How to Take Care of a Lucky Bamboo Plant

Taking care of a lucky bamboo plant is a relaxing activity that can help alleviate stress. Usually imported from Taiwan and China, many believe that placing the lucky bamboo in your home or workplace can bring happiness and prosperity. This guide will walk you through the steps of properly caring for a lucky bamboo plant.

Choose a plant that appeals to you. Don't just grab the first one you see. Look for a healthy plant. Lucky bamboo plants can be found at garden centers, nurseries, and even supermarkets.

• The lucky bamboo, also known as "Dracaena sanderiana", is sometimes referred to as "corn plant".

Choose a plant with vibrant green leaves. Caring for a lucky bamboo plant isn't very difficult, but if you bring home a weak plant, the task will be much harder; in fact, the plant may not survive. The size of the plant doesn't matter much since most lucky bamboo plants are quite small.

• The plant should have a uniform green color, with no defects, dark spots, or yellowing.
• The stem should be consistently green from bottom to top.
• The tips of the leaves should not turn brown.

Ensure the plant is properly potted and has no unpleasant smell. Lucky bamboo is a resilient plant, but if it’s not potted correctly or has a sour smell, it could be diseased and may not survive.

• Lucky bamboo doesn’t have the fragrance of some flowers, but improper watering can encourage bacteria to grow, resulting in unpleasant odors.
• Check the water level and inspect the soil or fertilizer. Many lucky bamboo plants are grown hydroponically, using only water and small pebbles or stones to hold the plant in place. However, some are planted in soil. Ensure the water level is at least halfway up the container or that the soil is damp but not waterlogged.

Decide whether to plant in water or soil. Both options have their advantages depending on how well you can care for the plant. Too much soil or fertilizer can actually harm the plant. If you’re using tap water with fluoride or other chemicals, it may be better to plant in soil to avoid leaf tips turning yellow.

• If planting in water, you'll need some small pebbles to keep the stem upright. If using soil, mix sand, peat moss, and regular potting soil in equal parts to ensure good drainage.
• When planting in water, make sure the roots are submerged. Change the water at least once a week to prevent rot. It’s best to rinse the container, pebbles, and plant each time you change the water.
• If planting in soil, only water enough to keep it slightly moist.

Choose the right pot for your plant. The pot should be about 5 cm larger in circumference than the plant. Most lucky bamboo plants are sold in pots, but you can use a different one to make it unique to you.

• A clear glass container is great if you're planting in water, allowing you to showcase the plant and pebbles, but remember to avoid direct sunlight.
• You can also use ceramic pots for planting in clean water or soil. If using soil, be sure the pot has drainage holes.

Apply fertilizer periodically in small amounts to encourage faster growth. Too much fertilizer can do more harm than good, so it’s important to use just a little. This is particularly true for plants in pots, as the fertilizer won’t be diluted by rain or deplete like it would in soil.

Water sparingly. Lucky bamboo doesn’t require much water. Over-watering can actually harm the plant.

• Water the plant once a week and ensure the water reaches a few centimeters deep, enough to cover the roots.
• If planted in soil, ensure the soil isn’t too wet or too dry. Lucky bamboo can thrive in water alone, so too much soil or fertilizer can be detrimental to the plant.

Keep the plant out of direct sunlight. In its natural environment, lucky bamboo typically grows under the shade of taller plants. Place your plant in a well-ventilated, bright area, but not under direct sunlight all day.

• To care for your lucky bamboo, avoid placing it near windows with intense sunlight. Opt for a spot that’s not overly bright indoors.
• Lucky bamboo thrives best in temperatures between 18 and 32 degrees Celsius.

Bend the stalks. If you want to shape your lucky bamboo, select a few main stems to bend and display. With some effort, you can encourage the stems to twist around each other or spiral. For this, choose young stems that haven’t hardened or fully developed.

• If you prefer a simple appearance, you can plant the bamboo straight or in a row for a more upright growth.
• To bend the stems, find a cardboard box, cut out the bottom and one side. Place the box over the plant with the open side facing the light source. As the plant grows, it will start bending toward the light. When the stems bend, rotate the plant to change the light direction.
• You can also wrap wire around the stems. As the plant grows, keep wrapping more wire to secure the stems as they twist together.

Remove dead or yellowing leaves. Sometimes, the tips of the leaves may turn yellow due to various reasons such as insufficient watering, excessive soil or fertilizer, or too much direct sunlight. You can trim the yellowing tips or remove the entire leaf.

• To cut the yellow tips, sterilize your pruning scissors or sharp shears by rubbing them with alcohol or vinegar, then trim the yellow part following the leaf's natural shape.
• The yellow leaves can be entirely removed by simply pulling them off from the stem.

Propagating lucky bamboo. When some of the branches grow too tall, you can cut them and replant them. This way, the plant won’t become too dense, and you'll have new plants to grow.

• Select the longest branch and remove any small leaves near the base of the shoot.
• Using sterilized scissors or a knife, cut the shoot about 1 cm above where it emerges from the stem.
• Place the shoot in a bowl of clean water. Keep it in a shaded area for about 1 or 2 months until roots begin to form. Once roots are visible, you can transfer it to the old lucky bamboo pot.

Tie the stems with decorative wire or ribbons. People often tie red or copper-colored ribbons around the lucky bamboo stems to bind them together as a symbol of good luck.

• Add some more pebbles for decoration and to help stabilize the plant.
• Place the lucky bamboo where you can enjoy its beauty daily, reminding you to care for it.