trim lucky bamboo

Pruning Lucky Bamboo: How to Trim

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Is your lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) looking a little untidy? Maybe it’s grown too tall and become a little top-heavy for your favorite vase. Whatever the reason, pruning this wonderful plant is easy with a little know-how. Read on for everything you need to know. 

What You’ll Need

  • A sharp pair of pruning shears or heavy-duty scissors
  • Isopropyl alcohol or a bleach dip and a rag to disinfect your cutting tools of any bacteria or fungal spores before spreading them to your plant. 
  • A candle or paraffin wax (optional) 

Once you’ve gathered all these supplies, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get started.

Preparing Your Cutting Tools

Make sure your cutting tools are sharp before pruning. A sharp blade is safer to use and makes a clean cut, which does a lot less damage to the plant. A regular heavy-duty pair of scissors can be used for this job, but a decent pair of hand pruners is the best tool for the job. 

It’s always a good idea to disinfect your scissors before pruning. Bacteria and fungal spores on the blades can infect your lucky bamboo plants, so it’s worth spending an extra minute or two to prevent any health issues in the future. 

To do this, simply wipe them down with a clean rag or cotton balls dabbed in isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. Alternatively, alcohol wipes can be used for this purpose.  

When To Prune

Lucky bamboo is an evergreen plant that generally responds very well to pruning. This means you can trim your lucky bamboo canes at any time of the year. 

How To Prune

Your plant will have one or more lucky bamboo stalks, with one or more leafy shoots growing from its nodes. The nodes are the rings on the stalk which make this plant look like a true bamboo. You can trim either the stalk or the shoots of your lucky bamboo. 

Stalk Pruning

If your plants have grown too tall and you wish to shorten them down drastically, cutting the stalk is a good option, although this will leave your plant looking rather bare until a new shoot develops. The good news is that you can use the off-cut to propagate a new lucky bamboo plant

If you plan on pruning the stalk, make your cut about half an inch above a node. The new shoot will grow from the nearest node. 

Shoot Pruning

If you’re happy with the height of your plant, but would prefer to see it grow a little denser and bushier, shoot pruning will be the better option. By trimming the shoots back close to the stalk, you will encourage the lucky bamboos to produce new leafy stalks, creating your desired look. 

Sealing With Wax

Since new shoots grow from the nodes of the lucky bamboo plant, cutting the main stalk creates a wound that will not regrow and hinders the development of new growth. This cut can result in a lot of moisture loss for the plant, or even worse, an infection can set in.

To prevent this, many growers will seal the cut in wax. This is not an absolutely necessary step, but it is easy to do and provides long-lasting protection. You can use regular candle wax from an uncolored and unscented candle, or paraffin wax for this task. 

Simply heat the wax over a stove or in the microwave and dip the tip of the cut stalk in the liquid wax. Remember to be careful, when doing this, hot wax can burn your skin and paraffin is flammable. 

FAQs

Can you prune a lucky bamboo plant?

Yes, you can prune a lucky bamboo plant to control its growth and shape. Trimming the stems can encourage bushier growth and prevent the plant from becoming too leggy.

Can you cut and regrow lucky bamboo?

Lucky bamboo can be cut and regrown if done properly. Cut the stem just below a node (a raised ring on the stem) at a 45-degree angle. Place the cutting in water, ensuring the node is submerged, and roots should grow from the node, allowing the plant to regrow.

How do I get my lucky bamboo to grow more branches?

To encourage more branches on your lucky bamboo, you can prune the main stem and remove any yellowing or damaged leaves. Additionally, providing appropriate light, water, and nutrients will promote healthy growth and potentially stimulate the development of new branches.

How do you shape lucky bamboo?

Shaping lucky bamboo can be done by carefully bending the stems when they are young and flexible. You can use twist ties or gentle manipulation to train the stems into desired shapes, such as spirals or loops. Be cautious not to damage the stems, and adjust the shaping gradually over time to achieve the desired shape.

Conclusion

One of the reasons for the popularity of lucky bamboo as a houseplant is its ease of care and maintenance. Many growers put off trimming lucky bamboo plants because they are worried that they will damage them. With the right tools and knowledge of proper lucky bamboo care, however, there’s really very little to worry about.

After reading this article, you are ready to prune your lucky bamboo to make it shorter, bushier, or both. Have fun!

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