We Are Not Always Lucky With Lucky Bamboo
Every week I get at least one lucky bamboo question. Yesterday I received a call from Stephanie who was having trouble with her lucky bamboo. During our conversation I ask if she could send me some photos of her lucky bamboo. She was gracious enough to do so and below are the photos she sent.
So often I have to explain the how to correct problems with lucky bamboo with out the benefit of photos. With Stepahanie’s photos I am going to walk through the procedures and reference the photos.
First Stephaine was having a common problem - Yellow stems. Lucky bamboo stems will turn yellow for a couple reasons — too much fertilizer or too much light.
When lucky bamboo is in this advanced state of yellowing it will not come back. So it is best to cut the yellow parts off. If there is any green part to the stem then there is the possibility of starting a new plant. For example in the next two pictures, we can find a place where we can cut the lucky bamboo and start new plants.
In the photo above, we could cut the lucky bamboo about an inch from the node (see the raise brown ring to the right of her thumb that is called a node - see the red line cut it there). I am guessing that the section with this node is attached to the roots. If we leave the section with the roots in water and start misting the cut end three days after it has been cut, new growth will form. In the lucky bamboo picture below, the end attached to the roots is unhealthy so we will have to cut the plant and encourage root growth. For example, I would make a cut an inch above the first node on the green stem (this will be to the left of the index finger in the picture - see the blue line cut it there). You will need some rooting hormone (the one we carry at our nursery & garden center is called Greenlight root tone but other brand have the same product just make sure it is in powder form). After you cut the stem dip it in the rooting hormone and let it dry overnight then place it in a container with water (use distilled water or let the water sit overnight to release the chlorine). In a few weeks you will see new roots form.
In the lucky bamboo photo below, you can start a new plant in several placed. The key is finding a node and making your cut an inch above it following the procedures above. Stephanie was a little concerned with the paleness of the stem which could be caused by too much light or a little too much fertilizer. In a case like this I would put it in fresh water and move a little farther from the light source. Watch the stem if it starts to turn yellow you are losing the stem and will need to start new plants before it is too late.
In the next two lucky bamboo pictures we are concerned with the blackness of the cut end and the paleness of the stems. The black is not really a concern except that is accompanying a yellowing which indicates a problem. I would create two new plants from this one which will already have roots and another which will need to form roots. Cuts should be made an inch above the node at the bottom of the picture and will follow the same procedure as the first cut instructions above (this one will have roots already and will new to form new growth). The second cut will be made at the first node of the part that is growing form the curve piece at the top of the photo. This plant will need to form new roots and will need the rooting hormone treatment.
I hope these will clarify some of the issues with lucky bamboo. If anyone else has lucky bamboo pictures that you want discussed just go to the ask the expert page and upload your photos.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Thank you soo much for the help. Have a blessed day
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 am
Hi this is Stephanie again and I need more help!!!!
Ok you know the one side of the heart that was the good side and I cut the piece growing off the top and cut the top curve off because it was starting to turn. Ok I cut it for regrowth and I put some water on it using a medicine syringe. I started that the day after it was cut and then after the 3days of putting the water on it I did that once a day it started turning yellow. So now I’ve cut that piece off and I’m gonna try again. Any advice on what I’m doing wrong????? Everything else seems to be going good.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 am
Stephaine,
For example in the picture above — if you cut at the red line everything below the red line probably still had roots on it - so you wait about two days and then you start misting the cut and new growth will appear. Everything above the red line no longer has roots attached to it — so you dip it in the rooting hormone and let set over night, then you place in water an couple of inches deep and it will form new roots. Does this help?
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Ok, I have cut the bamboo below the red line so now this bamboo has the roots attached and I am trying to get it to regrow from the part cut. As I said before I am using a medicine syringe to put water on the bamboo. I put 2 drops on the white part (the top of bamboo were it was cut) and I do this 2days after it was cut and it should regrow am I correct on this? My big question is should I be using a syringe to put the water on the bamboo or do I need a spray bottle to spray the bamboo on the TOP WHERE IT WAS CUT or JUST THE BAMBOO IN GENERAL?????? HOW MANY TIMES AM I SUPPOSE TO MIST THE BAMBOO AFTER THE 2DAYS AND HOW MANY TIMES A DAY SHOULD I MIST THE BAMBOO?????? STILL CONFUSED…………….
