Find Your Ask the Expert: PLEASE HELP, I HAVE HAD A BAMBOO IN A TALL GLASS VASE FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND IT WAS DOING FINE , NOW FOR NO REASON THE WATER STARTS TO GO CLOUDY AND AN AWFUL SMELL COMES FROM THE WATER LIKE ROTTEN EGGS, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SAVE MY PLANT AS I KEEP CHANGING THE WATER MORE OFTEN NOW TO PREVENT THIS SMELL, OR HAS MY BAMBOO SEEN BETTER DAYS. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT I CAN TRY. THANK YOU MR. S. HODGSON
Lucky Bamboo Water is Cloudy and Smelly – What Will Correct Problem?
October 1, 2007 by
Mr. Hodgson,
If the lucky bamboo stem are still green and healthy, your problem can be solved simply by cleaning the container. Changing the water only will not remove the pathogen causing the problem. You will need to clean the container with a solution of bleach water. Use 4 parts water to one part bleach. Scrub the container with this solution and then triple rinse the container before you refill it with distilled water. Wipe your lucky bamboo with a damp cloth rinse the cloth before moving to a new stalk. This should take care of the problem.
I agree with Jamie completely on her recommendation. In addition, I recommend you examine your bamboo stems for rot. Check to see that the stem is green, if it is brown and soft, then it is rotting. If this is the case, you can cut the rotting portion of the stem, separate it from the rest, and put it in a separate container to root. For the rest of the healthy stems, clip part of the roots, wash the whole bamboo then replace into the clean container and add enough fresh water.
This is based on my experience as a florist and a lucky bamboo enthusiast.
Ive had my bamboos for 5 yrs now, and they were doing amazing, over 6 feet… And I’ve since moved across the provience and the plants froze in the truck. I’ve since cleaned them, the rocks and of course a new vase. But I notice the water is really stinky. I’ve clipped off the bad parts. But the steams are still green but really soft. Is there anything I can do..
Your bamboo are probably going through shock. Put them in a area of your new home that was as close to their other habitat as possible. Be careful not to put them near vents or other air drafts. It also sounds like you need to clean the containers and change the water. To clean the container, use a solution of bleach water. Use 4 parts water to one part bleach. Scrub the container with this solution and then triple rinse the container before you refill it with distilled water. Wipe your lucky bamboo with a damp cloth rinse the cloth before moving to a new stalk. This should take care of the problem and your bamboo will be healthy in no time!
I’ve had my lucky bamboo over a year now. and it started smelling sometime last week. so I cleaned all the rocks and rinse the vase and for a few days it was fine. now it smells again. it smells awful like rotten eggs or something and it makes my house smell terrible. last time I cleaned out the vase it took quite some time and I don’t want to have to keep doing it! the plant is all green except for one leaf is yellowish brown. as far as I can see, there is no rotting. I just don’t know what to do. part of me wants to pour my entire bottle of perfume in it and another part wants to actually solve the issue. HELP!
Hello my bamboo is stinky, I took all the rocks out and cleaned my vase. I put my bamboo back in the vase with just water. Should I cut off the roots that are rotten. My stalks are still green but some of the roots are slimy and Grey looking. Should I remove them?
Jess,
Did you clean the container with bleach? Just rinsing it out isn’t good enough. You are trying to kill mold and/or algae which is causing the odor. Soak the rocks or any other filler you are using to clean them as well. Of course you’ll want to rinse thoroughly after the fact.
You also need to thoroughly rinse the roots (NOT with bleach!) if they appear grey or slimy. This means they already have mold or algae growing on them. If the problem is mold and you are using an opaque container, you may want to switch to a clear one. The additional light should inhibit the growth of mold. However, if the problem is algae and you are using a clear container, try switching to an opaque, ceramic one. This will stem the algae growth. The secret is in finding the right container for your environment.
Hope this helps,
Ed
Jenny,
Don’t remove the slimy roots. Instead, rinse them thoroughly until the slime is gone. That is probably mold and is the cause of your smell. If you are using an opaque container, you may try switching to a clear one. The added light will inhibit the growth of mold.
Hope this helps!
Ed
Hi. I got a lucky bamboo last week because it was rootbound and i wanted to save it– I did, cut back the roots some and put it in a bigger, clear pot with water and rocks. I just noticed tonight that the roots smelled terrible. They look fine though, the way they should. I rinsed the rocks, pot and roots. It doesn’t smell unless I get really close, and then it smells just vaguely, like it’ll come back. The plant looks fine, it’s a nice green color and no browning or soft stalks at all. But the thing that concerns me is that I read you should change the water and rinse the pot with lucky bamboo every week — It hasn’t been a week that it’s been in water yet. It’s been 5 days and it was already kind of cloudy. Is that concerning or not? I know this thread isn’t up to date and hasn’t been updated in a while, but I couldn’t find anywhere else to ask this. If someone could still reply or help, that would be great.
Conan,
When you cleaned your container and rocks, did you use bleach? If not, you should clean them again with a solution of four parts water to one part bleach. This will kill the pathogen that is causing the odor.
I thank God I found this site with the same problem/issue I’ve been having with my bamboos for years!! I have bought and repurchased NUMEROUS stalks of bamboo, because I REALLY like them, and all of them have died on me!! :-( I have had the SAME problem with the water turning cloudy and smelling before each set died. I have always thought to change the water and rinse the slime off the stems until they were squeaky clean, but never knew to use bleach to clean the container or to use different containers clear vs. opaque. Thank you ALL for all of your help, I’m sure I’ll be able to keep this bunch for YEARS now!!!