How to Divide Lucky Bamboo Plants

Divide lucky bamboo plants in late spring as they enter their active growing phase. Withhold water for approximately 10 days before dividing the plant to make the root ball easier to handle.

Remove the lucky bamboo plant from its original pot. Crumble off as much soil as possible from around the roots. Mist the roots with a spray bottle to keep them hydrated and cool while you work.

Locate a viable, well-formed offshoot near the edge of the main plant. Look for an offshoot with a mass of roots extending from the base of the trunk, since it's most likely to survive the division process.

Insert the blade of a gardening knife into the remaining soil between the offshoot and parent plant. Position the knife as close to the base of the parent plant as possible and cut through the connecting roots with a downward motion.

Repot the parent plant in its original container with fresh potting soil. Water thoroughly and place it where it will receive the same light conditions as before.

Pot the lucky bamboo division in a 4-inch plastic pot. Hold the division inside the pot so the base of the main trunk is an inch below the edge of the pot. Fill in around the roots with potting soil until the pot is filled.

Shake the pot to settle the soil. Pour water onto the soil until it flows freely from the drainage holes. Add more soil around the base of the lucky bamboo plant if roots become exposed.

Place a gallon-size freezer bag over the top of the lucky bamboo division to retain warm, moist air around the foliage. Place the pot where it will receive diffuse light and warm temperatures.

Moisten the soil whenever the top half-inch dries out completely. To prevent waterlogged soil, water with a spray bottle rather than pouring water into the pot.

Remove the freezer bag in four to six weeks. Check for root growth 10 weeks after potting. Keep lucky bamboo in its rooting pot until the following year, then transplant it into a permanent pot filled with potting soil.