Lucky Bamboo Care Tips

The lucky bamboo, which is not really a bamboo, but a Dracaena (a tropical plant commonly grown for indoor use), has quite taken the modern world by storm. It is popular because of its close resemblance to bamboo, its associations with good fortune, and its low-maintenance requirements.

All this plant requires is that you place the stems in water, keep them out of direct sunlight, clean the water every two weeks or so, and occasionally add a diluted liquid fertilizer to energize. A simple enough recipe to care for a plant that is so aesthetically pleasing.

Due to its natural habitat in the wet forests, the lucky bamboo needs to be kept moist all the time. Distilled or spring water is preferable because of the danger of chlorination or fluoridation. If you must use tap water, let it stand in a container overnight so as to allow the chemicals to disperse.

When replenishing the water in the container, keep the same water level. The water line is where the roots form; raising the water level encourages the lucky bamboo to grow more roots and can result in overcrowding.

If a stem starts turning yellow, throw it out. Trying to save one stalk can damage the remaining stalks. If a stem turns brown or mushy from the bottom, the roots are dying out. You probably can’t save the bottom, but you can cut the healthy tops and regrow them.

Your lucky bamboo will also thrive in a soil mixture as long as this soil holds a lot of water. However, remember to not keep the soil soaking wet. Don’t let the surface of the soil mislead you. Even if the surface is dry, the soil can still be damp a half-inch below the surface. They say that if you stick your finger into the soil and if it feels dry a half-inch in, it is okay to water.

Since neither water nor soil contains the vitamins, mineral, and hormones found in its natural habitat, a drop of dilute liquid fertilizer is recommended each time the water is refreshed, or changed. However, take care to not overfeed the plant water. There is no soil in the container; so, the roots may be prone to burning if the solution is too strong.

Keep Out of Direct Sunlight

Your lucky bamboo must also be kept out of direct sunlight. Why? This plant grows naturally under a canopy of wet tropical rain forests in Africa and is accustomed to diffused lighting. The more indirect the sunlight, the better. Burning or browning on the tips of the leaves is an indication that your lucky bamboo may be receiving too much sunlight. Too little sunlight is also detrimental. The leaves turn yellow and unhealthy, the stems long and thin. Keep the lucky bamboo in an indoor location with bright, diffused lighting and normal temperatures.

Use Plenty of Water

As sufficient water is important to the lucky bamboo, make sure that the plant does not dry out. If transporting your Dracaena from one place to another, wrap a wet paper towel around the roots, and place the bottom in a plastic bag.