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Your Top Questions About Lucky Bamboo Care Answered

Lucky Bamboo’s popularity has significantly grown over the past few years. It is being used as great gift items and part of Feng Shui. However, some don’t know where to begin when taking care of this plant, or what to do if they notice a change. So, we’ve compiled all of your most asked questions and listed them here as a how-to guide on lucky bamboo.

How do I take care of lucky bamboo?

Caring for your lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) can be an easy. You just need to find the right lighting, figure out a watering schedule, and your plant can pretty much take care of itself.

First off, what did your lucky bamboo come to you in, soil or water? It can grow in either. However, it doesn’t like to be switched around. For example, if you received it in water, leave it in water and add some rocks or pebbles if you like, but not necessary.

How To Water Lucky Bamboo

Multiple Stems of Lucky BambooIf your lucky bamboo is in only water, it should be kept clean and fresh. Keep your water level consistent; it’s a good idea to make a mark on where you like the water to be, which can be different for everyone. Once you have your water level, make sure you keep an eye on it. Whenever it reaches the halfway mark below your level, fill it back up. Every two weeks change the water with fresh, either distilled or tap water, whatever your plant is used to. Let your water sit out overnight in an open container before mixing it to your current water.

However, if your plant is in soil, the soil should always feel slightly damp. Test it with your finger; if it’s not damp, add a little bit more water.

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Best Lighting For Lucky Bamboo

Your lucky bamboo should be placed in an indoor location with bright, indirect light. They also do well under artificial lighting since too much sun can cause burning.

Remember that there are such things as too much and too little sunlight.

  • If there is too much sun, it can cause your leaves to burn.
  • If it gets too little sun, you will receive weak growth, stretching and poor coloring.

The solution for too much sun is changing out the water and not fertilizing for a couple of months. Move the plant into a bright area without direct sunlight. Too much sun can cause yellowish leaves and splitting, which can be fixed with trimming them off at an angle. [Read more…]

Lucky Bamboo Success Story

Healthy Lucky Bamboo

Ask the Expert: bamboo plants
I had them in water for a long time about 2 years until I saw a lot of roots coming form them, then I put my bamboo plants in miracle grow potting mix with bought dirt.

Ever since then they started to bloom like crazy to where I have to change the pot maybe once every two years. this is my second time transferring the pots. is this normal for them to grow like that? and is what I am doing okay? Fran

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Despite the fact that lucky bamboo (draceana sanderiana) can be grown in water, it really prefers to live in soil. So, you lucky bamboo is healthy and happy and you should be proud of your success. You are seeing normal growth. Keep doing what you are doing. If the plants become to tall, you can always top the lucky bamboo stalks and start new plants.

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What To Do With New Shoot From Lucky Bamboo

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo Plant
I have a new shoot coming out at the root base of one of my Lucky Bamboo plants, how do I take it off and start a new plant.

At the same time, do I trim any of the roots from the three Lucky Bamboo plants that I have in my container?

Thanks,
Wanda Graham

Plant Expert Reply:

If the shoot has it’s own set of roots, you can gently detach it from the main stalk. You now had a new lucky bamboo stalk that can reside in the container with your original stalks or you can place it in its own container.  If it doesn’t have it’s own roots you would treat it the same way as propagating lucky bamboo.

As for the roots, you can trim them. I only trim mine if they are excessive and growing out of the container. Don’t cut to much of the roots off.

Lucky Bamboo From Water To Soil

Ask The Expert: I have a lucky bamboo plant that I have had for 2 years. It is doing very well in water.  I would love to put it in soil, though, thinking that it would do a lot better.  I was thinking of buyin a good peet moss.  Would that be alright, or should I get just a flower pot mulch? Greg

Plant Expert Reply:

Although lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is normally potted in soil, I would not recommend it after it has been grown in water.  If you decide that it must be in soil, pot it in a basic houseplant medium.  You will need to keep the soil very moist to begin with and then reduce to a medium moisture level.

You will need to watch for root rot.  When you transfer it to a very moist soil, you have a chance of root rot occurring.

Help, Lucky Bamboo In Soil Is Yellowing!

Ask the Expert: lucky bamboo plant
My son gave me a lucky bamboo about 1 1/2 years ago. When I received it, it was in soil. One of the stalks is turning really yellow now. Should I put it only in water. I don”t want my son to think I don’t just love it and I don’t want to lose it either. Can you help me to bring it back to life. Shirley

Plant Expert Reply:
Lucky bamboo that has been grown in soil should not be place in a water only environment. If the yellow stalk is completely yellow it will continue to die. You need to remove it from the soil and discard it, unless the stalk contains a healthy green section. If it has a healthy green section, you can propagate a new stalk. Read one of our previous posts that explains how to propagate lucky bamboo which also includes pictures. You can place the newly cut piece in water or soil.

To keep the other stalk from turning yellow, you need to watch out for a few issues. One make sure the soil is moist but not soggy.  Soil that holds to much water and can’t drain will cause lucky bamboo to turn yellow.  Watch your fertilizer – too much can cause lucky bamboo to turn yellow. Last but not least, make sure your lucky bamboo does not receive too much light or a severe change in temperature.

Good luck and keep me posted.