I bought three sticks of bamboo at an Asian market. They were just in a bucket of water. I brought them home and have them now in a vase. They have roots. Now... I'm stuck. How do I treat them in the long term? Can I keep them just in water? Do they need fertilizer or must they be transplanted into dirt eventually? They were also selling pretty pots with the bamboo in an arrangement. The pots contained pebbles and water I did not see any dirt. Does anyone know how to do this right? ***************************************************************** 07-21-03, 06:59 PM Georgia85 What you are referring to is called "Lucky Bamboo" and it needs no soil to flourish. What you will want to do is to find a shallow dish....or a vase if you so prefer...fill the dish with water and using the small pebbles anchor the stalks of bamboo. Once a week, you'll need to thoroughly rinse off the pebbles with hot water, rinse out the dish, and rinse off the roots. Then you fill the dish with fresh water and anchor the bamboo with the pebbles all over again. And keep it in moderate sunlight. If you do this weekly upkeep, I think you will find that it will last you many years.
07-21-03, 08:36 PM sonnet26 I posted a thread, last year, about my Bamboo Woes.
I took the plunge and spent $40.00 on 3 nice sized stalks, then reposted looking for how NOT to kill them. Tree posted a not very encouraging review; I saw this thread and went looking for more info.
Based on what I found, I can only conclude that I killed my previous bamboo because:
It got too much incandescent light in the bathroom (the light in there is quite bright, when it's on).
It got too little light in the bathroom (the light is usually off).
It was too moist in there (which is odd since it's supposed to come from a tropical rain forest).
It didn't like being stuck in Oasis™ and covered with rocks and tiny pebbles that were glued solid (that's the way it came from Target; in a shallow rectangular dish).
It didn't like me using tap water.
It starved to death because I never gave it anything but water.
It mildewed underneath the rock/pebble blanket.
It sounds like it lives up to, or DOESN'T live up to its name: "Lucky"
This time, I put my 3 hefty stalks in a tall, clear vase with about 2" of distilled water; mixed with a few drops of MiracleGro® mild (0.02 - 0.02 - 0.02), liquid, all-purpose plant food; set it away from any lamps/light so it doesn't get too much light; in my bedroom instead of the bath. I just have them leaning against the side of the vase (the stalks are between 15" - 18" tall; the vase is about 12" tall)...gee, I hope they aren't allergic to glass. I'm afraid, if I put rocks in the bottom, they'll get bruised/be allergic to them. I'm afraid, if I put them in loose soil, which one site said you could do, they'll hate it/be allergic to dirt.
I will plan to;
change the water every week/2 weeks/4 weeks.
rinse off the roots/wash the roots with mild dish detergent.
wash the vase in hot, soapy water/rinse the vase with plain water.
Hope like hell I roll the dice and don't get "snake-eyes."
Lucky Bamboo doesn't sound so lucky, nor does it sound so easy to keep (apparently it doesn't grow taller, it just gets more leaves, hopefully).
emkayess, I wish us both "luck."
07-22-03, 02:34 PM emkayess Ah, I see!
quote:sonnet26 [Picture of sonnet26] Gold Enthusiast Winner of the third AnswerPool Poetry Contest [Describes the mood or content of the topic] posted 07-21-03 02:00 PM
* Either I should change the water, or I shouldn't * Either I should feed it diluted plant food, or I shouldn't * Either I should use distilled water, or I shouldn't * Either it will live, or it will die
Now that I got this straight I think I will just enjoy my bamboo. Thank you so much everyone for the thorough information. I really do like the way the plant looks. And benign neglect is just up my alley.
07-31-03, 08:40 AM clarebear I have 3 pots of lucky bamboo plants. I have never changed the water. I don't use any additives either. I do have to add tap water every few days. (it evaporates quick) I have had one for about 2 years now. The other is about a year old. The other is about 6 months old. I have them sitting by my fireplace. (I move them when I start a fire.. yes lol) They are not in direct sunlight. The oldest one has grown pretty tall and now has leaves sprouting from it. The other one has leaves too. My one is just a short little lonely stalk. I once had two stalks that I killed when it ran out of water. Frown Poor things.. they turned all yellow and died.. The one by itself in a cup with some marbles. Roll Eyes I got mine from the grocery store at $7.00 a piece. A lot of asian nail salons sell them cheap too. I have seen them as high as $20.00 a stalk. (That is in home and garden centers)
Mine have been pretty lucky for me. Smile
07-31-03, 07:26 PM sonnet26 LOL clare!
Well, after 10 days mine are still alive. I'm going to continue with the distilled water, change the water once a month (unless I forget) and give it a tiny amount of the plant food once a month (unless I forget).
I'll post back in a month or so (unless I forget) and let you know how "they" are doing.
Wink
07-31-03, 11:33 PM Tree LOLOL sonnet!
I got a stick of bamboo, which is NOT the "lucky" variety. I think it may be classified as a "spiral" type!
I suppose that the same rules must apply! If not..... someone let me know!!!
Razz
07-31-03, 11:47 PM sonnet26 Same thing, Tree. I was going to get some, but they cost more than the straight ones. I may still, if the ones I have work out.
Good luck to all of us!
08-05-03, 10:52 PM Tree PLANT FOOD!!
What kind of plant food???
Eek
09-19-03, 07:42 AM clarebear I never gave my bamboo plant food. They are doing pretty good.
I sure miss Sonnet. Frown I hope she gets that computer fixed soon!
09-19-03, 11:09 AM DvdGStwrt Lucky Bamboo is what you have.
They are specially treated to prevent them from growing naturally, instead they will pretty much retain their present size.
I have treated them in different ways:
I have one planted in a pot with soil. It grew roots and I felt it needed a better situation. I had also hoped I could get it to multiply - No luck.
The other five I have bundled together and sitting in a shallow bowl of water with marbles supporting them.
Though the directions said they will survive in plain water, I added a few drops of fish emulsion and every-so often (when I have a need for it) I replace the water with Compost Tea (Compost tea is simple, a 5 gallon bucket of water with 1-2 shovelfuls of compost dumped in, let it sit over 24 hours and the water is full of plant food).
Lucky bamboo grows in any kind of light. I have the potted one next to a southern window (Still trying to get it to multiply Wink) The bundle I have in a northern corner - both are doing fine, growing green.
I have seen them in paper cups, I have seen them arraigned in flower arraignments.
They are expensive (in my opinion) and nothing really special (again in my opinion) Other than the fact that they are way too easy to grow and unless you ground them up in a grinder, can survive most anything.
David
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
Posts: 268 | Location: Chicago, IL USA | Registered: 07-21-02
Lucky bamboo hates to be fertilized. Just get some marbles around their roots to stabalize them and add water all of the time. When you see spiral lucky bamboo it has just been trained. Lucky bamboo is a type of Dracaena.
