Question

My Lucky Bamboo   I own a little lucky bamboo since 2007, and everything was fine until now, the leaves are starting to get yellow. I've always kept my bamboo in the same glass I bought it, and I've never tried to take it out of its container. I always use pure water.

A week ago I left my bamboo near the window for an entire day or two, where I guess it took direct sunlight...so:

1. Is my bamboo dying?
2. How can I stop the yellow from srpeading?
3. Was the direct sunlight the cause of this?
4. In my attempt to do something I read about cutting the dry tips of the leaves, and I did, was that a good choice? Also I cleaned the leaves from dust with water.

Only the lower leaves are getting totally yellow, but some upper leaves are starting to get their tips yellow...

Help please :S

Answer
Anna,

Your lucky bamboo is actually Dracaena sanderiana. Lucky bamboo is happy to grow without soil in a few inches of water. Appropriate light levels are also an important factor in caring for lucky bamboo. The plants grow naturally under the shady canopies of taller rainforest trees. Thus, they prefer an indoor location with bright, indirect light. They will perform well under artificial lighting. Too much direct sun can cause burning of the leaves. Too little light will lead to weak growth, stretching and poor coloration. Normal household temperatures are ideal. Leaving it in front of the window for 2 days is probably the reason the leaves are turning yellow.

Temperatures should be between 65?5?F. Fresh, clean water is essential to maintain the plants and the roots should always be wet or moist. Never allow them to dry out. Replenish the vase with fresh water every 7?0 days. Feeding every 3? weeks is good. Since water contains no nutrients, per se, the best care for lucky bamboo plants includes the occasional use of a dilute solution of plant food. Without soil to buffer the fertilizer salts, the roots are susceptible to burning if the solution is too strong. Use any standard house plant food at about one-tenth the recommended dilution rate each time you change the water.

Tap water is sufficient if there is no chlorine in the water. I am not sure what you mean by pure water. There can be no chlorine or fluoride in the water. If there is any doubt it is best to use distilled water. It is best if you use tap water leave a pitcher of the tap water sitting out overnight to let the chlorine evaporate before watering your lucky bamboo plant the next day. Unfortunately, fluoride does not evaporate and it is toxic to Dracaena plants. If fluoride levels are high in your tap water, it is recommended that you use a non-fluoridated water source such as bottled distilled water.

I think the light is your major problem. But you must also make sure you change the water every 2 weeks. Like any other houseplant, Lucky Bamboo can be transferred to a vase or pot 2" larger than the original, or planted permanently into a loose sand or soil mixture that provides lots of bottom drainage. To avoid root rot, be careful to let the top of the soil dry out between waterings.

I receive a lot of questions about ongoing care of Lucky Bamboo - Perfectly healthy plants become top-heavy. What to do? The plants may be pruned to a more manageable and attractive size, taking care to make a clean cut just above the leaf bract. If you wish, you may apply a little paraffin wax to the cut surface of the original plant. Smaller stalks will branch out just below the cut and you'll have a fuller, more leafy plant as a result.

Take the stalk you have cut off and root it in water for another beautiful plant! I often just push the cut stalk into the pot beside the parent plant. They root in no time and you may either leave it in that pot or transplant to another.

Sometimes, the root systems are so healthy they may become "pot" or "root bound". It's okay to take the plant out of the water, gently remove the gravel it has embraced, and then prune back the root system. Usually, you can remove a third of the root system without injuring the plant. Keep in mind that you only want to do this during the "dormant" growing season which, in your area begins about mid-April when deciduous trees begin to lose their leaves. Growing activity doesn't necessarily come to a halt under the ground at that time. Often, better root systems are formed and that's exactly what your Lucky Bamboo will do so that it can continue to sprout upwards with fresh, green leaves on healthy stalks.

Pruning the top and the roots may help renew growth on this plant. If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck!

Darlene