Tiffany is correct--the lucky bamboo especially is sensitive to tap water chemicals. What do the roots look like on the bamboo? Do they smell? I had a stalk go yellow very quickly and it was the result of root rot. I ordered a bad one from ebay where the roots were already starting to rot. It happens sometimes.

Check the other stalk roots for any sign of mushiness.

Though this doesn't guarantee your bamboo will live forever, I try to change out the water pretty often (once a week or more)--it also allows me to inspect the plant and to rinse off any debri or goo (algae) that can build up in the clumped roots. A lot of internet guides will advise every two weeks, but I feel as though the water is pretty gross long before that.

I don't understand why "lucky bamboo" is sold and kept in vases of water. Can anyone explain? It seems very likely it could be made much happier by putting it in some reasonable potting mix (as defined in the link Tiffany included) and treating it more like the plant it actually is.

I'm not sure if the water roots would transition to soil, or if one would need to treat it more like a cutting when initially doing the transition. But I can't imagine any kind of dracaena that would be able to live for any real amount of time (plant wise) continually sitting in water. Or if I'm wrong, please someone explain how that works.

Daniel

I moved my 'lucky bamboo' to soil and it grew well. Doubled in size in 2 years.

I gradually added potting soil to the glass vase. Over 6 months it was growing well and I moved it to a pot with just soil. Put it in a sunnier window and it took off.

When we moved to Florida 3 years ago, I put it outside, it rooted through the drain holes and it now growing in the pot but in the ground. Must be 2 ft.

But, my dracaenas always had good sunny windows and now outdoors, lots of light.

One other thing I did was to unbraid the lucky bamboo. It is healthier to do that and lets each plant grow on its own.

Jane