Ask the Expert: lucky bamboo problems
I have a few questions about my “lucky bamboo” plant.

I received this plant nearly a year ago and had no problems when living in the tropics but since i have moved to a colder state i have been encountering problems. The plant originally had 3 stalks and was potted rather than being in water.

Firstly the leaves on the plant started turning yellow, i moved it from a window sill to my bathroom as i thought it may be getting to much sunlight. This didnt help, i then noticed one of the stalks starting to yellow as well as the tips of the leaves dyeing off after they had turned yellow. The stalk turned yellow became mushy and started growing these little black dots, i discarded this stalk but replanted the leaf stalk from it in potting mix. Will it grow or should i put it in water?

The remaining 2 stalks seem healthier although there are leaves that have yellowing or browned tips, is there any hope for these 2 stalks or will they continue to yellow and result in the stalk turning yellow and mushy as well?

I currently have the plant sitting in a lower light area and am watering with water thats been sitting out for 24 hours in case its something in the water.

Will cutting the leaf growths help? Should i take it out from the pot and keep it in water? HELP i dont want it to die!!

thanks

sarah jellie

Reply:
Your lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is going through transplant shock from the move. Anytime a plant is stressed, it is more susceptible to diseases and pests.

I think you have a couple of things going on. First the new water probably caused the initial yellowing leaves. The difference in light exposure from your old place to your new place may also be a factor. Those problems can be overcome. Place the lucky bamboo in light exposure that mimics the light exposure you used to have. As for water, you are doing just what you need to do.

If lucky bamboo is growing in soil it is best to keep it in soil. However, I would not place the cut bamboo stalk back into the original soil. I would either start it in water or give it the stalk its own pot with soil. You will need to keep the soil very moist until the roots form. The other stalks will not need this much moisture.

As for the leaves, remove all yellowing leaves. Then give your stalks time to recover. Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: how to grow my lucky bamboos
I have searched your website and with the information that I could collect, I was able to cut the shoots of my lucky bamboos. Small roots have appeared on them. But I don’t know what to do further. Could you please guide? Waseema

Reply:

Once a lucky bamboo shoot begins to produce roots the care becomes essentially the same as a fully developed stem.  We have some great tips on how to care for lucky bamboo

Light Requirement for Lucky Bamboo:

Lucky bamboo needs bright indirect light. In it’s native environment Dracaena sanderiana receive an ample amount of light. However, the surrounding plants shade the lucky bamboo from direct exposure to the sun. Too much direct sunlight can cause the leaves to burn. It is important that the lucky bamboo receive adequate light; lack of light will cause week growth, stretching and poor color. Low light conditions will, also, cause stunted growth and inhibit new leaf growth. The light requirements for lucky bamboo are the same whether grown in water or in soil.

Water Requirements for Lucky Bamboo In Water

Water level should be at least a couple of inches. Make sure the roots are covered with water; add water to keep the water level constant. Every couple of weeks change the water completely. Refill the container with clean water. Lucky bamboo is sensitive to the salts and chemicals in tap water; use distilled water or rainwater if possible. If you must use tap water let it set in an open container over night; this will let the chlorine evaporate. However, there is no way to remove the fluoride from the tap water. Fluoride can cause leaf tips to turn brown. Low humidity can cause leaf tips to turn brown as well. Mist the leaves of the lucky bamboo every couple of days if lack of humidity is a problem.

Fertilizer Requirements for Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo doesn’t require much fertilizer and can survive in pure water for quite a while. When you bring lucky bamboo home don’t fertilize it for a couple of weeks; this will prevent over-fertilization. In fact, if your lucky bamboo turns yellow when you bring it home immediately change the water. Yellow leaves on lucky bamboo are an indicator of over-fertilization. Anytime your lucky bamboo has been over-fertilized, change the water and don’t fertilize for several months.

Fertilize your lucky bamboo every couple of months (you can go longer). You can use a little dirty aquarium water (if you have it) or a diluted (tenth of the normal strength) water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. The best time to fertilize is when you change the water.

Temperature Requirements:
Lucky bamboo needs moderate temperature. Normal household temperatures are fine. However, placing lucky bamboo next to an air vent or a door can cause problems due to rapid temperature changes.

I also have a little guide that will help identify any problems that come up.

Lucky Bamboo Problems, Pests & Diseases

• Leaves with brown tips – Fluoride burn or lack of humidity. What to do: Fluoride Burn – replace water with clean distilled or rain water; Dry Air – mist leaves every day or every couple of days.
• Yellow Leaves – too much light or fertilizer. What to do: Too much light – place more distance between the lucky bamboo & the light; too much fertilizer – replace water with distilled water & don’t fertilize for several months.
• Stalks yellow from bottom up – too much fertilizer. What to do: Replace with distilled water and don’t fertilize. At the point that the stalks turn yellow it is often too late for the lucky bamboo to recover. It is often better to cut the green top off and start a new plant. If you have more than one stalk in a container, but only one is yellow, remove the yellow stalk and change the water.
• Brown or mushy stalks – root-rot; roots have rotted from over-fertilization or over-watering (plants potted in soil). What to do: Cut the healthy tops off and root new plants.
• White sticky substance on stalks, snail-looking growth on stalks or cottony substances on stalks – insects. Scale and spider mites can be, although rarely, a problem for lucky bamboo. What to do: Clean the container and pebbles with soapy water (a few drops of dish detergent in water works well) and rinse completely. Wipe each stalk gentle with the soapy water and rinse well. Place the clean stalks in the container and fill with distilled water or rainwater.
• Algae growing in water and on container – too much fertilizer and light. Algae grows in nutrient rich water with ample light. What to do: Clean the lucky bamboo, pebbles and container with soapy water following the same procedure as above. Place the lucky bamboo in the container and fill with water. You might need to move it a little farther from the light or switch to an opaque container.

Hopefully this information will bring you great lucky with your Dracaena sanderiana.  Please keep me posted on your lucky bamboo’s progress.