STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

you can glean what you like from the following information, but it sounds like once it turns yellow it doesn't come back

Q: Several years ago, I planted my "lucky bamboo" in a pot with dirt. Since then, it has outgrown two pots. I cannot increase the pot size, so I trimmed the roots. Now it does not seem to be doing so well. The leaves on the plant are starting to yellow. Is there any way to save my plant? It's my favorite.

A: Yellow leaves always mean too much water. Or, too little. (I hate it when gardener's say that).

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena Sanderana) likes lots of water, so we'll bet that trimming the roots caused it not to be able to get as much water as it needs. Water it a lot until it can grow its roots back. This plant can live directly in water, so there is not much chance of hurting it with too much water.

Q: I have three pieces of lucky bamboo in a skinny vase with about 2" of water in it. One of them at the top has tuned yellow and is withering up. The rest of the stalk seems to be ok. I moved the plant away from a lamp that I had it by, thinking that the light was killing it. Can I cut the damaged part off or will it be ok. In addition, all three pieces have this white spider web sticky stuff on them. What can I do? I love my bamboo and do not want to lose it.

A: You were right to take the bamboo away from the intense source of light. It will do just fine in regular light and even does ok in a less light.
Rinse your bamboo off under the sink faucet with some regular dishwashing detergent. This should clean up the bamboo stalks.

Also change the water every couple of weeks, making sure the water has had a chance to stand 24 hrs to rid of the chlorine. If you have a well system that is fine, or use rain water . Even distilled water will do fine.

Cutting off the damaged part is fine.

Q: I was searching the web to try to figure out what has made my lucky bamboo sick. Two stalks have already died. I think it is because I started using a different fertilizer. I only use a few drops a month. A few days after I fertilize I noticed these white/green crystals that accumulate on the stalk and the container. Is this fertilizer killing my bamboo? Two stalks have turned yellow /brown and is soft and mushy. I discarded them.

A: Yes, the 'lucky bamboo' may start dying when it starts to turn yellow.

Once that happens I am afraid it is a gonner.

I do not suggest fertilizing and if you do, just use a much-diluted water-soluble Miracle Grow or Peters.

Change the water every 2 weeks. This prevents bacteria from building up.

Distilled water seems to work very well.

Good bright light but not full sun.

This is a plant that must be ignored.

They tend to like being pot bound.

I grew it 30 years ago as a Ribbon plant, in a dirt pot.

It is a member of the corn plant family and although roots well and grows well in water it is not an aquatic plant.

Good luck.

squishy wrote:

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if it's any consolation, i managed to kill a small cactus.

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