Help with Lucky Bamboo

Its getting to big and would like to prune it down a little,
Love it dearly
Tilly

This message was edited Aug 8, 2007 5:35 PM

Hi Tilly: You can cut back your Lucky Bamboo and it will branch out. You can also try rooting in water the stems you cut off! I have one that's been growing in water for 2 years! Here's the link to Plant Files on your plant:

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/38172/

Thank you
Mine is in water, my DH bought it for me and I have been afraid to touch it.
And in cant get it out of the Panda vase with out breaking it which I don't want to
Now I know Its name
and thanks again.

You are very welcome Tilly. My Lucky Bamboo had been one my Mom had. When she passed away 2 1/2 years ago my sister gave it to me. It began to look distressed and was not doing well so I took it out of the pot it was in and put it in a vase of water and now it's thriving!

I just purchased a lucky bamboo. It is in a white substance that looks like styrophome, and that is covered with pebbles. It's impossible to tell whether it is wet or dry. Any suggestions on how to determine when it needs watering?

Hi deerchaser,

More than likely the styrofoam is not a growing medium, but is used just to keep the bamboo in place. I don't know what your plant looks like, but every bamboo I've seen is grown in water. I would just keep adding water until it reaches the pebbles. Try to keep it at that level. I don't think you have to worry about overwatering it, since it is grown in water. That's what I would do; but maybe someone else has a better suggestion.

Sharon

Don't know if any of y'all know that the plant sold everywhere as Lucky Bamboo is not actually a Bamboo plant but rather Dracaena. Here's some info on the care of this plant:

http://www.chiff.com/a/lucky-bamboo.htm


And ... the link to Plant Files for Dracaena: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/38172/

plantladylin:
Thank you for the links, lol
All the things I was looking for
Now I wont worry about hurting it, just do it
tilly

You are welcome Tilly! I love this plant too .... mine is growing in water! I had some in a pot of soil and it started to die so I dug it up and stuck it in a jar of water! For some reason it seems to like growing in water much better than soil!

I keep looking at mine and it is almost 3' high getting a little to big. I will take a pic.
I love the vase it is in and do not want to harm it. I hope the roots are not going to out grow it, because I cant get it out.
Tilly

This message was edited Aug 22, 2007 6:20 PM

This is the vase

And this is the plant.
Not a good pic.

Thanks Sharon and Plantlady. I think you are right, Sharon. The white material is just for support.
Tillysrat, that looks like a very happy plant! I love the vase also.

Wow Tilly .... that is a tall plant. I bet that vase is full of roots! I've had that happen before when I root stuff in small necked vases or jars ..... and end up tugging and tugging to get the thing out. If you think it's too root bound you could always cut the branches off half way and root the cuttings for more plants, or you could maybe take one stem out and put it in another vase . I like the height on it and also how it twists!

Very nice!

In all the links I read, They didnt say anything about the kind of vases not to use, would a clear vase work or would that be to much light on the roots?
And yes it is very happy, all I have done to it is give it water.


This message was edited Aug 23, 2007 10:22 AM

Any kind of vase would be fine .... mine is actually in a wine glass! I just put some large rocks in there to hold the roots and added water .... it's been in this glass for almost 3 years! This is a kinda dark photo but you can see it on the right side of this shelf on my kitchen wall.

That looks great. How does it stay small.
I just cut one stalk, and made 3 in very small vases. I want to see what happens before I take the plunge and cut them all. be nice gifts for Xmas.

Hello I have a lucky bamboo it is about 8" or so. I have had it for a year and it still looks the same heigth. I give it water all the time and green-green food once a week. do they normally grow slow. Need help. I noticed it has growed some leaves on it but thats about it doesn't any taller. What is the growth rate.

Hello cadd03
I'm new to having a Lucky Bamboo too And I just got a new one for my B-Day
I have never given my any kind of plant food and sometimes I have forgot to give it water and it has grown a foot in 3 years, I guess it is a slow grower. I like the link plantlady sent here it is again for you and I also google luckt bamboo and found a lot more sights to look at.

Good Luck

http://www.chiff.com/a/lucky-bamboo.htm