| I have read in my book that you have to have 4 or 5 bands to cut off to propagation. How many bands do you need? Do you need to cut off the foilage on the top? How slow does the the lucky bamboo grow? |
| For a standard dracaena, you'll need 4-5 bands (leaf nodes) in order to make sure the cutting will develop roots. Set the cutting in potting soil so that at least 2 of the bands are in the potting soil (this is where new roots will form). The bands that are above the soil level should produce new leaves. In the case of Lucky Bamboo, you don't need 4-5 bands. Use a sharp knife to cut the Lucky Bamboo stalk just below a knuckle or band. Dip the cutting in a rooting hormone powder,. Place the cutting in a pot containing a moist mixture of vermiculite and sphagnum peat moss. Place the pot in a well lit room. Although some gardeners have success rooting the stalk in water this method seems to work better for me. The plant from which you took the cutting should continue to sprout more leaves. Lucky Bamboo is very slow growing, probably only 2-3 leaves during the year. |