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I’M SORRY INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I MIST THE BAMBOO AFTER THE 2DAYS OF THE CUT, I NEED TO KNOW HOW LONG,HOW MANY DAYS DO I NEED TO MIST THE BAMBOO??????? STILL CONFUSED………..
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Stephanie,
When you cut the bamboo, you don’t start misting it until 2 to 3 days after it has been cut and you will continue to mist it until you see new growth form. This can take several weeks. You will need a spray bottle instead of a medicine syringe. Do this once or twice a day. The end will callus over before it spouts new growth.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Ok thanks I will follow these directions and I will let you know of progress. Thank you sooo much!
January 4th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hello,
Im inclosing some photos so maybe it will be eaiser for you to explain to me. At the base of where the leaves come out roots are visible, Is this why the main stem started turning yellow?
also can i save this stem?
January 4th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Here is a nother photo from a diffrent angle
January 5th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Mishelle,
I don’t think the root exposure is the problem unless the container has been without water at some period. Do you use tap water? I ask because the tips of the leaves are brown on some of the stems and this is an indication of fluoride exposure. City water systems add fluoride to their water. Although good for the teeth not so good for lucky bamboo. As for the yellowing stalk, I am puzzled it is yellow from the top down and the other stalks look healthy.
At some point the stalk may have been exposed to too much light. Why it did affect the other stems is a mystery. My suggestion would be to remove the yellow stem or at least cut the yellow part off and place the stems in bright but indirect light. In other words not directly in front of a window or light source.
To cut the yellow out you’ll cut the stalk about an inch above a node in the green section. In the attached picture I have drawn a red line to show you where to make the cut. let the cut dry for about two days and then start misting the cut lightly once a day.
Good Luck and keep me posted
January 6th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
hey Jamie,
i just have a couple more questions for you.
yes i use tap water but i will change that.
the stalks are not connected just together in the vase.
will it grow to curl around and grow new leaves?
January 7th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Mishelle,
The curly piece of lucky bamboo has been manipulated to curl. This is done through a process of exposing part of the plant to light and part to darkness. When you cut the yellow part off the new part will grow in its natural straight growth. The only way to make it curl is to manipulate it. I assume that the original curly piece was curl and then the straight piece was feed up through the curled one. You would have to do the same thing to acheive the same configuration.
I wrote a post a while back that detailed how to curl lucky bamboo. You might want to read it. Good Luck and keep me posted
June 21st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Hi there I think I have done a few things wrong with my lucky bamboo, first I think the leaves were starting to go yellow b/c of the high floride content in my Toronto water, but before I had looked up info on lucky bamboo I assumed that it needed light (opps) so I put it in a spot where it could get sun all day…:/ so now the leaves are really yellow and the stalk was turning yellow, I followed what you said about cutting it and the rest of the stalk looks good, I am now waiting so that I can start misting it..I have a question however about fertilization..what kinda fertilizer should I use to keep it healthy I was thinking of using some liquid Miracle-Gro that I have…just a few drops in to my container, is that a good idea?
also would my bamboo thrive more if I put really moist soil in the bottom, instead of just rocks? thanks
June 24th, 2009 at 11:45 am
24 hours is all you need to wait before you start misting your plant. Once or twice a day is all you will need to mist it. Then be patient. It will take a couple of weeks for the plant to produce new growth. As for fertilizer, it is ok to use a very diluted solution of miracle grow about every three months. Good luck and keep me posted.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
ok so when I use the diluted solution I should put it in with new water? and then change the water the week after?
June 29th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Some recommendations say to change the water. Usually I just add a little of the diluted fertilizer to the water and let it be.