing and other problems in lucky bamboo.  That is why it likes bottled water or distilled water.  You can use tap water but not fresh from the tap.  Always let it set out in an open container for 24hrs before ou use it.  At this point I would remove the yellow leaves.  Usually, once they turn yellow they won't turn back to green.  However, I would only trim your stem if it starts to go soft.  It will take a week or two before you see improvement, so keep a close eye on it for a while.  Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: how to reroot a lucky bamboo?
My lucky bamboo started to turn yellow from the bottom up and at the top there are new shoots. Can I if any way possible reroot the new shoots. It was a gift to me and it means alot, I really want to save it if at all possible. I really appreciate any advice you have! Thank You!  Kim

Reply:

You can take the top of your lucky bamboo (Draceana sanderiana) and create a new plant.  You will need rooting hormone and a sharp knife.  Take your knife and cut the top of the lucky bamboo off about an inch above a node.  The node is the raised ring on the stem of the lucky bamboo.  Now take the cut end and dip it into the rooting hormone.  Let this solution dry for a couple of hours or overnight.  Now place the cut end of the lucky bamboo in water.  You will need any where between  1 to 4" of water, depending on how long your piece of lucky bamboo is.  Be sure to keep the water level constant at all times.  In a couple of weeks you will have new roots.

You might want to read the post We aren't always lucky with lucky bamboo.  It has picture and more detailed describtion on how to propagate lucky bamboo.

Ask the Expert: height and re-potting?
My lucky bamboo has grown to about four feet tall, and I have two stalks in one vase/pot. Is there a size or height that makes it necessary to move the plant to a larger pot? KV

Reply:

The only height or size requirement for lucky bamboo is more of a stability requirement. If the lucky bamboo is causing a top heavy toppling problem, then you need a taller pot or you can to cut the top off your lucky bamboo. You can root these tops and create new plants. The only other consideration is root growth. If the roots have completely filled the container, you need to either trim the roots or get a bigger container.

My rule of thumb is happy and healthy lucky bamboo should be left alone.

If you want to trim the top out of your lucky bamboo read these posts:
Topping Lucky Bamboo
We are not always lucky with lucky bamboo - it has photos showing where to make the cut.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: I have a dracaena sanderiana that was put in direct sunlight and the leaves went all yellow.  From reading on your site, i am guessing the leaves are burned.  I was wondering if there is anything to do, or it now going to die. Tanya

Reply:

Move the Draceana sanderiana (lucky bamboo) to an area with light but not direct sunlight beating down on it.  This will give the plant a chance to recover.  Although the damage leaves may not return to a full green color, the plant should not die.   Once the plant is established in its new home, the new leaves should be a healthly green color.  Good Luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo gas emission
This morning I heard a strange sound like a gas building up and leaned my head in near where the sound was coming from–it was the plant! The next thing was a pop and all this "gas" shot out of the plant! The smell is overwhelming; it is not a putrid odor, but an extremely strong star gazer-like smell–so much so that I have closed off that side of the house until it subsides. Have you ever heard of such a thing and is it unhealthy to breathe?  Cathy

Reply:

I receive numerous lucky bamboo questions a month.  But, I have to say this is the first time I have every received a question like this.  Usually odor coming from a lucky bamboo is a problem with decaying material and coming from the water.  This has me very perplexed.  I can't find any disease that has a symptom of gas release.  Nor can I find anything on lucky bamboo having an odor that isn't associated with decaying material.  Does the plant show an open wound?  Is the stalk still firm?

Ask the Expert: can lucky bamboo be planted into soil ?
It seems that my lucky bamboo plants have outgrown the window sill.                 So I was wondering if so called lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana),cao be taken out of the water only planter and be transplanted into a soil compound.And if so would you be able to tell me which mixture would be best to use.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Edgar W. DeCoursey III

Reply:

Edgar,

The quick answer is yes.  The long answer is it is a tricky process that doesn't always work well.  Lucky bamboo, like all Dracaenas, is a plant that does grow in soil.  However once acclimated to water, lucky bamboo becomes an aquatic plant.  It is easier to take lucky bamboo from soil to water than it is from water to soil.  If you really want to plant it in soil this is what you will do:

1) Find a container that is no more than 2" larger than the lucky bamboo stalk group and with drain holes.

2) Purchase some fast-draining soil mixture.  You might try a cactus or succulent blend like Schultz Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix.

3) Find or buy a few stones or broken crockery pieces.

4) Place the stones in the bottom of the container.  You only need a few to help with drainage.

5) Fill the container with soil within 1/2" to 1" of the top.

6) Create a hole for the lucky bamboo stem group.  Then place the lucky bamboo stems in the hole.  Only the roots and an inch of the stalks should be covered with the soil.

7) Water the lucky bamboo.  Be sure to keep it very moist.  It is imperative that you keep it extremely moist until it has acclimated itself to the soil.

You will need to be on the look out for signs of root rot and fungal problems when you plant it in the soil.  I

Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo — Can the plants be trimmed?  Mine is growing too tall for the window it sits in… If it can be "topped" where is the best spot on each "branch" to trim it shorter?

Thanks,  K Redford

Reply:

K,

You can top Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo).  Make sure you have the following before you start: a sharp knife, a misting bottle, rooting hormone, clean container for topped piece and distilled water.

Where you top it will depend on the height you want the plant to be.  You will find a node (raised ring on stem) at the height you want the plant to be after you top it.  You will make you cut about an inch above this node.  If you want to start a new stem of lucky bamboo dip the cut end into the rooting hormone.  Let this dry overnight and then place in the new container filled with distilled water.  You need only a few inches of water in the new container.

Red Line Indicates Node - Yellow line indicates where to Make Cut

As for the old stem leave it alone for a few days, then start misting it daily.  This will encourage new growth on the side of the cut.  Care for the old stem and the new stem the same way you always have except for fertilizing.  Wait a couple months before you fertilize the new stem.

Good luck and keep me posted on your progress.

Yellowing Lucky Bamboo

Ask the Expert: Why my lucky bamboo turned yellow and how to fix
I have my lucky bamboo for a year or so, and i noticed a few months ago that some of its leaves were starting to wither. But now I am really worried, because the stem turned yellow from the bottom up (see picture attached). I would really like to save it, but I don't know what to do, or where I did wrong so far. Please help.
Thank you Natasha

Reply:

You are not alone. Yellowing lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is the problem of the week.  A few things can caused lucky bamboo to turn yellow — Too much light or too much fertilizer.  Exposure to fluoride can cause leaf discoloration that may start out looking yellow but eventually turns brown.  When lucky bamboo turns yellow from the bottom up, it is a strong indication of exposure to too much fertilizer.  In a case like this, your best course of action is to change the water and rinse the container. Refill with distilled water and do not add fertilizer.  **If you don't have distilled water, you will need to use water that has been exposed to the air for 24hrs.  This will allow both the fluoride and chlorine in tapped water to disapate. Then you can use it to fill your lucky bamboo container**   By doing this your lucky bamboo will have a chance (although slim) to recover.  Another option is to cut off the yellow and start over.  Lucky bamboo roots fairly easy.  If you go to my previous blog post We Are Not Always Lucky With Lucky Bamboo, you will see a detailed outline on how to do this with pictures.

Good Luck and please keep me posted.