adfjk89
Full Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:00 pm

what is on my bamboo plant?

this plant has been upstairs for years with little to no care..my mom didnt want it so I put it in my room...when she gave it to me I changed the water and cleaned the rocks and pot and put the plant back in...the roots got darker within a week or 2 and now there is this black stuff on the bottom but it wipes off? not sure what to do about it? also on the big stalk it feels soft inside the cane a bit but the outside of the cane itself is hard

you can see the difference between the second and third pic where it wiped off

[img]https://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i416/adfjk2/DSCN0124.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i416/adfjk2/DSCN0125.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i416/adfjk2/DSCN0126.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i416/adfjk2/DSCN0127.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i416/adfjk2/DSCN0128.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i416/adfjk2/DSCN0130.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i416/adfjk2/DSCN0131.jpg[/img]

adfjk89
Full Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:00 pm

so I rinsed the plant and roots off well and they pretty much came back to their regular color..I think its some type of mold or something..am I just out of luck?

User avatar
Kisal
Mod Emeritus
Posts: 7646
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:04 am
Location: Oregon

I don't know much about bamboo, but I do know that real bamboo doesn't grow in water. The plants sold as "Lucky Bamboo" are actually Dracaena sanderiana, which does grow in just water. True bamboo will tolerate its roots being in wet soil, but the canes themselves must stay dry.

If your plant is Dracaena sanderiana, you need to know that Dracaenas in general are very sensitive to water treatment additives, such as fluoride and chlorine. It's better to water them with rainwater or distilled water.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but many of our members grow bamboo, and many others grow Dracaena sanderiana. I'm sure they will be able to offer you good advice. :)

The article at [url=https://urbanext.illinois.edu/news/news.cfm?NewsID=12152]this link[/url] has some brief information about the Dracaena genus.
Last edited by Kisal on Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

adfjk89
Full Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:00 pm

yeah its not real bamboo is dracaena

User avatar
Kisal
Mod Emeritus
Posts: 7646
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:04 am
Location: Oregon

Get rid of the tap water, if that's what you've been using, and use distilled water or rainwater for the plant. It will do much better for you. Personally, I would also move it to a place where it gets better light. They need bright indirect light, in order to thrive. They will survive in dim light, but a plant that's just barely surviving is never as attractive as one that is thriving. JMO, of course. :)

adfjk89
Full Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:00 pm

ok yeah I switched the water out to distilled water, I'm just confused because it lived and grew long shoots over the years as you see it with no water changes or special water or anything ...also had low light where it was so I'm not sure...I had it in rocks before but ill leave it in straight water for awhile to see if the stuff comes back and ill move it to a location with better light

the plant also had a smell once I took the rocks out...but every one of these plants I have had over the years has had a smell to the water when I change it so idk...

adfjk89
Full Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:00 pm

I was able to cut the black part off the stalk without cutting off roots and I cleaned the pot out....I wonder if I should trim the roots while I am doing this? the roots have never been trimmed on it



Return to “Container Gardening Forum”