Lucky bamboo: fortune, health and good vibes in your home

This is the name given to the Dracaena Senderiana in many places. Learn how to care for this decorative houseplant and attract prosperity to your home.

Lucky bamboo really has nothing to do with Phyllostachys Aurea, the bamboo plant that we find much more popular. In the case that it does not occupy, it receives its name from the shape of its stem. It is a straight rod that can measure between 10 cm and a meter, with some nodes from which the shoots come out and some internodes in which the roots of the plant grow.

Many times it has what has been called a corkscrew at the top, which is actually a small stem that forms a spiral. Its scientific name is Dracaena senderiana and it belongs to the agavaceae family, the same family that includes the trunk of Brazil and the Dracaena of Madagascar, a very decorative plant.

Bamboo is believed to originate from Africa, but its cultivation is more widespread on the Asian continent. For example, in China they have the custom of giving a bamboo at New Year, to attract good luck. And it is also a popular gift when buying a house or opening a business. As if that were not enough, it is one of the most suitable decorative plants to purify the air in your home.

Lucky bamboo care

This decorative plant needs to be located in a place where there is intense light but without direct sunlight, otherwise it would burn. Bamboo grows in both light and shade, with an ideal temperature of around 18ºC and 24ºC, although it can withstand extreme climates well, between 10ºC and 30ºC.

Watering habit is key. If it is in a container with water, it must be changed once a week in winter and every two weeks in summer. Twice a week, spray the foliage, it will also serve to remove the dust. If it is planted in the ground, water when you see that the substrate is dry. In both cases, it is advisable to let the water rest beforehand so that it loses the chlorine.

Its cultivation indoors is quite simple, since it needs few and simple care and resists spaces with little light. It is perfect for decorating bathrooms and filling them with freshness with its green colour. There are always good ideas to place your indoor plants at home.

How to maintain bamboo

Before buying a Lucky bamboo, check that it is a healthy specimen. The trunk must be green, without yellowing anywhere. The roots are light in color and the shoots, which have just come out, are green and shiny. Be careful when buying it to always choose the plant that has the most buds. The shiny leaves are the most beautiful to decorate an environment with plants without flowers.

This plant is grown in a pot with soil, like any other species of dracaena. It is important to always choose special enriched soil for indoor varieties and water without delay if you notice that the substrate remains dry. Try to prick with a knitting needle and you will notice if it lacks moisture. A good trick is to add a few drops of fertilizer to the irrigation water once a month.

Do you need large plants to decorate successfully? You can make your lucky bamboo grow faster if you get the right conditions: warm temperature and indirect light.

Most common problems

Being a resistant plant, we will not encounter many problems if we are careful not to overdo it with water and direct sunlight. The most frequent are:
– Mealybugs. We will eliminate them without problems with alcohol.
– Brown and yellow spots on the leaves. Fungi are the cause, so in addition to using a special fungicide, stop spraying with water.

A decorative center

What container is the most suitable to place it? If you want to show off the lucky bamboo, it will be beautiful in a glass vase with colored stones in the background. These will serve as a grip for the roots and will give the plant more stability. You have to put very little water, just to cover the roots well.

Very original bamboo planter

To make this center, all you need are dried bamboo stems, a container, a base, some silicone, wire, gardening foam, and, in this case, a pretty bouquet of tulips.

1. Cut the equal stems and open them, with a sharp knife, through the center: two half bamboos.
2. Join the half logs with the wire, at three points, above, in the center and below. It will be easier for you if you use a punch to make the holes to pass the wire through; join the ends.
3. For the planter, put a little glue or silicone on the end of each stem and stick it to the base.
4. When it is dry, insert the chosen container and put the gardening foam inside. Moisten it and stick the flowers in it, starting from the center.

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