Comments on: Lucky Bamboo

By: Melinda

Melinda — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:33:03 +0000

I’ve had my LB for a few years. Last year, the LB in question’s main stalk began to yellow from the top and die, but only at the top. In fact, the top and part of the side of the stalk died, but the rest is green and very healthy. There were two leafy stalks at the top, one higher and on the opposite side of the other leafy stalk. The higher one died with that part of the stalk, but the lower one didn’t die at all. (Now that I look back on it, the higher leafy stalk that ended up dying didn’t grow much even when there wasn’t any death. The other leafy stalk would grow more leaves, but this one wouldn’t. I remember worrying about it.) The death stopped RIGHT above that lower leafy stalk, but dipped down lower on the opposite side. The death hasn’t spread any more this past year and is hard and tan. Oh, and after the death stopped, it grew a new leafy stalk towards the bottom, which is very green and has grown a lot. The leaves on that bottom leafy stalk are acually bigger than the leaves of the higher one! Anyway, I’ve heard of plants doing okay even with a dead part, but If I can, I’d rather cut that part off. The problem is, the side opposite of that higher leafy stalk is dead, so I don’t think I can just cut just the dead part off since some of the cut would be vertical.
I’m bad at describing things so I took pictures of the death straight on (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/Muryou/P3080030.jpg) and from the side (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/Muryou/P3080029.jpg).

Question 1: Is the death really done spreading? It hasn’t moved in a year, so I’m hoping it’s done, but it stopped at such a strange place for it not to take that higher leafy stalk!
Question 2: Can I cut off just the dead part, even with the strange vertical curve, or would I have to cut it straight across in order for the plant to be okay? It’s just that I like the higher leafy stalk that survived…
Question 3: By the way, my LB’s roots are mostly green. Is that okay? It’s not just the one with the dead part, my other one with 3 green leafy stalks and no issues also has a lot of green roots. (Though the roots of the LB in question are a little more green than the other’s.)

Hi Melinda
Cut the stem straight across below the dead part. Make sure you dip the knife in alcohol between cuts so that you don’t spread any disease. The roots can be green from algae which happens with stagnant water and light. Occasionally, change the water.

By: Debra

Debra — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:33:50 +0000

Tall and lanky bamboo
Thank you so much for this blog! I spent about 30 minutes reading the various posts and answers before deciding that I should just post my own question, as I was really not having the same problems as everyone else.

Then, lo and behold I come to Katie’s post on Feb 8 and there is my exact situation! I too purchased my lucky bamboo well over a year ago from Walgreens and have been completely happy with it. I found this site by searching out how to re-plant it in a bigger pot(assuming I should do so). The plant is so beautiful, in a 3″ diameter, 5 1/2″ high round ceramic container with rocks in the bottom. About 6 to 8″ of stalk is above the container lip, and I too have never changed or drained the water, have always used tap water with Schultz 10-15-10 plant food from spring through fall, filling the vase to the top with water, and exposed it to sunlight everyday (by opening the vertical blinds). I did notice the roots have crawled up the insides of the vase, and they are orange.
The only reason I was thinking I should re-plant it is because it is getting so tall! The leaves are probably 2 to 2 1/1 ft tall. Otherwise the plant is super healthy although I think it may be pot bound by the roots now and I really don’t want to upset it.
Looking at the answer given to Katie, it seems I should follow that same advice and leave well enough alone…except I still wonder is there any reason to change the pot? Thank You!

Hi Debra
Repotting is up to you. It does sound like the bamboo could use more space. They get too tall and lanky. My bamboo is in the same situation. I notice that the crowded roots are using up water faster and pale leaves need more nutrients so I going to move it to a larger container. My container is small 2″ by 4 inches tall. I’m also going to trim the leaves and try to root them for new plants. If you don’t want to repot, another option is to trim some of the crowded roots and trim the leafy growth to give the plant a better shape.Good luck.

By: steph

steph — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:30:32 +0000

I received a lucky bamboo for New Year and as a Valentine’s Day gift. The bamboo is bent and grown in the shape of hearts. A portion of the stem (the end which as a few leaves) has turned yellow and soft but only about 1 inch. Can one salvage the rest of the stem since only a small portion of it is soft/yellow?

