How to Fertilize Bamboo in Water? – Some Bamboo Care Tips

How to fertilize bamboo in water? It is a common question that we are frequently asked. Although it is a fast-growing plant, you may still support it by proper fertilizing. 

You can use waste aquarium water or a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer that has been diluted (to a tenth of its original strength) to fertilize lucky bamboo.

Let’s dive right into the details with Swipe Garden!

How To Fertilize Bamboo In Water?

The lucky bamboo plant is a hydroponically grown plant, which means it grows in water rather than lucky bamboo in soil. If you use soil-based lucky bamboo, please place it in a container with only about 1-inch water, and keep it refreshed as the water is evaporated or absorbed. 

To supply additional nutrients, apply a diluted solution of liquid fertilizer every several months. Bear in mind that salt and minerals accumulate in filtered, bottled, and tap water over time, which harms the plant.

So, pick distilled water or rainfall to help reduce this problem. These lucky bamboo leaves may grow approximately 1 inch every month under ideal conditions.

What Are The Signs That My Lucky Bamboo Needs Feeding?

Bamboo In Water - Fertilize Bamboo In Water

Lucky bamboo Plants In Tap Water

There are signs when fertilizing your lucky bamboo is necessary. With the appropriate fertilizer and the right amount of liquid fertilizers, you can solve each one. 

Always apply fertilizer to the water, not as a spray. If necessary, spray the leaves only with pure liquid.

Dirty Water

Your lucky bamboo plants may suffer from unsuitable minerals and succumb to illness if the liquid environment is not clean. If it has grown dirty or cloudy, you can change the water.

After you’ve replaced the dirty water with clean one, you may apply fertilizer to keep this vegetable healthy.

Distilled Water Lacks Nutrient Content

If you utilize distilled water, you’ll need fertilizer because iron and magnesium are lost during the distillation process. You will need several drops of fertilizer if any at all. 

It is dependent on the nutrient recommendations as well as the fertilizer ratio. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Leaves Develop Slowly

If you want to encourage leaf development, put a small amount of fertilizer into the water. It is better to do so during the spring growing season.

Leaves Turn Yellow

If you witness your lucky bamboo’s leaves turning yellow and you have not fertilized it yet, your lucky bamboo may be lacking nutrition. You will need to feed it in this situation. 

The majority of lucky bamboo groupings include many stems. If a stem starts to turn yellow, it is preferable to toss it out and replace it with another one.

You can rely on the instructions in this video to better understand how to feed this lucky bamboo properly.

Why Is My Lucky Bamboo Growing So Slowly?

Dry Conditions Might Slow The Development - Fertilize Bamboo In Water

Dry Conditions Might Slow The Development

This lucky bamboo and its leaves may develop more slowly or stop growing entirely if certain conditions are not satisfied.

  • Dry conditions: This lucky bamboo can withstand drought for a year, but it will grow more slowly or cease growing if there isn’t enough water. The leaves may curl up at the margins if the weather remains dry.
  • Low nutrients: If it doesn’t have enough nutrition, it will slow down or cease growing.
  • Seasons changing: USDA plant tolerance zones 8 to 11 are suitable for common lucky bamboo. Therefore, temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit are not a concern for it. 

The cold weather of winter and the cooler temperatures leads to growth retardation. When the weather warms up and the days lengthen in the spring, it should rebound quickly and resume robust growth.

  • Insufficient space: Lucky bamboo and its leaves may stop developing if the growth space becomes too crowded. The leaves may turn yellow as a result of this situation. At least three feet of growing space are ideal for each plant. 
  • Over-fertilizing: If the lucky bamboo has gone yellow after you have fertilized it, you have over-fertilized it. In this situation, all you need to do is change the water and pray for your plant to recover. 

How Do You Make It Grow Faster In Water?

You can use the following methods to make your lucky bamboo grow faster.

Fertilize It

Your lucky bamboo will be healthier and grow quicker if you use an organic fertilizer or brew your homemade compost tea.

When the lucky bamboo is developing, the optimum time to fertilize it is spring and early summer. Nitrogen, silica, and potassium are all ideal for this vegetal. 

Do not use too much fertilizer on your bamboo or other plants, you can replace water with distilled water.

Give It Sunny Spot

Sunlight is essential for growth and photosynthesis. The more “nourishment” your lucky bamboo receives from sunshine, the faster it grows. 

Several species favor filtered light, but almost all lucky bamboo is a sun-loving species that thrives on excess sunlight. Most of them require at least four hours of filtered sunshine every day. 

Pruning

It’s a good idea to remove dead stalks from the lucky bamboo to assist it to develop more quickly. Most significantly, after the old culm is gone, the young culms have more sunlight. 

Moreover, some of the plant’s additional light will be removed from that culm and focused on developing its root network.

How Do You Stimulate Lucky Bamboo Growth?

Not Over-Feed It - Fertilize Bamboo In Water

Not Over-Feed It

You shouldn’t feed your lucky bamboo if it grows well, looks and feels healthy, and is satisfied with its height. It will be alright if you replace the water regularly or once for two weeks. 

If you still want to fertilize, use a moderate 2-2-2 fertilizer or a special one made specifically for this vegetal. Remember to read the directions on the bottle to determine the exact amounts of nutrients to put in and the frequency.

Regardless of the fertilizer you choose, you will need to use it every two months or each environment change. As we already stated, it is dependent on the compost you purchase.

The Bottom Line

We hope you find this article helpful for your fertilizing processing. If you have any questions about how to fertilize bamboo in water, please visit us at Swipe Garden. Thank you for reading!

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