Question
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Followup To
Question -
I have a bamboo, that i am very fond of. Recently it got snapped in half. In the 2 years i have had it, it has only been in water but i am wondering what i should to. I have tied the two halfs together in a hope they will merge but is it wiser to plant each half seperatly? Should i plant it in soil or water and how do i get roots to grow on the bottom of the broken half?
Answer -
Hi Jamie,

Your lucky bamboo is actually a Dracaena cutting that is rooted in water.

The broken parts will not grow back together.

Observe the slightly raised ridges that encircle the stem. These ridges are called nodes. They are important because it is from these nodes that roots and new shoots emerge.

If each of the two sections have at least two nodes on them, then both sections can be rooted and both will produce leaves. The lower node on each section should be kept in water at all times. The water will trigger the development of roots from that submerged node. The upper node(s) that is not in water will eventually send out a new shoot with leaves.

If one of the broken sections has only one node, then you should discard it.

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

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me an AllExperts rating.

Sorry to bother you again but my bamboo that has no shoots or roots i put 2 of its nodes in the water and 4 out. Since quite early on it has gone yellow. It is also smelling foul, like a dead animal and clouding and fouling its water within days of being put in it. the other thing i noticed about it is the section of plant below the first submerged node as become mushy and waterloged. Is this normal or is there something i am doing wrong. Thanks so much, Jamie.

Answer
Hi Jamie,

No bother.

I had assumed that the top section without roots had leaf shoots on it and that the top of the stem was sealed. From your recent description, it seems that this section has neither roots or shoots. Without leaves and without a sealed stem top it cannot survive long enough to develop roots and then produce leaves. You will have to discard it.

I apologize for any misunderstanding. I am curious, what happened to the leaves?

Regards,
Will Creed