How to Grow and Care for Lucky Bamboo Indoors

Easy to grow and low maintenance, the lucky bamboo is a popular housewarming gift due to its reputation for bringing luck to the household. Sculptural lucky bamboo plants have eye-catching shapes, swirls, or braided stalks, and are frequently spotted in offices and residences for the purpose of good feng shui. They can also be trained so that stalks grow straight as an arrow and are adorned with smallish, simple floppy green leaves.

Though the plant looks like bamboo and grows fast like bamboo (it can grow well over a foot in six months), it's not related to it at all, and it's actually more of a succulent plant, specifically a type of Dracaena. Be aware that this plant is not lucky for pets because it's toxic to cats and dogs.

Lucky Bamboo and Chinese Traditions

According to Chinese traditions, the significance of lucky bamboo is tied to how manystalksyou have. There are different meanings associated with various lucky bamboo arrangements. For example:

• Two stalks represent love.
• Three stalks represent Fu (happiness), Lu (wealth), and Soh (long life).
• Five stalks represent balance, peace, harmony, and power in all areas of your life.
• Six stalks represent good luck and wealth.
• Seven stalks represent good health.
• Eight stalks represent growth.
• Nine stalks represent great luck.
• Ten stalks represent perfection.
• Twenty-one stalks represent a powerful blessing.

You'll rarely find a traditional lucky bamboo arrangement with four stalks. In Chinese culture, the word for "four" sounds very similar to the word for "death," so a gift of four bamboo stalks would be considered very rude—as if you had wished death on the recipient.

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Lucky Bamboo Care

Lucky bamboo has a well-earned reputation as being nearly indestructible, which makes this plant ideal for novice gardeners or forgetful waterers. Lucky bamboo is easy to care for as long as you grow it in good quality water.

• Place lucky bamboo near filtered or indirect sunlight.
• Plant in well-draining potting mix, or use pebbles as a planting medium with an inch of water in the bottom of the container.
• Water using only distilled or pure spring water, or let tap water sit out for 24 hours before using. For pebble plantings, change water weekly.
• Avoid cold drafts and keep in a location with temperatures at a minimum of 65°F.
  

Beginner Tips for Lucky Bamboo

• Where to Put It: Lucky bamboo likes bright, filtered light, so don't place it directly in a south-facing window. Place lucky bamboo near a window.
• When to Water It: Water lucky bamboo every two to seven days, and refresh the water once per week.
• What to Watch For: Lucky bamboo will start to stretch if it's not receiving enough light. They are also sensitive to chlorine in water which can cause brown leaf tips.

Light

When it comes to light, lucky bamboo prefers bright, filtered sunlight, such as what is found under a rainforest canopy. Avoid direct sunlight as it will scorch the leaves. They are more tolerant of too little light than too much. If the plant begins to stretch, however, or the green fades, provide more light. Rotate your plant often so that the light reaches the entire plant evenly.

Soil

Lucky bamboo can be grown in well-drained, rich potting soil. The soil should be kept moist, but not soaked. Additionally, it can thrive well when housed in pebbles or simply a vase filled with water, as long as it has at least an inch of standing water at all times.

Water

If growing in a water vase filled with pebbles, make sure that the water is always completely covering the roots. Add a bit of water every two to seven days as needed, and change the water weekly to avoid any diseases and odors.

Sensitive to Water Types

It's a good idea to water your lucky bamboo only with bottled or distilled water, or tap water that has been left out for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate; this plant is sensitive to hard water, chlorine, and other chemicals commonly found in tap water.

Temperature and Humidity

As you may expect, lucky bamboo plants prefer warmer temperatures, ranging between 65°F and 90°F. Avoid placing your plant anywhere near a draft (hot or cold), in front of an air conditioner, heating vent, or by a drafty window.Average humidity is fine for your lucky bamboo plant, so don't stress about increasing the levels in your home.

Fertilizer

A single drop of liquid fertilizer each month is plenty for most lucky bamboo arrangements. Alternatively, specialty lucky bamboo fertilizers are available.

Plants grown in water will only need to be fed every other month or so using a very weak liquid fertilizer. Healthy lucky bamboo roots are red, so don't be alarmed if you can see red roots floating in a glass vase.

Pests to Watch Out For

In summer when the sun is coming in hot through the window, your lucky bamboo is more likely to struggle with spider mites. Watch out for delicate webbing on the leaves or between the leaves and stems. Spray it off with water and treat weekly with neem oil until they're gone.

Pruning

Lucky bamboo will benefit from occasional pruning to maintain its appearance. In general, it's not a good idea to cut the main stalk of lucky bamboo. Instead, cut the offshoots using sterile snippers, and trim them back to within an inch or two off the main stem. New shoots will emerge with fuller growth. To discourage new growth, dip the cut end in paraffin.

The unusual shapes of lucky bamboo plants are formed not by trimming, but by rotating the stalks in front of a light source, which causes the plant to naturally grow toward the light; try placing the plants under a three-sided box, pay close attention to their growth rates, and rotate the plants slowly and regularly.

Lucky Bamboo Care Supplies

• A grow light will encourage your plant to grow faster and result in larger, more vibrant leaves.
• Pruning shears will be necessary to keep its shape.
• Choose a planter with a drainage hole, or just grow it in a vase of water.

