Of course, for the Lucky bamboo kept in water, the only way to underwater is to allow the roots to be exposed to the air. In cases of underwatering, the solution is to begin watering regularly. Always make sure you have water inside your container. It is often difficult to overwater hydroponic plants because the roots have adapted to the water, but overwatering may still cause brown tips to appear on Lucky bamboo.

While brown tips can be a sign of excess salt buildup, if the brown tips are accompanied by yellow leaf edges, the most likely cause is excessively dry air or cold drafts. Instead of modifying your watering schedule, move the plant to a less drafty or dry spot. Yellowing or disfigured leaves can also be the result of problems with stagnant water. As mentioned above, changing the water, rinsing the roots and cleaning any stones or pebbles can help to reverse the impacts of stagnant water. You may also want to change to a darker container if you are having algae problems in a clear vase.

The native growing habitat of Lucky bamboo makes it an ideal house plant because it is well-suited to indirect light and mild temperatures. Lucky bamboo is often sold in containers filled with water and a layer of pebbles at the bottom. This is a perfect arrangement for the plant, but it is essential to make sure that the roots are always submerged in water. Depending on the temperature inside your home, you will have to add water to the container anywhere from every few days to once a week. Changing the water replenishes the oxygen levels, which are essential to the health of your Lucky bamboo. To avoid a buildup of algae on the roots, you should rinse them every few weeks when you add water. You should change its water completely every several weeks. If the water has an odor, change it immediately.

Lucky bamboo grown in soil will actually look different than if it is grown in water—it will develop more leaves and have a bushier appearance. Soil-grown plants need to be in well-drained soil, preferably a sandy mix like you would use for cacti. Lucky bamboo in soil needs to be watered whenever the top two inches of the soil are dry, which could be as often as every three days or as infrequently as once every 10 days. Just press a finger into the soil to test for moisture or use a moisture meter. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.

Any Lucky bamboo that begins to show signs of leaf yellowing or burned leaf tips has a problem. When troubleshooting, first, make sure that the plant is not close to a window where it receives strong exposure to sunlight. Next, evaluate your water source. Buildups of fluoride or salts from tap water or fertilizers can cause leaf burn and yellowing. If you are watering with water straight out of the tap, you may want to let the water sit in an open container for 24–48 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate, or start using distilled water or rainwater instead.

In the wintertime when your home is being heated, it may be necessary to water more frequently, so pay special attention to the moisture levels in your Lucky bamboo as soon as you start to crank the heat up. In the summer, when the water evaporates more easily as the temperature rises, the soil will tend to become dry and you will need to water more frequently. But all in all, you need to water once when the soil is dry to about two inches deep.

The Lucky bamboo is a low-maintenance, winter-hardy, and drought-resistant evergreen perennial plant. This means it can thrive almost anywhere. This unique plant grows well indoors, as well as in many outdoor environments. To keep yours in good health, it’s recommended that you prune it only as needed to control growth and maintain shape. This popular shurb can take up quite a bit of room if left to grow freely. Given enough time, it can be pruned to grow into a small tree. Lucky bamboo is very resilient and learning how to prune them is easy.

A lot of new gardeners shy away from pruning the Lucky bamboo because they’re afraid to cut too much. Luckily, Lucky bamboo is generally considered to be among the easier and more forgiving plants to prune since regrowth appears quite quickly. Although these perennials are relatively fast-growing, you only need to prune when you spot unsightly overgrowth or damaged leaves. In other words, if your Lucky bamboo starts to look uneven or damaged, it may be a good time to prune. If you want to control the size of Lucky bamboo, you need to do a strong pruning in winter time, and you can prune to the shape you want. If the shape is appropriate and only small-scale shaping is needed (pruning no more than 1/4 of the total size of the plant), it can be done in summer or autumn. When Lucky bamboo is growing, if there are yellowing leaves and diseased leaves, prune off the yellowing leaves at the bottom and the parts of the leaves that have spots due to disease infection, which can effectively reduce the infection. If the number of leaves with spots is relatively large, the number of pruned leaves should not exceed a quarter of the total to avoid affecting the growth of Lucky bamboo.

