How do I make my Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) twist or sprial?

[dldaily]

Anyone know how to make 'Lucky Bamboo' spiral or twist? Is there anything else you can do beside turn the plant away from the light every so often?

Thanks

[Knife Knut]

The Short:
Put the stalk on its side. The green shoot will turn upwards. Turn the stalk as needed to coax growth in the desired direction.

The Long:
Unfortunately old, hardened growth cannot be trained.
Plants are programed to send new growth (besides branches) vertically (gravitrophism). this is the mechanism that is used to train dracena. They also grow towards light (phototrophism); if you want to set up a well filtered light source directly above your dracena (keep in mind that the dracena does not like direct lighting), it couldn't hurt. To speed things up, you could use artifical methods of bending the new growth, such as copper wire, in much the same way as training a bonsai. Above all, however you need patience.

What this means is the new growth will twist and turn to the optimal growing position as you move the plant around, allowing you to grow the desired shape.

Currently I am growing a serpentine shape in the filter sump of my well lit (live) planted aquarium. I just let it lean a bit away from the light (actually I was too lazy to make something to stand it upright) , and turn it 180 degrees as needed. Judging from the roots it seems quite happy.

Hey Mark Meckes, if you are reading this, you should set up a Dracena forum.