Hi Steph
You can try to cut off 2″ off the stem and hope it will recover.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:19:28 +0000

Hi,
I got a lucky bamboo plant two years ago at a large retail store (like Walmart) and have have been reading stuff about lucky bamboo care that really has me confused. The plant stocks (only two) are about 10 inches long with nice healthy leafs shooting off of them. The pot it’s in is 3 inches in width and five in length. Is is planted in stones with water. But here is the weird part – I have never changed its water. I’ve had to top up the water once and awhile due to evaporation and plant growth but I’ve never changed it (drained out the water and filled it up again, or disrupt the stones). I didn’t think you were suppose to. There is absolutely no sulphur of icky smell coming from the water. There is hardly a smell at all unless you think wet rocks smell. Is this not possible? Do I have some kind of magical plant that doesn’t let water go stagnant? Anyway I have become quite fond of this plant because it’s been around so long and want to do what is right for it but my thinking is, why change a good thing? What are your thoughts on this?
Thank you

Hi Katie
I totally agree with you, if its not broken don’t try to fix it. In most cases, you don’t have to fuss over the lucky bamboo but there are times when the plant can get a bacteria or fungus. I can’t tell you why or what causes this, perhaps the water. It could be that the disease is always present and waits until the plant is in a weakened state to grow and multiply.

By: Leoncio

Leoncio — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:24:59 +0000

One stalk has tiny black spots but doesn’t spread. it doesn’t seem to have bacterial\fungal problems and is only found in the middle of the stalk. I changed it to another separate clean container with root hormone(to get it to grow more roots)and the spots are still there. what should I do?!

Hi Leoncio
Most likely these are disease spots and they will not go away.

By: Leoncio

Leoncio — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:20:14 +0000

I have a 3 Lucky Bamboo plants(2 are in the process of growing stalks because i had to cut them off from the dieing mother plant) how should i care for them. right now the are trying to grow roots in water with root hormone. and could you explain the anatomy of the l.b. because now i am confused.

Hi Leoncio
Are you rooting he stalks or the leafy shoots from the stalks?

By: Shara

Shara — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:30:36 +0000

Black spots on stalk
A lady here at work has a “lucky” bamboo that is not so lucky, I am trying to help save it. However I am afraid it is not going to make it. There are brownish/black spots all along the 3 stalks which are dry and brittle, two weeks ago they were very soggy… there was an awful smell coming from it 2 weeks ago which has since kinda disappeared… I pulled what I could of the dead leaves off…However there are 2 healthy very petite green leaves coming from the top. It is here in our office and 4 days out of the week when I am here at work I keep it under my light at my desk for about 10 hours. But the rocks in the container do have the residue mentioned in above inquiries, from the tap water issues. Is this plant beyond repair or can it be salvaged? Thanks…

Hi Shara
A foul odor indicates that there was a bacterial/fungal infection. Clean the container and rocks with a 10% solution and be sure to change the water periodically. If the stalks start to turn yellow, then they cannot be saved. I read that adding an aspirin to the water can also help fend off infection by building up the plants natural defenses.

By: Jasjit

Jasjit — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:09:05 +0000

Can used tea leaves act as a fertiliser for L B like they do for some other indoor plants?

Hi Jasjit
Yes, Leftover tea like coffe grounds can be used as fertilizer for houseplants and acid loving plants. They have the nutrients required for plant growth (N-P-K and minerals). Lucky bamboo grows best in a midly acidic (6.1-6.5) medium and doesn’t require much fertilizer so don’t get carried away with the tea. An occasional feeding would be fine.
So don’t toss your used tea leaves. they can be added to soil or compost to add nutrients and speed up decomposition. The tanins in tea are especially beneficial to acid loving plants such as jasmine and gardenia.

By: ALI

ALI — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:05:48 +0000

Yellow stalk
Hi,
I bought a lucky bamboo and have had it for about 3 weeks and I have changed the water once. After changing the water, the middle began to turn yellow and shrivel up. What caused this? and can it be saved or should I cut it and try to let the top grow roots?

HI Ali
It’s difficult to say what caused the yellowing stalk but once it starts to turn yellow, it cannot be saved. Remove it from the others. If you have a healthy portion of the stalk, you can cut it off and try to root it in a separate container.

By: jacqueline

jacqueline — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:06:33 +0000

hello!~
i’ve had my bamboo plant in the glass vase and stone since i bought it over a yr ago.
i would like to replant it in a larger container. may i just remove it from the old container and replant it in another larger glass container with stones.
or
has it been in water too long and needs soil??
it is very happy right now, i thought maybe it could use some room to grow
thank you for your time!~

Hi Jacqueline
Lucky bamboo can thrive and grow in water for several years. If your plant is happy and growing well, then leave well enough alone. If the roots seem to be too crowded, you can always trim the roots up to 1/3 of their length to give them more room regrow.