Lucky Bamboo Care

If you come across a plant that is believed to bring luck, then it could be none other than the lucky bamboo. Despite its name, lucky bamboo is not at all related to the original bamboo plants. Rather it belongs to the family Ruscaceae of the order Asparagales. The scientific name for this monocotyledonous plant is Dracaena sanderiana. In the natural habitat, it grows in the form of a shrubby habit with erect stems and long, flexible foliage. Lucky bamboo care is easy and you can maintain it with little effort.

How to Care for Lucky Bamboo?

The actual mode of propagation for lucky bamboo is stem cutting, which is then kept in soft water. Needless to say, the cut stem is best grown in soil where the growth conditions resemble its natural habitat. However, lucky bamboo can also be kept as houseplants in water, similar to hydroponic gardening. For keeping this decorative plant healthy, the first step is to choose lustrous green stems with well-developed roots. The following are some helpful lucky bamboo care tips, which you ought to know for maintaining this lucky plant in the indoor environment.

Container for Lucky Bamboo
No doubt you can maintain healthy lucky bamboo plants in water. But selecting correct sized containers does matter in development of the root system. Also, you have the option of using glass containers or porcelain pot. With the glass type, you can see the water level and rocks directly. But the chances of unwanted algae growth are more in a glass container.

Substrate for Lucky Bamboo
While caring for lucky bamboo in water, incorporate some clean stones at the bottom of the container. The logic is to give support to the erect stalks and provide a substrate for the roots. You may select ornamental stones of different colors that are free of chemicals. Make sure you clean and dry them before adding in the container.

Water for Lucky Bamboo
Care for lucky bamboo in water involves changing the water medium regularly. If your tap water is hard, consider softening it before using for this houseplant. Presence of chlorine or fluorine in large amounts can lead to discoloration of leaves. The water level in the container should be such that it is an inch above the base of the lucky bamboo stalks.

Feeding Lucky Bamboo
Another tip concerning lucky bamboo care is supplementing the growth medium with nutrient formulation. Remember to use organic fertilizer or bamboo plant food in small amounts. Or else, your lucky bamboo will grow at a faster rate, and managing it will become difficult for you. A better idea is to feed the plant with aquarium water that contains fish wastes and organic nutrients.

Growth Conditions for Lucky Bamboo
Warm temperature and indirect sunlight are crucial for lucky bamboo to thrive in the indoor environment, either as houseplants or office plants. The ideal temperature range is 65-70° F. As far as exposure to sunlight is concerned, you can place lucky bamboo plant near the window, or in a corner, where it receives filtered sunlight.

Problems for Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo plant turning yellow is a common problem that many people come across while keeping it indoors. The probable reason for this is exposure to too much of direct sunlight, and usage of hard water. To avoid foliage yellowing, reduce the amount of light received by lucky bamboo, and use only filtered water.

As you see, lucky bamboo care is very easy, and anybody who prefers to have a green touch to interior décor can keep this decorative plant. Lucky bamboo plant is considered to be the best when received as a gift. The point is you can gift this maintenance free lucky plant to your loved ones. As per Chinese tradition, keeping 2 lucky bamboo stalks brings luck, while 3 or 6 stalks signify happiness. So, decide the number of stems that you want to gift, and purchase healthy lucky bamboo plants accordingly.