The Lucky Bamboo is extremely easy to care for. However, it has nothing to do with “real” bamboo, because it belongs to the dragon tree genus and is usually a Dracaena braunii or a Dracaena sanderiana.
How do I properly care for a lucky bamboo?
Proper care for lucky bamboo includes: a bright and warm location, high humidity, low-lime water for watering, regular fertilization and optionally shaping or propagating the plant to achieve attractive growth forms.
The ideal location for lucky bamboo
Although the lucky bamboo likes to be sunny, it cannot tolerate the blazing sun for many hours. If it gets a lot of light, it grows quite quickly. Therefore, do not give it an overly shady place in your home. The lucky bamboo also needs a lot of warmth and high humidity to grow well and stay he althy.
The Lucky Bamboo is ideally placed in the bathroom or kitchen. The room temperature should be at least around 20 °C. In a warm summer he can also stand in the garden or on the balcony. However, temperatures should not fall below around 18 °C even at night. It stops growing at temperatures below 17 – 18 °C.
Planting the lucky bamboo
The lucky bamboo can be kept well in hydroponics or in a vase, but can also be planted in soil. Just decide based on your preferences. Changing from a vase to hydroponics or vice versa, as well as from a vase or hydroponics to potting soil, usually works without any problems.
If you bought a lucky bamboo that was planted in soil, then you should continue to cultivate it in soil. When moving, make sure that the roots are as deep in water, substrate or soil as they were before changing the container. The water and potting soil should be as low in lime as possible.
Water and fertilize the lucky bamboo correctly
The lucky bamboo doesn't need a lot of water, but the water level in the vase shouldn't drop too much either. It is best to water with stale water or rainwater. Chalky tap water is not good for your lucky bamboo. You should also fertilize the Lucky Bamboo regularly in a vase or in hydroponics. On the other hand, if it grows in soil, it only needs a little fertilizer.
Shaping the lucky bamboo
Sometimes you can find very bizarrely shaped lucky bamboo in stores. The individual stems are intertwined or grow in curves and arches. With a little patience you can do this yourself. Young, still quite soft shoots can be braided or wrapped around each other. Fixed with a wire, this shape is retained.
Propagate the lucky bamboo
Propagate lucky bamboo is very easy. You can divide the trunk into several pieces and root them or cut cuttings and place them in water. It is best to use side shoots for this.
Caring for the lucky bamboo in brief:
- keep it bright and warm
- ensure sufficient humidity
- water with low-lime water
- fertilize sufficiently
Tip
Bright, warm and with high humidity the lucky bamboo feels really comfortable.
