Lucky bamboo has become very popular and more widely available in the past few years. You can now find it at most supermarkets, as well as floral shops and online. Not really a bamboo, this intriguing plant is actually a member of the Dracena family, Dracaena sanderiana. A healthy, green plant brings a lively qi into the home and this little plant adds a lot without asking much of you.

One of the reasons it has become popular is that it is so easy to grow. It does not require a great deal of sunlight. In fact you should keep it out of direct sunlight. It can be grown in water or in soil, and requires little care. Most often you will find it “planted” in a small pot filled with pebbles and water. Some people feel the water should be changed every week and others simply replenish the water as it evaporates. As long as the water is clean and clear, simply refilling the container will keep your lucky bamboo happy. Add a dilute fertilizer every now and then to give it a boost. If you have chlorinated or fluoridated water you can use spring, or distilled water to keep your plant healthy. Or simply leave your tap water exposed to the air overnight in a bowl to rid it of these chemicals.

Many plants in the dracaena family are known to have toxic properties that can be dangerous to pets and small children. To be safe it is best to keep them out of reach of tiny fingers and paws. For more information on toxic plants visit the ASPCA web site.

Lucky bamboo can be found as single stalks, bundled together with red string, in fantastic woven pieces that resemble vases and other shapes, and in curly and straight forms. You can create your own curly version if you have the patience. Place your bamboo in a room where there is a single source of light. In a few days the bamboo will start to bend towards the light. Turn the plant slightly away from the light source and it will again bend towards the light. Continue this process until you get the desired curve. If you are curling a number of stalks it might be easier to control if you have each one potted separately until the process is complete.

Here are a few more words on care. Remove that red string. If it is tied too tightly it can damage the stalks as they grow causing disease. Another reason to remove the red string is that red represents fire and the plant represents wood. Obviously fire consumes wood, not a situation you want to promote if you plan to enjoy your lucky bamboo.

A yellowing leaf is usually caused by too much light and will eventually progress down the stalk. It can also be caused by chemicals in the water. Give your bamboo less light and clean water. If one of the stalks turns yellow it is beyond help. Remove it from the container or it may sicken the remaining stalks.

When replacing/replenishing the water in the pot try to keep the same level. The water line is where roots will form and if you raise the water level your plant will grown more roots. This is a tropical plant and needs a warmer temperature, at least above 60 degrees, but would prefer warmer.

Where should you place your lucky bamboo plant? Their natural home would be in the east or southeast. Both of these areas symbolize wood and they provide a gentler quality of light your plant will appreciate. How many stalks should you use? The east is associated with the number 3 and the southeast with the number 4. The number 8 is an auspicious number in feng shui and if you want a more dramatic display this could work for you.

Now that you know a little more about lucky bamboo, even if you have a black thumb, why not give it a try.




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