Find Your Ask the Expert: Why is my lucky bamboo yellowing and droopy
My 5yr old lucky bamboo is in a small pot glued in under pebbles and can’t be repotted. It’s leaves used to stand straight up, but over the last month, it’s leaves have begun to yellow and are now yellowing rapidly.
The stalks are still dark green, but the leaves are drooping badly. Can I save my plant? Jan
Plant Expert Reply:
All good this come to an end and so has your lucky bamboo and it’s container. The container no longer gives the lucky bamboo what it needs – a good home.
I suggest you propagate new lucky bamboo stalks. To do this you will need rooting hormone (a powdery substance from your local garden center), a new container, a sharp knife and some distilled water. Begin by locating a node (raised ring on the stem of you lucky bamboo stalk) that is half way up the stalk. Now take the knfie and cut the stalk at a 45degree angle about an inch above the node. Now you have a top with no roots and a bottom with no leaves.
Take the top and dip the cut side in rooting hormone. Wait any where from 2 hours to 24hours and place the top in the new container with water. In a couple of weeks, this stalk will form roots and you will have a new plant.
Usually the bottom will develop new leaves beside the cut. However since the container is small and glued in this may not occur. I would still give it a try. Beginning 2 days after cutting, start misting the plant twice a day. Do this until you see new shoots for on the sides of the cut.
Once you have roots and leaves treat your plants as you did before you propagated them. Good Luck and Keep me posted.
Thank you for the information, although it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I was hoping the plant would live a lot longer, but I will try to take cuttings from it before it’s too late and grow a new one with the information you gave me. Thanks so much for the advice!