planting question

[evil wizard]

Ok y'all, in my tank I have a few stalks of bamboo. 2 of them are tall enough that they stick out of the water without any leaves in the water, 1 is short so I have it in a pot, and the smallest one is where the problem is. It has a growth shooting out close at the bottom so I put it on top of the gravel in the pot because that is the only way I can get it high enough without putting it in a HOB filter. It is not that big but has a HUGE root ball, I couldn't put the root ball in the pot so I put it on top of the gravel and put some gravel on top of the roots to keep it steady.
Can it live like this or should I move it to my 5 gallon and put it in another pot? It would reach the top of the 5 gallon I think..
-Brian

 

[OrionGirl]

I have some that are just hanging on the edge of a bucket with the roots suspended in the water. They're growing happily.

 

[evil wizard]

I hope it grows enough that I can plant it in the gravel within a few months, its right by a window so Im hopeful

 

[dougall]

remember it isn't an aquatic plant, assuming you mean lucky bamboo... you don't want to try keeping regular bamboo.

the leaves will need to be out of the water, whatever happens. Some out of the water should be fine, anything submerged will melt off. But I wouldn't have too much hope if you can't keep at least the top leaves out of the water.

 

[evil wizard]

Why not regular bamboo? I keep several straight sticks of bamboo in the tank

 

[Tifftastic]

Why not regular bamboo? I keep several straight sticks of bamboo in the tank

Because regular bamboo gets six feet tall, and does that rapidly.

Here's a little article on the difference http://www.gardenguides.com/117536-bamboo-vs-lucky-bamboo.html

 

[fishorama]

Lucky bamboo is usually a dracaena (formed in a spiral), not a bamboo at all. I hate common names sometimes.

 

[evil wizard]

I always thought the straight bamboo was normal bamboo and the curly ones were lucky bamboo :/
Haha, thanks Tiff, you taught a stubborn young dog a new trick .