Find Your 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.
jamie, my i sent my sister 4 yrs ago a lucky bamboo plant from you, and it took off and grew and grew. finally a yr ago she potted it in soil, it was catus potting soil and the plant has even grown faster. but 2 weeks ago the leaves started to turn brown and she found some spider mites, so she sprayed the plant with the insectside you recommed, she is wondering what else she should do.. the plant is very important, it was sent because her husband was under going brain surgery and i believed he needed all the luck he could get, he totally recovered, and claims this plant helped. the plant began at 8″ tall and now stand over 3′ feet. it has been in soil now 1 yr.. thanks for your help they really love the plant. thanks you again ..
The insecticide should take care of the spider mites. She needs to keep the soil moist but not soggy, so the plant doesn’t become stressed. She can also wipe the stems with a moist cloth to remove any spider mite eggs and then give the plant one more light spray of insecticide.