To avoid root rot, a money tree needs a sandy, peat-moss-based soil and a pot with good drainage. Although it likes humidity in general, you should let its soil dry out between watering. A good schedule for most environments is to water when the top 2-4 inches of soil are dry. Water thoroughly, until water flows out the drainage holes of the pot, and pour out the excess from the tray so that the roots don’t sit in water.

During the growing season, fertilize once a month with a liquid plant food at half strength, but skip fertilizer in the winter.

When you are changing the water out look at the roots to determine if they are becoming “root bound”.  If the roots appear to be knotted and formed into a pot-shaped mass then it is time to find a bigger pot or you can trim the roots back a bit. If you choose to re-pot all you need is a larger ceramic or glass pot.  Dump out the rocks, remove the plant and place it into the new pot.  Add rocks and fresh room temperature water and you’re done!

The stalk of the lucky bamboo has been cut and sealed.  It will not grow any taller.  The shoots are the only portion that will continue to grow.

Every three to four months you should change out the water because standing water attracts bugs and bacteria.  Take your plant out of the pot.  Wash the rocks off in very hot water.  Rinse the pot out in hot water.  Examine the roots to make sure they are a healthy white, yellow or orange color.  Then put it all back together again and add clean new bottled or purified water.  In some areas you can use the tap water if you allow it to sit opened for two days.

Add water on a continual basis so that the roots are always well under water.  You do not need to go higher than the root line.  It won’t hurt the plant to be deeper in water, but the deeper the water the higher up the stalk the plant will send out roots.

Keep your lucky bamboo warm, 65-85 degrees and exchange the water out once a month until it perks up.  Then change the water out every 3 to 4 months.  Use room temperature bottled or spring water.  As long as the stem does not turn yellow and mushy, your lucky bamboo is fine.  The yellow tips could have developed due to the use of tap water, lack of water, low temperatures or too much sun exposure.  Keep the water level just above the root line at all times.  Using a quart bottle, add 6-8 drops of the Green Green fertilizer (or another brand of water-based fertilizer) and then use the water from the quart bottle each time you add water to your plant.

Remove the dead plant from the rest of the arrangement right away.  The dead roots can spread rot to the other plants if left in the water too long. Remove the entire arrangement from the water. Take the dead stalk out by getting a firm grip on the stalk just above the roots and slowly pulling in out.  If the plant is tied into the arrangement then loosen the wires by untwisting them and pulling the dead stalk out. You may need to gently pull the roots apart from the other plants if they are entangled.  Don’t worry if you end up ripping some roots, as these should quickly regenerate.  If the arrangement is made up of many braided strands removing one dead stalk shouldn’t hurt the overall strength of the arrangement.

Lucky Bamboo is growing in popularity because they are very hardy and fairly easy to care for.  Give them plenty of clean water and indirect sunlight.  Those cover the basics.