How to Keep Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo can be kept in water, as it doesn't need soil.

Lucky bamboo is a green, stalked plant called dracaena. Florists and nurseries often carry this plant along with other houseplants. As the name suggests, it is considered lucky, especially by practitioners of Feng Shui. According to Feng Shui Crazy, Lucky Bamboo can be used to help create better energy or "chi" in an area of your home. Lucky bamboo can be easily kept indoors and may live for many years under the right conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Clear vase
• Marbles or decorative stones
• Watering can
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Keep your lucky bamboo in a clear vase half full of water, with marbles or decorative stone filling it to a depth sufficient for holding the plant upright. You can also keep these plants in opaque vases, but a clear vase allows you full view of the roots, which can add to the beauty and interest of the plant.

2. Place your lucky bamboo on a sturdy shelf or table where it will not be knocked over. Its sunlight needs are minimal, but like most plants it will need some light every day. You do not need to keep lucky bamboo on a window sill, although it might do fine there if kept out of direct sunlight.

3. Add some fresh water to the vase with water from a clean watering can or faucet daily. If the water turns cloudy in the vase, carefully empty out all the water from the vase and refill with fresh clean water. You can use tap water unless your water is fluoridated. If the latter is the case, use bottled water.

Tips & Warnings

• Rarely will a lucky bamboo require fertilizer. If you do fertilize, add a very small amount to the water.

• If your plant starts looking too pale, change the location to see if a change in quantity of light helps bring back green to its leaves.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Lucky Bamboo
• Feng Shui Crazy: Get Lucky With a Feng Shui Bamboo
• Alisainter.com: Lucky Bamboo Care

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish