How to Grow Lucky Bamboo

Posted on March 9th, 2009 by Carmelia

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Lucky bamboos are very much in the vogue with feng shui practitioners. They also make for wonderful indoor plants that can simply grow in water. Want to grow a lucky bamboo? Here’s how.

Choose a healthy bamboo from your nearest plant nursery. Vibrant green leaves with no mottled or spongy ones are the best. Avoid yellow or brown tips, yellow stalks and keep an eye out for possible insect infestations. If there is soil in the pot, make sure that it is moist and not soaking wet.
Choose a vase. Lucky bamboos generally love the sunlight, but too much sun can be a little encouraging for the harmful algae. An opaque vase for your lucky bamboo is the best, since it lets in the optimum amount of sunlight. It also makes it easier to monitor the water level.

lucky bamboo

Some lucky bamboos are sold already potted or those that come in do-it-yourself kits. Unless you know how to root plants properly, it’s probably better to go with lucky bamboos that are already potted.
Lucky bamboos are hardy plants, but you must give them a little extra care after you’ve just brought them home. Put the new addition to your house in a place where it’s sunny, but not in direct sunlight. Unless the water is low, don’t add new water in the vase for at least two to three days.
When looking for a place to put your lucky bamboo, keep it mind that it likes a lot of indirect light. If you’re keeping the plant indoors with no natural light, put it in an indirectly-sunny place for two to four days every other week. Keep in mind that the lesser time the lucky bamboo is not exposed to natural light, the less likely it will grow taller or bigger.
Again, lucky bamboo likes water and can survive very well with just that. However, lucky bamboo does not like the chemicals that usually come with tap water, such as fluoride and chlorine. Use rain water or filtered water instead. If you only have tap water, let the water sit uncovered for a whole 24 hours to let the chemicals dissolve and disperse before putting it in your lucky bamboo’s vase.
Check the water level. When the water level goes to half, add in a little more water. Completely change all the water every other week.
If your lucky bamboo is planted in soil, make sure the soil is moist: Not too wet and not too dry.
Put plant food in the water every two months, when you completely change the water. Just put in a few drops and you’re all set. Using used aquarium water is also very good for feeding lucky bamboos.
Trim offshoots with sterile scissors to prevent your lucky bamboo from becoming bushy and top-heavy. Keep the trimmings to propagate more lucky bamboo.