Lucky Bamboo Plant: Indoor Bamboo Plant Meaning and Care

A lucky bamboo plant not only adds a dash of color into your life but goes a step further by bringing in luck as well, so go ahead and buy yourself a lucky bamboo plant or give your friend a clue that you would like to possess one!

The lucky bamboo plant – What is it?

Unlike what the name suggests, the lucky bamboo is not a bamboo at all. It is in fact a resilient member of the lily family that grows in the dark and tropical forests of Africa and Southeast Asia.

Why is this plant considered lucky?

This plant has been associated with the Eastern practice of Feng Shui for a long time now. The lucky bamboo is believed to be an ideal example of the thriving water and wood element. Sometimes a red ribbon is also added as it is believed to fire the positive flow of energy or chi into the room.

The lucky bamboo plant is considered luckiest when it is received as a gift!

What do the different numbers of lucky bamboo stalks mean?

According to ancient Chinese tradition the number of lucky bamboo stalks have different meanings and invite different factors such as happiness, wealth and longevity apart from other factors that are beneficial to your life.

• 2 lucky bamboo stalks signify luck
• 3 or 6 lucky bamboo stalks symbolize happiness.
• 5 or 7 luck bamboo stalks symbolize health.
• 8 stalks of lucky bamboo signify wealth.
• 9 stalks of lucky bamboo signify general good fortune.
• 21 lucky bamboo stalks symbolize blessings.

What steps should I take to care for my lucky bamboo plant?

Here are some steps that will ensure that your lucky bamboo plant is always growing.

• Water is one of the things that the lucky bamboo plant requires to grow well; unfortunately this same water that is so vital for its growth is filled with chemicals like fluoride and chlorine that is present in most tap water. To ensure that the water you use is absent from chemicals, run tap water into a container and allow it to sit out uncovered for about 24 hours to allow the chemicals to disperse. It is advisable to pour all the water and refill the container with fresh water every week and keep an eye on the water level too. You are blessed if you have an aquarium at home because you can save some of the dirty aquarium water to put the lucky bamboo into. This is because the lucky bamboo plant thrives on the microscopic thing that is found in the water.
• Light is another factor that contributes to the overall development of the lucky bamboo. As this plant grows in the dense shade under the thick rainforest canopy of the equatorial Africa, direct sunlight would be too strong for it. Actually you can even place the lucky bamboo in a room that receives no natural light, all you have to do in this case is move it to a brighter location every three or four days every week. Of course if you want it to grow faster, you would be required to place it at the higher end of the light-range.
• Nutrients are a factor that needs mention too because despite being very hardy this plant may eventually require some kind of food. To do this, you could either add a few drops of aquarium plant food to the water you use while refilling the container of 1/10th of the recommended strength of a standard plant food. This is to be done every two months or longer as feeding it too much just might prove to be harmful.