Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana)
Lucky bamboo plants with interesting shapes, swirls, or braided stalks are commonly found in offices and homes for good feng shui. You can also train them to produce stalks with small, simple, flopping green leaves that are as straight as an arrow. The plant resembles bamboo and grows as rapidly as bamboo (over a foot in six months), but it is not related to bamboo. Actually, it is a succulent. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs, causing illness.
Lucky Bamboo Plant Care & Growing Guide
Water
Lucky bamboo doesn’t like chlorine and other chemicals that are often in tap water. 2 If you have hard water, you can use tap water (containing a lot of minerals). Because of this, you should only water your lucky bamboo with water that has been bottled, distilled, or left out for 24 hours to let the chlorine evaporate.
If the plant is in a water vase with pebbles, change the water every week to keep it from getting sick or stinky. Make sure that there is always enough water to cover the roots completely. Every two to seven days, as needed, add a little water. Every two to three months, or more often if the water smells bad, you should change all of the water.
Light
Lucky bamboo likes bright, filtered sunlight, like what you’d find under the canopy of a rainforest. Keep the leaves out of direct sunlight because it will burn them. They can deal with too little light better than too much. But if the plant starts to sag or the green starts to fade, give it lighter. Rotate your plant often so that all of its leaves get the same amount of light.
Humidity And Temperature
As you might expect, lucky bamboo plants do best in warmer temperatures, between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t put your plant near a hot or cold draft, like in front of an air conditioner, a heating vent, or a window with a draft. Your lucky bamboo plant doesn’t need more humidity than what’s already in your home, so don’t worry about it.
Feeding
Most lucky bamboo arrangements only need one drop of liquid fertilizer per month. There are also special fertilizers for lucky bamboo that can be used.
Plants were grown in water and only need to be fertilized every other month or so with a very diluted liquid fertilizer. Lucky bamboo plants with red roots are healthy, so don’t worry if you see red roots floating in a glass vase.
Repotting
When arranging lucky bamboo, there should be at least an inch of space between the stalks and the edge of the dish or bowl. This space gives the plant’s roots room to grow and hold it up. If your bamboo is growing in a big glass vase, make sure the vase is the right size for how tall the stalks are and can support them well. The water level should be high enough to cover the roots completely without getting to the stalks.
If your plant has grown too big for its pot, it is not hard to move lucky bamboo. To move the plant, do the following:
- Start with a clean container that is slightly bigger than the one you are using now.
- If the lucky bamboo is growing in a pebble-filled pot, carefully dig it out.
- The pebbles are washed with water before being put in the new container.
- Carefully place the bamboo plant in the pebbles, making sure to bury the roots. You might need to add more pebbles to cover and protect the roots of the plant.
- If your bamboo is growing in a pot of water without pebbles, just take out the stalks, put them in a bigger container, and fill the pot with water to the same level.
Propagating
You can make new lucky bamboo plants from cuttings at any time, either for yourself or to give as a lucky gift. But the rooting will not look like a store-bought plant. To spread lucky bamboo, do these things:
- Cut a stem with at least one leaf joint off the main stalk with a clean, sharp cutting shear. Trim the leaves to show the growth nodes.
- Put the cutting in a container with enough distilled water to cover the base of the cutting.
- Keep the water clean and fresh and watch for the roots to turn red. In about 30 days, the plant will start to grow roots.
- When roots start to grow, put the stem in a vase with water and pebbles or a pot with soil.
Toxicity
The plant contains saponins, which can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested. In addition, the leaves of the plant are sharp and can cause skin irritation. While lucky bamboo is not typically deadly, it is important to take precautions if you have young children or pets in your home. Keep the plant out of reach and supervise closely when small children are around. If you suspect that your child or pet has eaten any part of the plant, contact a veterinarian or poison control center immediately.
Common Pests And Diseases
Lucky bamboo has the same insect problems as other tropical plants that you keep inside. They can be taken care of by hand (by picking off bugs) or in the same way as any other houseplant. Be on the lookout for mealybugs, mites, and aphids. You can even wash the whole plant with very mild liquid dish soap, water, and a good rinse to get rid of bugs and mold.
Common Problems
. Lucky bamboo is easy to care for, but it can sometimes experience problems. One common issue is yellowing leaves, which can be caused by too much sun or insufficient watering. Another problem that lucky bamboo can experience is root rot, which is often the result of overwatering. If you think your lucky bamboo plant is experiencing problems, consult a plant expert for advice on how to address the issue.
FAQ
Is Lucky Bamboo A Good House Plant?
Both inside and outside are good places to grow bamboo. But a lucky bamboo plant does best when it is kept indoors, where it is warm and out of direct sunlight.
How Long Will Lucky Bamboo Live?
Lucky bamboo can live for between one and two years. If you move your plant to a container with soil, it will likely live for a few more years.
Where Should I Put Lucky Bamboo in My Home?
The rules of feng shui say that putting lucky bamboo anywhere will make that place more prosperous. Place a lucky bamboo plant on your desk to move up in your career, in your entryway to start something new, in your bedroom to keep your relationships peaceful, and in the wealth area of any room (the far left corner from the door) to make money.
Final Thoughts
So if you are looking for a low-maintenance, long-lasting plant that is said to bring good luck and fortune your way, the lucky bamboo might be the perfect houseplant for you. And if you’re feeling extra generous, why not gift one of these plants to a loved one? They will surely appreciate your thoughtfulness.