A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum lucky bambo propagation

I've had some lucky bamboo for a few years now. the green leafy part of the plant has gotten pretty tall. I've been googling on how to propagate, but I"m getting some conflicting stories. some say you can only propagate by the stem and you need a couple of sections of the stalk. my stalk only has 2-3 segments. some say you can snip off the top of the leafy part and it will root, some say it won't. also wondering if you can get the leafy part to root will it ever get that thick stalk?

the stalk and stem are the same thing. both are the thick part of the leafy green part. you don't want to cut the bottom.

to get that thick stalk, it has to have very bright light. a lot of it. but, if you cut the top off (you need at least 3-4 rings, plus rings, you can let it dry for a bit, the plop it in good potting soil, keep moist and it will grow. and the part that is left will grow from the sides.

they aren't bamboo at all, but dracaena sanderiana. see //www.agardenersforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/216914#Post216914 about her dracaena marginata that she cut. same propagation technique is what you use.

and if you plant your lucky bamboo in good potting soil and keep it moist, it will take off even more. i'll post a picture of one i was given.

WHOA.....just got out of photobucket! what the heck? almost uploaded my whole photo files on there!
anyway this is what I have. not sure what you mean by the stem is the same as the stalk? I do remember seeing Loz's post a while back. I had no idea her's was the same wee little plant I'm talking about. ha ha.
I cut off some of the top on this wide shot, but me NO going back into photobucket tonight! I think you can still get an idea of what it looks like.


here's a close up of the wee little stalk I have.


anyway to propagate this fellow?

count 3 rings on the leafy part from where it grows out of the thick stem/stalk. (interchangeable words in this case, but not always) and cut there. use a clean sharp knife and cut straight across. you will get side shoots from the leafy part by one of the 3 rings. let the top that you cut off dry a day then put it in soil. it will grow.

Ok, Jiff'master'.....I'm gonna try this!
You seem to know what your talking about.
I've been growing what I have in just water.
but, you think I should start the cutting in soil?

i would. i've never had luck growing the cuttings in water.

i can grow the mother in water, no problem. just make sure you do 2 things. let it dry a day before you put it in the soil and then keep the soil moist, but not wet or soggy. let it dry to your first knuckle between each watering, then water well. make sure you bury the cutting to at least the 2nd ring from the bottom.

ok, thanks about the watering tip!
what about putting wax on the mother plant where you cut it? I read something about that.

i never have. never needed to. it's the equivalent of pruning paint. plants don't "need it" but some people think it looks better. although, that said, in commercial environments, i can see why one would before they shipped them out to retail stores.

thanks, jiffy. wish me luck!

lots of luck being wished. i want you to be successful!!

I started this in water took them off one of my
other ones and it now is doing good and you can see
it has roots growing now and here is a few of my other ones
and another shot

nice shots betty. you have a good hand with plants.

very nice, betty!
I took cuttings off mine last night. I was so carefull to cut just where you said jiff. and then I forgot about letting them dry out a day and stuck them right in the soil. I'm such a goof! It didn't even dawn on me until this morning. the cuttings still look very health. I guess at this point I'll just hope for the best. and the mother plant looks oh so cute now that she has had a nice hair cut! he he I'll let you all know if the babies make it or not.

Wish you lots of luck on them,But I
think they will be ok I do alot of mine
like that just cut and put rooting powder
on it and stik in dirt,But mom my use to say
I had a green thumb since mine alway do so
good.So Crossing my finger's for you

they'll be ok cricket. i just do that because i personally have better luck that way.

I believe it worked just fine! It's been four days and the cuttings look like they've been growing in that soil for years. they never missed a beat. (mamma plant looks chipper too.)
thanks bunches guys!

good for you!