Lucky bamboo plant question?

I have a lot of lucky bamboo plants growing in water. They are all between 2 and 3 feet high in different containers. I would like to plant them in soil all in one container. I have heard that water and soil roots are different. Is there something I should do or add to make sure they all adjust and thrive? Lately their growth has really slowed down. I have had them for over a year and a half. Thanks for any advice.

Lucky Bamboo does not do well in soil. I suggest you put them all in the container you planned to put them but only put water in there. They don't like sun, so that might be why they've stopped growing.

thanks crackerlady. i didn't know that. I am going to put them into a big vase with water. Can I safely cut away some of the roots? They are huge but a redish brown stringy looking tangled mess. Not very nice or healthy looking. I don't keep them near the sun.

They will do fine in soil (that's what they naturally would grow in), the problem is the transition from water to soil. Hopefully someone else has tried this and might have some suggestions for you on ways to ease the transition, but if you can get them through that they should be fine after that. If you'd really prefer them in soil, it sounds like you've got several of them so maybe try it with one or two and see how it goes.

I don't think it would harm them to trim down the roots a little. ecrane3 mentioned that they grow naturally in soil, but these are not natural bamboo. :D They've been bred differently and like water, not soil. You can try doing as he/she said, but let us know how it goes if you do. :) Natural bamboo grows in the sun, but if you've had your lucky bamboo very long, you know that it makes the leaves all turn yellow if they get much sunlight. Basically, yes, what ecrane3 said is correct, but these are not "natural" bamboos. They're hybrids. :)

No, it's not a hybrid of anything, it's the species Dracaena sanderiana (which is not actually a bamboo, contrary to its common name). Dracaena sanderiana in its natural environment is an understory plant in rainforests, growing in soil. Many people do grow them in water and they are frequently sold that way, but if given a chance to develop normal roots instead of water roots they would also be perfectly happy in soil.

As I said, the trouble is the transition from water to soil, not that they can't grow in soil. I'm not sure how tough that transition is for these since I've never taken one that was in water and put it in soil, but if you really would prefer them in soil then I'd take a couple and try. If you're happy with having them in water then of course you can keep them there too.

As ecrane3 stated, "Lucky Bamboo" is just a common name for the Dracaena. It does well in both soil or water. If you decide to transplant some of your dracaena into soil, just be sure it's a well draining mix so the weight of the soil when watered doesn't smother the roots and cause root rot. I add a lot of perlite as well as orchid bark into regular potting soil for almost everything I plant, it makes for a quick draining mix and keeps me from over watering and having soggy plants.

Here is the link to Plant Files with information for "Lucky Bamboo": http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/38172/

I must have been mislead on these. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lead you astray too! Do let us know how it goes if you decide to plant them in dirt. :D

I have the "Lucky Bamboo" and other plants growing in water and if I don't change the water every few days, it does get brown and yucky. Any plant rooting in water should have the water changed on a regular basis if you don't want the algae growing (or the stinky water which I've had on occasion (when I forget to empty the containers and add fresh water!) ^_^

I change mine once a week and they do well.

I wish I could remember to change the water on a weekly basis. My problem is having too many plants, and the ones in vases and jars of water are scattered here and there inside the house as well as out on my back porch and deck. I probably should get them all together and keep them in the same location!

Well, I guess I'm one of those "just so" people. My garden has to be perfectly symmetrical, I wear my clothes in a certain order, and I water all my plants on a certain day in a certain order, so mine don't stand a chance at being forgotten. :D

I put my lucky bamboo in soil as they were not doing too well in water, my bamboo have not looked better. The colour of them has totally brightened up they are more of a lovely emerald green and the leaves are doing so so well.
I didnt do anything to my bamboo before i put them into the soil.

I have my Lucky Bamboo in a sun tea jar, with rocks to hold the plants up. When I need to drain I just push the spicket and then add new water at the top. Question, Can a person train the new growth to "cork screw" like the one I bought? It is about 2 foot tall and makes two complete circles. Seems the new growth is too weak to start and then it gets to stiff when it is a little bigger.

In answer to your question kasaan2d yes you can train a straight bamboo to curl but it is a very long process. What you need to do is - put the straight bamboo in a box that has 3 sides the bamboo will grow towards the light and you need to rotate the bamboo every so often but it will take along time as when it starts growing to the light rotate a little then wait untill it grows again and rotate a little etc etc. Hope that helps :)

Thanks Skyla, never thought of that, I was trying to wind it around a pipe.

No problem, i havnt tried doing it but a friend is in the process of it. Its a VERY long process! Good luck

Thanks for all the replies. I think I am going to plant half in soil and leave the other half in water and see what does best. I just have to remember to change the water more often. I also might trim some of the roots since it is ok.