When pruning your Lucky bamboo, always use freshly cleaned shears to prevent the possibility of cross-contamination from other plants. The Lucky bamboo has a high tolerance for drought and cold weather, and can even survive irregular watering schedules for short periods. When grown indoors, it prefers temperatures between 65 and 75 °F and should be kept away from air conditioning drafts to prevent discoloration, leaf fall, and other damage.

The good news is that these plants have a medium growth rate which means they cycle through growth stages fairly quickly. Once your plant matures, you can follow normal pruning methods. Lucky bamboo is mainly used for leaf viewing, flowers have no ornamental value and will consume nutrients, you can prune the flowers when the plant is in bloom and concentrate the nutrients for the growth of the leaves. If you want to control the size of Lucky bamboo, you need to do a strong pruning in winter time, and you can prune to the shape you want. If the shape is appropriate and only small-scale shaping is needed (pruning no more than 1/4 of the total size of the plant), it can be done in summer or autumn. When Lucky bamboo is growing, if there are yellowing leaves and diseased leaves, prune off the yellowing leaves at the bottom and the parts of the leaves that have spots due to disease infection, which can effectively reduce the infection. If the number of leaves with spots is relatively large, the number of pruned leaves should not exceed a quarter of the total to avoid affecting the growth of Lucky bamboo.

Before getting started, it’s best to have a plan. Try to visualize the basic shape and style of how you want your plant to look. Having a goal in mind will help you choose what pruning method and tools to use. Once you have an idea of how you want it to look, it’s time to get ready to prune. Tools Sharp scissors or a pair of hand pruners work great when pruning your Lucky bamboo. However, if you keep your Lucky bamboo outdoors or allow it to grow freely, you may need a tree pruner to reach higher leaves. How to prune When learning how to prune your Lucky bamboo, factors like growth stage, climate, and the current season will give you clues about your plant's pruning needs. Additionally, how you want your plant to look is another thing to consider. If you want to control the size of Lucky bamboo, you need to do a strong pruning in winter time, and you can prune to the shape you want. For example, if you want your plant to be short and round, cutting from the top and pruning any leggy parts will be your best bet. If you want a tall, slender appearance, cut from the bottom and sides to limit the spread of growth to encourage vertical growth. If the shape is appropriate and only small-scale shaping is needed (pruning no more than 1/4 of the total size of the plant), it can be done in summer or autumn. To simplify the process, here are a few tips to remember:

One major concern when it comes to pruning the Lucky bamboo is the possibility of mites, disease, and infection from the laceration left behind after pruning. This can be lessened by pruning at an angle and monitoring the site until healed. Additionally, taking special care to not overwater to prevent the soil from becoming too damp can minimize the risk of spider mites and aphids.

Lucky bamboo typically needs full, indirect sunlight in order to thrive indoors. This means that the plant should be exposed to bright sunlight that doesn’t hit it directly from a window or another light source, like a grow light. You can easily protect it from direct sunlight by placing a sheer curtain between your Lucky bamboo and the window, or by placing it behind a part of the window with a dark screen.

If this is your first time bringing your Lucky bamboo home, then it might be a good idea to try to ease it into the sunlight it needs, rather than place it in bright, indirect light right away. Over the course of two weeks or so, you can slowly move your plant into the sunlight to avoid shock or burning of the leaves from sudden intense light exposure. By easing it into the light, your Lucky bamboo is much more likely to adapt to your home environment well.

Lucky bamboo is one that can easily sunburn with too much sunlight. In the wild, these plants only receive mild, dappled light, filtered down from tree canopies. While they need more light than that to grow in our homes, too much can certainly cause issues. If your Lucky bamboo is getting too much light, you’ll notice that the foliage begins to look bleached or washed out, the tips of leaves may turn yellow or brown and crispy, and it may even grow too quickly to support itself.

Sunburn for plants is much less severe than sunburn for people. While it may look unsightly, crispy, burnt leaves can be removed if they’re too far damaged to recover, or over half of the leaf is damaged. However, you can also try trimming back the leaves just to remove any sunburn damage in an effort to save them, if there’s not too much discoloration. Move your Lucky bamboo away from its light source to avoid future light damage.

