How do I properly dry Bamboo?

My bamboo is dying, how to save it please? (Details included)?

• Type of bamboo: unknown Age: maybe a year or two Size: (It started with 6 stalks, there are now only 2 left) Stalk one: above pebbles about a foot, from bottom to top about a foot and a half Stalk two: above pebbles about a half a foot, from bottom to top about a foot I don't know what they're really called I just call them stalks. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Anyways, the other four "stalks" a while go began to get shrivelly, then turned light green, then yellow and then brown and they died completely, so I removed them. It usually happens one-by-one. Lately the last two stalks have been doing really very well but earlier this week the smaller one, stalk two, began to get light green and they both got shrivelly. Now stalk two is yellow, not yet brown but yellow, and I'm getting worried. I have faith that I can save it, because I have another bamboo plant that started with 8 stalks and now only has two. I left a couple stalks however because they haven't gotten rotten yet, they're just light brown and hard...But a while ago on both of the ones I left, little green leaves started to grow out the tops of these dead stalks (which had been dead for a while). Now they're kind of dead but they grew bigger before they died again, so I still have hope that bringing them back is possible. A while ago several people told me this is because of root rot, so I stopped watering them a lot. This time I dug up both the stalks on the plant that is having problems currently (carefully, of course). They're roots are in the shape of the bottom of the tiny square pot thing they're in (which has no drain holes in it) so I don't know if they need more space or not. They came in it so I left them in it. I found that way down at the bottom, stalk two has a tiny bit of black. Also, stalk one is yellow beneath the surface, even though it is perfectly green above the surface (but still shrivelly). Originally they were in a little pot full of tiny pebbles. (I still have the pebbles in a separate container. I will temporarily put the stalks back into the little pot with the pebbles until I can figure out what to do). Right now I have artificial light because my bedroom doesn't have windows and it's the only place in the house that my cats can't get to. Should they be getting real sunlight? Right now the artificial light isn't very bright, it is not flourescent and it does not shine directly on them although they are somewhat near it. Should I put them in a bigger pot? Should there be holes in the pot? Should I keep them in the pebbles or should I put them in soil? If I should put them in soil, what kind of soil and should I use fertilizer? How often should I water them, what temperature should the water be and how much should I water them when I do? How much fresh air should they get? Should I give them sunlight or artificial light? Is there anything that I should do to prevent my other bamboo plant from dying? (The other one is in the same location and a bit taller with more leaves. It is in a long but thin pot of about the same depth which is about 4 inches or so. I don't water them a lot because I'm scared to but I don't want to make them thirst either!) Please answer all of the questions in the paragraph above if you can! Anything that can help save my plants would be wonderful, thank you! I'll try to figure something out but I don't want to risk anything to serious so I'm kind of relying on you guys, thanks :)

• Answer:

  Put them outside in the sun. Give them well draining soil (although i wouldnt change it unless its really healhty) -Large pot is good. (dont change if its dying as it gives it stress) -Yes, drainage holes are important. -Give them soil, lack of nutrients in pebbles. -a well draining soil. no idea about fertilisers. -water them when the surface of the soil looks dry. temperature is not important. Water them with a lot of water - with proper drainage, it doesnt matter. -I would think that outside air is good. - Sunlight is always better Im guessing its mainly because of the lack of sunlight. Giving them proper light is is very important. keeping plants in the dark is depriving it from its main source of energy. Most plants cannot be grown in a bedroom under negligable amounts of light.