How to Make Bamboo Curly or Shapely

Place a cardboard box over the entire piece of bamboo. If it's growing outside, hold the box down with rocks to prevent it from blowing away. If it's growing in an indoor vase, make sure the entire vase is covered.

Cut a 2-inch by 2-inch square out of one side of the upper section of the cardboard box (it doesn't matter which side you choose because you will be rotating the box later). This will be the only area light will enter. The plant will grow toward the light source. If the plant is outdoors, the sun will be the light source; otherwise, you'll need to place a grow light outside of the box and leave it on eight to 10 hours a day.

Turn the box slightly every day to create a spiral effect on the bamboo. Bamboo grows in sections called steps (these are the sections between the ridges on the stalk of the plant). With a new step created every two to three weeks, the daily change in the light source will be sufficient to create a spiral. To create a more pronounced curve, turn the box once every week.

Water the bamboo as needed. If it's outside, keep the soil moist. If the plant is in a vase, keep at least two inches of water covering the roots. After about three months, you will have a shapely piece of lucky bamboo.