How to Plant Good Luck Bamboo
Lucky bamboo--known scientifically as Dracaena sanderiana, but also called the ribbon plant--is not really bamboo at all. It is a type of lily. Originally from the African rainforest, where it grows under tall trees as an understory plant, lucky bamboo is believed to bring good fortune to its owners and is used in Feng Shui to represent the element of wood. Lucky bamboo makes an attractive and hardy houseplant. Although the plants are commonly sold in water, they can root in potting mix with little difficulty. By following proper guidelines for planting, you can help your lucky bamboo thrive. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sharp, clean scissors
- Rubbing alcohol
- Appropriately-sized plastic, clay, or glass pot with ample drainage
- Commercial potting mix
- Conditioned or distilled water
Instructions
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Choose a healthy, vigorous lucky bamboo plant with a firm stem and thick, dark green leaves. The roots should be white, well-developed and pliant--never brown or brittle--with no whiff of decay.
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Select a place for your lucky bamboo where the temperature won't fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and where the light is low and indirect; lucky bamboo can't tolerate direct sun. A location near an eastern-facing window is ideal. The lucky bamboo flourishes at temperatures of 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
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3
Disinfect a sharp pair of scissors by wiping the blades with rubbing alcohol to avoid bacterial infection. Trim the top part of the lucky bamboo plant down to about 9 inches high.
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Fill a pot with rich, loose, well draining potting mix. Moisten the soil deeply, using either distilled water or water you have conditioned by letting it sit for 24 hours to remove salts and chemicals. Dig a hole slightly bigger than the root system, and set the lucky bamboo in it at least 2 inches deep, making sure it is centered and straight. Firm the soil around the roots.
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5
Water the lucky bamboo thoroughly after planting. Check it daily thereafter to make sure it is neither over-watered nor dry. Test the soil by feeling it with your finger. If it feels dry at one inch deep, it is time to water.
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