Indoor Plants

How to Successfully Grow Lucky Bamboo: Care Tips, Do’s and Don’ts

November 5, 2019
How to Successfully Grow Lucky Bamboo: Care Tips, Do’s and Don’ts

Are you looking for an indoor plant that is low-maintenance yet easy on the eyes? Well, let me introduce you to Lucky Bamboo, a common indoor plant that is easy to care for, perfect for relieving stress, and a carrier of good fortune. 

Also known as Ribbon Plant, Lucky Bamboo is believed to bring prosperity and wealth to the place. Whether lucky or not, Lucky Bamboo contributes fresh oxygen and is scientifically proven to be an excellent air purifier. Hence, it is a wise choice to keep this aesthetically-appealing plant at home as well as in the office.

Did you know that the Lucky Bamboo plant is actually not a bamboo plant? Although its stem resembles the canes of a bamboo plant, it is a kind of tropical water lily known as Dracaena sanderiana or braunii. Even though it is quite popular in India, this plant is often imported from Taiwan and China. 

How to Grow Lucky Bamboo?

Lucky Bamboo in a glass vase
Lucky Bamboo in a glass vase

Raising a Lucky Bamboo plant is perfect for recreation. Luckily, it is resilient and can be easily propagated from the stem. 

Select a healthy plant with rich green foliage, i.e., leaves. Make a cut just above the node and immerse the cutting in clean water in a glass vase or any decorative planter. Keep about 3 inches of water in the container, enough to submerge the roots. Place the plant in a shady area for about one to two months. Like snake plants, Lucky Bamboo also develop roots within a month or two.

Lucky Bamboo grows well in water as well as soil. Put some pebbles, marbles, or stones to hold the plant in place if you are growing it in water. Lucky Bamboo enjoys moist soil but not wet feet. So if you are propagating it in soil, water the plant just enough so that the soil is damp. Add water only when the topsoil dries completely. Moreover, use cocopeat-rich soil, which can hold moisture and maintain proper drainage.

For the parent stem, here is a tip to initiate more growth. Burn a candle and dip the fresh cut into the molten wax. This wax will restrict the vertical growth of the stem and kicks off the lateral growth. This method can be followed for all types of Lucky Bamboo. 

If there are multiple stalks, tie them with ribbon wire. More often than not, people tie the stalks of Lucky Bamboo with a red or gold ribbon, which is regarded as an additional symbol of success.

The water arrangement of Lucky Bamboo in a glass vase looks graceful. Speaking of decoration, you must have come across spiral bamboo. It is the same Lucky Bamboo, which has been artificially grown in a spiral by manipulating the light conditions.

Spiral Lucky Bamboo
Spiral Lucky Bamboo

How to Care for Lucky Bamboo?

Lucky Bamboo is one of the most easy-to-grow houseplants which relishes indirect light and can thrive in both water and soil. Let’s learn how to grow and care for Lucky Bamboo.

  1. The foremost step is to observe your plant. If you spot any yellow leaves, shriveling stems, or shriveling leaves, it means there is something wrong. Trim the yellow parts, or pluck the entire leaf. Make sure you change the water every month and provide a consistent level of water. Do change the water if it smells bad. 
  2. Use tap water as it possesses all essential nutrients which help the plant to grow.  
  3. When it comes to watering, Lucky Bamboo is rather accommodating. If you water it less or a little more, it will withstand the varied levels. During summer, particularly in dry places like Delhi, Bhopal, and Chennai, you should water the plant at least once a day or once in 2-5 days, depending on how hot or dry the weather of your place is.
  4. Lucky Bamboo prefers indirect sunlight, so keep the plant in the shade. It does well in bright light but avoid placing it in the direct, hot sun as it will burn. Rotate your plant once in a while, so it receives uniform light on all sides.
  5. Conventionally, Lucky Bamboo is a slow-growing plant. However, you can speed up its growth by planting it in the soil, which is known to be full of extra nutrients. When growing it in a bowl or a glass vase, leave at least 1-2 inches of space at the bottom so the roots can comfortably spread out. Replace the vessel with a larger container when the roots begin to get crowded.
  6. Do not allow dust to accumulate on the leaves as it can block the respiratory pores. Wipe the leaves regularly with a brush, a moist cloth, or spray some water.
Lucky Bamboo plant

Lucky Bamboo demands minimal care to retain its rich texture and elegant appeal. The care tips and techniques mentioned in this article will make your plant look heavenly, strong, and healthy. 

When you take good care of your Lucky Bamboo plant, you reward yourself years of well-being. Go ahead and fill up your place with calmness and positivity!

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