Question
Hi.

Yesterday i bought a vase with lucky bamboo and fish in it. It does NOT have any soil, just water. Just clear vase/fish bowl type, with the bamboo mounted on top of the vase. The roots are immersed in the water. And there used to be 2 baby koi fish swimming around in the vase. I place the vase indoor, in my living room. Little or no direct sunlight.  

Well, anyway I was told that lucky bamboo need soil to live. If it is ONLY water, the bamboo will eventually die. Is this true??? What can I do to prevent?? Anything you can suggest that will keep the bamboo alive, AND not kill the fish??

And if you know, will the bamboo help put oxygen for the fish to breath. or is the bamboo actually taking the oxygen away from the fish?? PS: one of the fish died this morning. I was wondering if it is probably because of lack of oxygen.

All help much appreciated. Really concerned with one fish die and friends telling me that the bamboo will die eventually because of lack of soil.

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Fay,

Lucky bamboo are Dracaena cuttings that are rooting in water. Like any cuttings, they will survive in plain water for about a year and then begin to decline due to lack of nutrients. So if you want your Lucky bamboo to survive long term, then your friends are correct and you should move it to a small pot filled with potting mix.

Plants do absorb some oxygen from the water, but probably not enough to deprive the fish if you change the water every week or so.

I am not an expert on fish, so I really cannot tell you what they need. One thing that your plant needs is more light. It should be located on a sunny windowsill, but I do not know how that will affect the fish.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.