Lucky Bamboo Care FAQ's

1. Q: How do I care for my Lucky Bamboo?
   A: Just keep in water and out of direct sunlight.
2. Q: Can I cut the leaves?
   A: Yes, but we recommend plucking off the yellow leaves off as soon as possible rather than cutting since it leaves cut marks.
3. Q: How do I make it grow faster?
   A: Keep it in an elevated spot. Warmer rooms such as rooms upstairs have more heat since heat rises. But if it's too hot like leaving the package in your cars for a couple of days will make it wilt.
4. Q: Can I revive dying bamboo?
   A: You can revive wrinkling bamboo. Wrinkling happens when a healthy plant doesn't receive enough water through it's roots. Just place it a tall glass or pitcher of water for a couple of days. You can also save a plant by plucking the yellow leaves. However, if the stalk is yellowing best to remove it and get another.
5. Q: What causes yellowing?
   A: If the plant is exposed to too much sun even once in it's life time it will turn yellow. During the winter if it is kept in extremely cold water it will turn yellow. If it is infected it will turn yellow. Room temperature is the safest.
6. Q: Do bamboo plants grow roots, branches and spread out and take over your house?
   A: The Lucky Bamboo does grow roots but it will not take over your house. The growth of real bamboo is hard to control. Luckily, this kind of bamboo is a stick that will only grow a few inches of roots and sprouts.
7. Q: Will my lucky bamboo stick grow curly?
   A: Lucky Bamboo actually only grows straight and does not grow curly or wavy at all. The bamboo farmers have to lay them on a huge long table in a greenhouse, cover 3 sides in the dark, one side has bright light and let them naturally grow towards the light, and manually rotate them occasionally; more work, more curl, more expensive. It takes the farmers an average of 1.5 years to make one curl.
8. Q: Can I get the bamboo plant stick to curl?
   A: Yes, (make sure you have time for this) you can do this yourself and make it curl like farmers do. The stick is not going to grow any longer but the leaves will grow towards the light.
9. Q: Will the bamboo plant sticks grow taller?
   A: No. All the sticks receive special treatment when they have reached the shape and length needed. They only keep growing green leaves and stay green in either water or soil.

10. Q: Can I plant them in soil or grow them outside?
    A: This type of Bamboo cannot grow outdoors. It gets sunburn easily and the leaves will turn yellow and eventually die. You can try planting them in soil but it is not necessary. If you do decide to plant them in soil, remember to always keep the soil damp.

11. Q: Can you eat Lucky Bamboo?
    A: No. The lucky bamboo plant arrangements are not meant for human consumption. Their purpose is to bring beauty and decorum to your home and office. And hopefully bring you some luck and money.
12. Q: What do I do when the leaves or stems turn yellow?
    A: If the leaves turn yellow, cut those off or it will affect the rest of the plant. Then take out the bamboo arrangement out of the container and rinse the rocks, the container, and the roots of the bamboo and put everything back together, then add fresh water with a few drops of Green Green plant food. If the stems turn yellow, it is too late for that stalk. Please remove it and buy another stalk to replace it.
13. Q: Can I cut the leaves or the sprouts off?
    A: You can break off the sprout and place them in a different container and try growing them (sometimes this works but sometimes they die). The leaves will grow back on a different spot.
14. Q: How much light does the Lucky Bamboo need?
    A: As long as it is not in direct sunlight, it is fine. The lucky bamboo can thrive in an office that has no windows and only the light that you turn on when at work.
15. Q: Does Lucky Bamboo cause diseases? What about the Tiger mosquito outbreak?
    A: A few years back when Lucky Bamboo was imported from Asia on ship, they were shipped in containers with water. The tiger mosquito eggs were in this water. But due to extreme regulations, Lucky Bamboo is shipped in a gel like substance. Then they are carefully checked and washed several times to make sure no signs of the Tiger mosquito are present. If you are still worried about it, just submerge the plant in warm water.
16. Q: Is it true that it's unlucky if the leaves turn yellow?
    A: Yes, but only for the Lucky Bamboo. :) When the leaves starts to turn yellow it could be because it's exposed to the sun, lack of water or dirty water. When the stalks turn yellow you must remove the stalk at once since that individual stalk plant may be infected. This is why growing it in water is better than growing it in soil. You can clean rocks, you can't clean soil.
17. Q: How lucky is Lucky Bamboo? Are there any examples?
    First remember, man made luck and heavens luck are two different types of luck. Heavens luck is your fate due to the time of your birth. Man made luck, is the luck you derive from hard work, timing, brains and prayers. Lucky bamboo is said to help accelerate your man made luck. The more you have, the more acceleration you get. You don't have to believe it now, but from personal observation and business experience, having Lucky Bamboo around has accelerated sales and cashflow to the individual. Whether one is profitable one, has to have the brains to make it happen.
18. When is a good time to purchase bamboo?
    If your going to buy online the best time is spring and early summer. Anytime you have extreme temperatures such as snow or blazing heat waves you might want to put off the lucky bamboo purchase. Even the best merchants like Red Envelope, or FTD can't guarantee longevity of the plant. And the tend to charge an arm and a leg for it.
    

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