Add some positive energy to your home by growing this fun houseplant.
Did you know that the houseplant often marketed as “lucky bamboo” isn’t actual bamboo?
Its botanical name isDracaena sanderiana, a member of the tropical water lily family.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
However, this dracaena mimics the look of bamboo with its thick, banded stems and narrow leaves.
The plant is considered lucky because of its association with theChinese practice of feng shuibalancing yin and yang.
Here’s how to grow your own lucky bamboo and repot the cuttings to keep the good fortune coming.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
What Is Lucky Bamboo?
Unliketrue bamboos(which have roots in Asia),Dracaena sanderianais native to Africa.
In its home habitats, it’s aperennial shrubthat blooms in the fall and winter.
Credit: Jacob Fox
However, you won’t see any flowers if you grow this plant indoors.
Lucky bamboo usually comes with multiple canes, and the number you’re growing has ameaning in Chinese culture.
For example: Nine represents longevity and eternality.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Although it doesn’t naturally live in water, lucky bamboo cuttings will easily grow roots in it.
If you purchased cuttings rooted in water, keep them 1-2 inches deep.
Then, once a week, replace with fresh water.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Keep your lucky bamboo inbright but indirect sunlight.
The plant grows more slowly and needs less fertilizer if given less light.
However, don’t leave it in direct sun because thiscould scorch the leaves.
Dracaena prefer warm temperatures, between 65-90F.
So avoid placing your lucky bamboo next to an air vent or cold window.
Lucky bamboo is toxic to cats.
Place it out of your pet’s reach and keep a watchful eye.
After that, it should develop new roots, and you’re free to cut back on watering.
Trim away any leaves on your cutting until you have a bare stalk.
Put the cutting into a container with 1-3 inches of water and wait for it to develop roots.
Dracaenas won’t survive in water indefinitely.
Support the canes with a few handfuls of pretty stones, marbles, or glass beads.
Roots give the plants more immediate stability as they spread out among the stones.
On the other hand, the arrangement lasts longer if you start with unrooted cuttings.
Add stones around cuttings.
Set your cuttings in the wok or bowl and hold them firmly in the center.
Arrange canes as desired.
Add more stones as needed to hold each cane securely.
Then pour in water to a depth of 2 inches.
Maintain that depth for the life of the arrangement and change out the water weekly.
