How to care for lucky bamboo plant?

The lucky bamboo plants can live for several years before repotting. They are undemanding and low maintenance. This houseplant needs love and care to thrive indoors. 

But, what are the best ways to maintain the health and appearance of a lucky bamboo plant? Here are five dos and don’ts.

How to Care for Lucky Bamboo Plant?

Must-do

• Use distilled water.
• Keep lucky bamboo indoors.
• Grow them in groups for good luck
• Grow them in pots, vases or clear regular glasses.
• Keep them indoors where there’s filtered light.

Don’ts

• Add fertilisers.
• Use tap water.
• Move the pots/vases
• Place in direct sunlight.
• Place them where pet cats can reach them.

How to care for a lucky bamboo plant?

Distilled water is good for lucky bamboo plants because it’s free of chemicals like chlorine and lead. 

A recent BBC study revealed that there are 18 different chemicals present in tap water. Among them are traces of chlorine used in water treatment and lead from the corrosive water pipes. 

Though the chemicals are present in small amounts, they do affect the health of lucky bamboo plants over time. 

Therefore, it is vital to use only distilled water when using water for growing lucky bamboo plants. Rainwater is also a good alternative. 

Another important factor that affects the growth of lucky bamboo plants in direct sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause stress to the leaves, especially the new plants. 

Keep them in the shade where there is filtered light. 

Lucky bamboo plants also love high moisture at around 50%. One way to improve moisture indoors is by opening the window and letting outside air in. 

Also, try not to move the lucky bamboo plants around. 

The tall plants growing in water and gravel will dislodge easily. This can harm the roots, stalks and leaves.

Is lucky bamboo poisonous to cats?

Many pet owners are wondering if lucky bamboo plants are poisonous to cats and house pets. 

It’s nontoxic on the exterior, but it causes stomach irritation, vomiting and nausea when ingested. 

There are a couple of things you can do to protect your pets if you are growing lucky bamboo plants indoors. 

Place the vase or pot in a strategic location where pet cats cannot reach. 

Spray the leaves with repellents. By doing this, you'll keep the pet cat safe from licking or eating the bamboo plants.

Lucky bamboo care guide

Here at Garden Bamboo Plants, we gather all-you-need-to-know about growing and caring for lucky bamboo. 

You can find out about the three ways to propagate them, how to grow them in water, soil and grave, and provide the right care. 

Check out the 3 articles on propagating, growing and caring for lucky bamboo plants.

• How to propagate and grow healthy lucky bamboo plants.
• Best ways to revive a dying lucky bamboo plant.
• 10 facts about this popular house plant.

Conclusion (How to care for lucky bamboo plant)

In the wild, lucky bamboo plants are prolific near watering holes, streams and undercovers. So, make the condition as natural as possible. 

We hope that this information helps you to keep your lucky bamboo plant healthy.

How to propagate bamboo in water?

Water is an important natural growth enhancer for propagating bamboo rhizomes, culm cuttings and seeds. Before propagating new cutting and seeds, it is important to soak them in water. 

Hydrated cutting and seeds grow faster because water naturally triggers germination in plants and seeds.

This page contains articles on how to propagate healthy bamboo plants

 - check out the archive for more info.

How to propagate bamboo in water

Step 1: Cut the new growth (bamboo shoots and rhizomes tips) at a 45-degree angle with a sharp knife or a pair of secateurs.

Allow for two nodes and two internodes. Be careful not to move the new shoots too hard because they are tender and can break easily.

Step 2: Seal the ends of cuttings with grafting wax or melted candle wax to prevent the cuts from rotting.

Step 3: Place the cuttings in a pot of distilled water (or rainwater) and leave it in a well-lit site until new roots appear. Change the water every other day.

Do not use chlorinated water. As soon as the roots grow longer, move them to plastic pots or containers.

Step 4: Lay the bottom of 20cm (8 inches) pots with pebbles or broken ceramic pots to stop soil from falling out under the pot and improve drainage.

Fill the pots with a potting mix, or loam soil. Make a hole 5 – 10cm and plant the cutting at depth into the soil. Careful not to destroy the new roots.

Step 5: Stabilise the new bamboo plants by tying them to bamboo sticks with strings. Move them to a partly shaded location, away from windy sites. 

How to propagate Lucky Bamboo in Water, Gravel and Soil

Lucky bamboo is not a bamboo plant from the grass variety, it is from a different family. It is a popular house plant used in Feng Shui.

It generally grows by stem propagation.

The cuttings will thrive in water, soil and gravel. In this case, we’ll use water as the propagating medium.

Step 1: Cut lucky bamboo stem 10cm to 15cm long.

Step 2: Put cuttings in a vase or clear container.

Step 3: Fill the vase with distilled water, do not use tap water.

Step 4: Set aside in a well-ventilated location where there is good indoor light.

Finally, check regularly until you see signs of growth.

Top tip. Always use distilled as they are free from chlorine and chemicals which are the main causes of rotting roots, yellowing of leaves and browning of stems.

What is the difference between propagating and growing lucky bamboo plants? Take a look at the top 10 questions many lucky bamboo growers ask every day.

Why propagate bamboo in Water?

Propagating bamboo plants and lucky bamboo in water promotes the growth of the seeds and cuttings.

Related article: How to Propagate Lucky Bamboo in Water

How to Plant Bamboo in Soil

Most runner and clump-forming bamboos that grow in the UK will thrive if they are planted in well-prepared soil with good moisture. 

Learn about how to plant new bamboo in soil and what soil is best for growing them.

How to plant bamboo in soil

Holding pots

• Choose a decent size pot for your bamboo plants.
• Lay the bottom of the pot with pebbles or a porous sheath to prevent the potting mix from falling out and making a mess.

Soil

• Add the loam soil into the pot or container.
• Plant the soil in the pot or container and firm down the soil, careful not to break the new shoots and rhizome tips.

Moisture

• Add hummus, and use compost or mulch around the bamboo to a depth of 5cm – 10cm.
• Water generously.

Check out where to buy potting mixtures, composts and large pots for growing bamboo in soil from top UK home & garden suppliers.

Grow healthy bamboo in soil

Soil with good moisture content and rich in nutrients is ideal for planting new bamboo. 

But how do we know that the soil is fit for the healthy growth of the new bamboo?

Although matured bamboos are not fussy about where they are planted, the new bamboo plants are fussy. 

They need soil rich in nutrients and moisture in order to survive their first year.

Give your new bamboo plants a good start by doing these.

Use well-prepared soil rich in moisture and nutrients: Use loam soil, topped with mulch to reduce water loss.

Choose the right variety of bamboo: Select the variety that grows well in pots and containers in the UK.

 Select the right size pot or container: Choose a large pot with proper drainage holes. 

How to new bamboo plants grow in soil?

Newly planted bamboo in well-drained, moist soil will thrive when they've established a strong root system. this will be obvious from the healthy culms (stems), branches and leaves.

This video provides insight into how a new bamboo grows in the soil.

 

Plant new bamboo in soil

This archive of articles has lots of info about how to propagate new bamboo plants, check it out. 

The articles are insightful (and personal) take on how to propagate, transplant and grow bamboo plants successfully. 

You can see most of out work on our YouTube channel too.

We hope this article inspires you to grow your own bamboo plant in the garden and enjoy the beauty of this amazing plant.