While some plants may be ready to face the sweltering sun straight out of the ground, Lucky bamboo needs some time to build itself up enough to tolerate bright light. Propagated cuttings should receive only moderate indirect light, while new leaves during the growing season should be shielded a bit as well. The tender new leaves are more prone to sunburn than any other part of the plant.

Fortunately, plants can communicate in their own language to convey whether they have adequate sunlight or not. Like most plants, your Lucky bamboo will tell you if it isn’t getting enough sunlight. The most visible sign is when your plant becomes particularly dark, or there is no new growth on the plant from one season to the next. You’ll also notice that leaves that do grow in may remain smaller than others, since there isn’t enough light to photosynthesize to support large new leaves.

Depending on how bright the sunlight is that your Lucky bamboo gets, the number of hours in a day may vary. If you have your plant in bright, indirect light, then there’s no need to try to restrict or increase the amount of time your plant gets this light each day. However, if light is less bright or further away from your Lucky bamboo, then you can try to aim for at least eight hours of full light per day.

For this tropical plant to thrive, you’ll want to keep them between 75℉ and 90℉ (25-32℃). Each species can handle temperatures outside of this range, but keeping it within several degrees of these limits will ensure they grow to their maximum potential.

As for its extreme temperature limits, any environment below 50℉ (10℃) or above 95℉ (35℃) will begin to hinder its growth and cause various aberrations to its leaves and stems. This is especially true with low temperatures; even a light frost can cause your tropical plants to perish. Cellular death can begin to happen at a rapid pace, with some species dying in as little as 12 to 24 hours.

While Lucky bamboo doesn’t require any changes in temperature to enter different growing phases, it is important to stay consistent. Wild temperature fluctuations can slow down its growth regardless of its current phase, so it's always better to keep them in a controlled environment. That optimal temperature range of 75℉ and 90℉ (25-32℃) is vital to maintain, especially staying above the lower limit. Going above 90℉(32℃) isn’t ideal, but as tropical plant it won’t suffer too much. On the other hand, going below 50℉ (10℃) (and especially 40℉/5℃) will begin to directly damage this heat-loving plant species.

Lucky bamboo does not need different temperatures for different growing seasons. The most important step in seasonal care is to keep the environment within the optimal temperature range. That's why it's always best to keep this plant indoors. That way, you can control the temperature no matter what the climate is like outside.

Light is also important for tropical species, with all of these plants preferring a partial side level of sun exposure. This means any light they receive needs to be dappled or filtered, with bright but indirect light being the best option when growing your plants indoors. Too much direct sunlight can negatively affect your plant’s leaves, reducing its growth potential.

Tip #1: Don’t Leave Your Plant Near Windows in Colder Months

If you want to make sure your plant isn’t exposed to colder temperatures, you may want to keep them away from windows. In colder months like late fall and winter, even the smallest draft can leak cold air into your home through cracks in your windows. While this air usually dissipates and warms up as it travels throughout your home, any plants placed in close proximity to the window will be affected. Move your tropical plants into an area where they will still get bright but indirect light, while making sure they won’t be affected by potential drafts.

Tip #2: If You Find Dry Patches, Your Plant May Be Getting Too Much Sunlight or Heat

You may notice the leaves become white or even scorched on a sunny day. These discolorations and unusual markings usually indicate that a plant is getting too much heat or sunlight, and it may be dehydrated. Excess light and heat will dry out the soil, stopping plants from getting the moisture they need to support their cellular structure. It also slows down or stops the process of photosynthesis, further hindering growth. If ignored for too long, these dry spots can spread and eventually result in the death of your plants.

Tip #3: Avoid Frost at All Costs

Colder temperatures and frost can damage your plants by causing ice crystals or disrupt normal physiological activity. This makes it nearly impossible for water to move freely throughout plant tissue, creating a deficit of moisture in their stems and leaves. You can tell a plant has been damaged by frost if it begins to suffer from hydrosis (it will appear as though it's soaked with water.) If the problem persists, your plants may begin shriveling and turning a dark brown or black hue. After that, the plant will almost certainly die.

