Hi Jennifer

That's a great question about bamboo.  I wonder if the bamboo came with a plant tag?  That will help you know the type of bamboo.  I will answer your question regarding a bamboo in the Poaceae grass family and not the "lucky" bamboo houseplant that is a different plant.

 https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/ has some good general info on bamboo.  Just a general caution, some bamboo can be invasive, spreading by runners, but if it is a clumping bamboo the spread is much slower.

Bamboo needs, at least, 2 nodes and 2 internodes on a cuttings.  The nodes are the rings that encircle the stem (where the leaves will emerge) and the internodes are areas in-between the nodes.  

But if you see the roots, it might not need to be recut, you can change the water and see if that increases the root growth.  I'm encouraged that the bamboo has leaves.   But generally, once it produces roots it can be planted in potting soil in a container until it increases in size then moved outside if that is your plan.

I do not think the wax is necessary and certainly I would not put it on the bottom where the roots form.  Also,  the hollow channel that runs down the center of the bamboo, should remain open.

Here is a specific link that can provide some more information for you. 

http://www.americanbamboo.org/
Also the University of Kentucky has some interesting info (search Bamboo. CCD-CP-77)

Good luck in your bamboo adventure!

Hi Jennifer,

Thank you for your questions.

I’m guessing that, because the plant you purchased was growing in water, it is the popular Dracaena sanderiana, also known as “Lucky Bamboo” or “Chinese Water Bamboo,” and a few other names. If so, you may have noticed that, unlike bamboo, which is hollow, your plant has a solid core. This is because it is actually more closely related to asparagus than bamboo. I guess “Lucky Asparagus” doesn’t sound quite as interesting. 

To answer your questions, it would be helpful to know why you are wanting to trim the bottom of your plant. Are you wanting to propagate it? That is, are you hoping to end up with two plants? I will give you some information about that. 

If there is some other reason you would like to trim your plant, please let me know, and I will give you more information.

Because of the small roots and leaves, it sounds as if your plant is still quite young. You might think of it as a tiny tree, with the stalk being the trunk. As it matures, branches will grow from this main stalk where the leaves are now. Once these offshoots (branches) are about five inches long, they can be cut and placed in water and can develop into another plant. Several sources give good information about propagating Lucky Bamboo. One I found helpful is at www.epicgardening.com/luckybamboo-care. 

There are some things you can do to help your plant mature more quickly. If you would like to continue to grow it in water, place a layer of pebbles in the dish, so that the roots have more room to grow. Another option is to plant it in soil. You will want to use a soil that drains well, like a cactus or succulent plant mix. The sources I consulted said that your plant will grow faster and might live longer if grown in soil. The average life of the Lucky Bamboo plant is one to two years. 

It is important to water your plant regularly, so that it does not dry out, if you plant it in soil. If you continue to grow it in water, change the water weekly and replace it with tepid, chlorine-free (or distilled) water each time. It is also a good idea to rinse the roots each time, to reduce the chance of developing a disease. 

You asked about dipping the stalk in wax. That is actually something that you can do later, when you take a cutting to propagate it. After you have pruned a “branch” off, you can put wax or paraffin on the main stalk at the site of the cutting. This can prevent disease or pests from damaging your plant. You would not want to dip the bottom of the main stalk or a cutting in wax, as this would prevent it from absorbing moisture and it would die. 

Good luck with your Lucky Bamboo! Please let me know if you have other questions. You might also find these additional websites helpful and interesting. Besides suggestions for taking care of your plant, they also give information about the history of Lucky Bamboo and the traditions related to it.

www.gardenpaths.com/plants/houseplants/grow-lucky-bamboo

www.loveplanting.com/dracaena-sanderiana

Happy gardening,

Char Rae

Wow, i got two responses.  Thank you both.  I believe it is the lucky bamboo, but I appreciate the response on the potentially invasive species. Thanks.

Jen