how do i grow bamboo?

Question

i have just bought a bamboo plant thing. does anyone know how to grow it in water so the shoots spiral up?? i'm very confused trying to figure it out. thanks

Answer 1

If you purchased Luck Bamboo it isn't really bamboo

emilycompost
Archive Articles
Dracaena sanderiana
Lucky Bamboo
AGAVACEAE
'Lucky Bamboo' isn't bamboo at all. It's botanically know as Dracaena Sanderiana: commonly known as the ribbon plant. It will grow in water like cut flowers.
http://www.emilycompost.com/lucky_bamboo.htm

OPEN THE ABOVE LINK for instructions on how to care for your plant/even if it's not real bamboo.

And If you ever plant any in your yard make sure it's clumping bamboo and not running bamboo.

There are two major categories of bamboo:
http://homepages.hawaiian.net/madmonk/bamboo.htm
running and clumping. The horror stories that you may have heard about bamboo running rampant are about running bamboos. These bamboos send out rizimes, often for tens of feet, which put up new stems, or culms. Running bamboos can spread fairly rapidly, and require caution. My personal recommendation is to not plant running bamboos in the ground (may be ok in pots).

Answer 2

Bamboos need plenty of water if grown in the garden. I bought a 'lucky bamboo' house plant which was just in water. It had roots so I put it in soil and it's going well. You could do the same but never let it dry out. Once bamboos start to die they can't usually be saved. And be careful - they contain arsenic!

Answer 3

Plenty of clean water, change it regularly. I always take out my bamboo stems and wash them gently in the sink getting anything slimy off of them and them put them back in the clean water. Sunlight is very important. They should be growing a little when they are healthy. Also, use rocks (small clean pebbles, etc) to support the bamboo shoots and keep them upright. Don't put too many shoots in any one container. I use a glass jar/container to let the light through.