The best way to maintain the right temperature range for Lucky bamboo is by keeping an eye on both the climate and humidity. You’ll want to try to keep each species in a room where you have access to climate control, keeping the heat in the temperature range best mimics its natural habitat. The humidity levels will also have a direct effect on temperature, so it's important to monitor these as well. You can artificially raise the humidity of your growing space by using a humidifier or lightly misting the leaves with water.

If you intend to grow this species outside, you may find it difficult to maintain the right balance of temperature and humidity. If temperatures begin to drop or the air becomes too dry, your best option is to find room within your home and move your plant inside. An indoor growing space will allow you to control the climate more closely, helping your plant reach its full potential.

The primary reason why Lucky bamboo needs regular fertilization is that they have showy leaves that require a lot of energy to produce and maintain. The challenge is that your Lucky bamboo must not only allot enough energy to keep its leaves in good shape, but it must also find enough energy to support the growth of its stems, branches, roots, and all its other vital structures.

If you neglect fertilization, there are two outcomes that are likely to take place. The first is that the leaves of your Lucky bamboo will begin to lose their natural color or texture while looking somewhat unhealthy overall, which detracts greatly from its ornamental appeal. The other outcome is that your Lucky bamboo will begin to slow its growth overall or produce weak growth that could be prone to breakage.

Lucky bamboo will benefit from occasionally feedings , which is why you do not need to set a standard feeding schedule upon planting one of these plants. One of the easiest ways to fertilize your Lucky bamboo is to simply apply your fertilizer when you water this plant sometimes.

During the growing season, your Lucky bamboo will also need a decent amount of water. You could feed this plant once every two-three weeks. This feeding rate should continue during the entire time that your plant is producing new growth.

Throughout most of the year, it is permissible to maintain a regular fertilization schedule for your Lucky bamboo. During the active growing season of spring, summer, and early fall. However, during the winter, this plant should not receive fertilizer at all.

During winter, Lucky bamboo will enter a dormant growth phase. In that phase, the plant will either put forth no new growth or very little new growth. That lack of active growth means that your Lucky bamboo will be using less energy overall, which is why fertilization is not needed at that time.

The fertilizer for a Lucky bamboo has a specific blend of nutrients, each of which is present in relatively low amounts. An ideal fertilizer will have an N-P-K ratio of 3-1-2. However, a general-purpose fertilizer that has an even blend of nutrients can work well in some cases. Still, even when using a balanced fertilizer, the ratio number representing the volume of each nutrient should be at 3 or lower.

The fertilizer you use can be either granular or liquid based. If you choose to use a liquid-based fertilizer, it is often best to dilute the strength by half. While there is not much downside to granular fertilizer, it is often most sensible to use liquid fertilizer, especially if you feed your Lucky bamboo while you supply water.

One of the easiest ways to fertilize a Lucky bamboo is to feed it anytime that you water it. To perform this method, gather your fertilizer and a water container, such as a watering can. Then mix the fertilizer with water to dilute its strength. Then, simply pour the water with the fertilizer onto the soil and allow it to soak down to the roots.

Alternatively, you could use a granular fertilizer. If you use a granular fertilizer, all you need to do is sprinkle some of the fertilizer on the soil in which your Lucky bamboo lives. Granular fertilizers are usually slow-release fertilizers which means you won't need to fertilize as often as you would with a liquid fertilizer. In either case, it is beneficial to water while you feed your Lucky bamboo.

The signs of improper fertilization for a Lucky bamboo should become obvious relatively quickly. Overfertilization is specifically harmful to this plant, and it can cause several visible signs. The most common signs are browning leaf margins, yellowing leaves, wilting leaves, excess fertilizer build-up in the soil, and loss of foliage.

Lucky bamboo are also vulnerable to a complication known as fertilizer burn, in which a plant receives too many nutrients, which causes the roots to dry out and cease their main function. However, if you give your Lucky bamboo water while you feed it, it is far less likely that fertilizer burn will occur.