You’ll need to give lucky bamboo time to form roots when you’re propagating. ‘Lucky bamboo can take anywhere from two to six weeks to form roots, depending on whether you propagate it in soil or water,’ says plant expert Stephen Webb of Garden’s Whisper.
‘If you propagate it in soil, expect it to take longer – maybe four to six weeks – until you see some decent root growth. The soil helps anchor the cutting, but it’s slower for the roots to push through. Just make sure the soil stays moist but not soggy.’
‘However, propagating in water often speeds things up. Typically you’ll see small roots emerging in two to four weeks. The water allows the roots to grow more freely without resistance from the soil. Plus, you can watch the roots grow, which is pretty neat.’