Propagating Lucky Bamboo

You canpropagate lucky bambooat any time using cuttings, but the plant won't be shaped the same as the plant you purchased. Here's how to propagate lucky bamboo:

1. Take a stem cutting off the main stalk, ensuring it has at least one leaf joint.
2. Trim the leaves to expose the growth nodes.
3. Put the bare cutting into a container filled with enough distilled water to completely cover the bottom of the cutting.
4. Keep the water clean and fresh as you watch for the development of red roots. Roots should appear in around 30 days.
5. When roots emerge, put the stalk in a decorative vase with water and pebbles or a pot with soil.

Potting and Repotting Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo should be repotted when it has less than one inch of space between the stalks and edge of the vessel, the vessel is starting to be a little wobbly with the bamboo in it, or the stalks are too tall to be supported by the vessel.

There should be at least one inch of space between the stalks and the edge of the vessel to allow roots to spread out and support the plant. The water level should be high enough to submerge the roots but not cover the stalks.

If your plant has outgrown its vessel, transplanting lucky bamboo is relatively easy. Take these simple steps to repot the plant:

1. Choose a clean container that is slightly bigger than the current one.
2. Carefully dig the the lucky bamboo out of the pebbles, if present. (If there are no pebbles simply remove the bamboo from its pot and place it in the new container with fresh water.)
3. Clean the pebbles with water before placing them in the new container. Set some to aside to set on top of the roots.
4. Move the bamboo plant into its new container, nestling the roots within the pebbles. Add more pebbles to cover the roots as needed.
   

Tips for Buying In Store

• Assess the stem for any mushiness—a mushy stem is a sign of rot.
• Don't worry about if you like the style of the water vessel, you can always change it at home.
• Pick one based on it's current shape, rather than a shape you hope it might grow into.

Common Pests

Lucky bamboo is susceptible to the same insect problems as other indoor tropical plants. Watch for white mealybugs, green aphids, and spider mites, which can be removed by hand. You can also wash the entire plant in a very mild liquid dish soap and water and rinse thoroughly to remove bugs, as well as any moldy spots.

Pest to Watch

Mealybugs can wreak havoc on your lucky bamboo if you let them go untreated for too long. As soon as you notice egg-like shapes on the plant, insects themselves, or a waxy substance on the plant, be sure to treat it quickly with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Common Problems With Lucky Bamboo

Although lucky bamboo is an easy-going plant, there are a few issues to be on the lookout for as it grows. If your plant dies, it will not mean you are going to have bad luck, it simply means it didn't receive ideal care or its lifespan has simply ended.

The most common problems usually have to do with the quality of water, as it is very sensitive to chemicals like chlorine. Taking care to stay on top of changing the water and using the right quality water may prevent potential issues.

Browning Leaf Tips

Chlorinated water or water with high levels of additives can cause leaf tips to turn brown and possibly kill the plant over time. Remove affected leaves with a sterile, sharp scissor. Remove dead leaves from the water so they do not rot because this may introduce bacteria.

Black Roots

There could be many reasons a plant develops black roots. The best course of action is to use small clean snips to cut the black roots away immediately and return the stalks to a clean container of fresh water.

Algae

If you notice algae growing in the water, it's usually because the plant is potted in a clear vase, allowing light to penetrate, and encouraging algae growth. Just clean out the vase so it's squeaky clean (use mild liquid dish detergent and water) and start again. You may want to switch to an opaque container if algae is a persistent problem.

Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves on lucky bamboo usually indicate that the plant is receiving too much sun or too much plant fertilizer. Cut out the fertilizer and move the plant to a shadier location.

Brown Leaves

Brown leaves on lucky bamboo usually indicate dry air or polluted water. You can raise the humidity level by spraying the plant regularly. Make sure you're using the appropriate quality of water in the container, as well.

Mushy Stalks

If the bamboo stalks themselves begin to rot or turn mushy and black, they are likely beyond saving because the roots are dead or dying. Causes of roots turning mushy may include poor water quality, fungus, or bacteria that was on the plant when it was received.Decaying stalks threaten any other stalks they are close to, so it's best to remove them at once.

If you have surviving stalks, clean the container and replace the soil or stones and water.

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• Is lucky bamboo a good indoor plant?

  Lucky bamboo is a a great indoor plant. Its best growing conditions are indoors, where it's warm and bright but away from harsh sunlight. In the right conditions it can also grow outdoors.
  

• How long will lucky bamboo live?

  Lucky bamboo grown in water will live for one to two years. However, if you keep your lucky bamboo in soil, it should grow for a few years longer.

• Where should I place lucky bamboo in my home?

  According to feng shui design, placing lucky bamboo anywhere will inspire prosperity in that area. Specifically, put a lucky bamboo plant on your desk for career growth, in your entryway for new beginnings, in a bedroom for harmonious relationships, and the wealth area of any room (far left corner from the doorway) for financial abundance.

• How do you get lucky bamboo to grow new shoots?

  Regularly trim the stalks to encourage new growth on a lucky bamboo. The new growth will usually be fuller and more vibrant than what was previously there. Use the cuttings for propagation to get more new plants.

• How do I count stalks of lucky bamboo?

  Any stalk of significant size or growth (two inches or more in height) can be counted as a lucky bamboo stalk. Once you know the bamboo stalk count, you can find out the associated plant's blessings according to folklore.

From: thespruce