The lucky bamboo plant originated in China and Southeast Asia, and it has been symbolic in Feng Shui practice for more than 5000 years.The scientific name for the lucky bamboo plant is Dracaena sanderiana. However, the lucky bamboo plant is also known by many other names, like curly bamboo, ribbon plant, Chinese water bamboo, and friendship bamboo.It is widely used as an indoor plant in offices and homes to bring good luck and prosperity. According to Chinese traditions, this plant brings good luck, wealth, love, positivity, balance, and highly productive energy. A lucky bamboo with a red ribbon is said to be a good luck charm. Also, the lucky bamboo purifies the air and provides an aesthetic appeal to the room.The lucky bamboo does not prefer direct sunlight, but it needs clean water to survive. And if you plant lucky bamboo in the soil, the soil should be moderately moist, not too wet or too dry. Also, it does not need fertilization. Just spraying clean water (not the tap water as it may contain chlorine) every three days is enough for it to blossom.Once you have finished reading this article, why not discover interesting begonia facts, and dogwood facts here at Kidadl?Classification of bamboo plantsBambusoideae come from the family of Poaceae, which are tall tree-like green grasses. The Poaceae family consists of 115 genera and 1,500 species. There are 812 species of tropical woody bamboo plants in the Bambuseae family, 124 species of herbaceous bamboo plants in the Olyreae family, and 546 species of temperate woody bamboo plants in the Arundinarieae family.This plant generally survives in tropical, sub-tropical, and mildly temperate regions and prefers indirect light. They are found mainly in the east and southeast Asia and on islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans where the soil is moderate. This species of plant mostly produces flowers and seeds only once, and that too, after surviving for around 100 years.Some seeds and shoots are eaten, while some raw leaves are used as livestock fodder. The pulped fibers of Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambusa bamboos are used to make paper. The stems are used to make house planks, flooring, rafts, fishing rods, scaffoldings, pipes, buckets, furniture, walking sticks, utensils, and garden stakes.Bamboo Plant TypesThis tall and lean plant can be divided into two types: running and clumping bamboo.Clumping bamboo is a containable plant that grows in a big clump of grass and stays in one place. It is perfect for your home garden.Running bamboo spreads very fast. If it is not kept in check, it can grow new bamboo stalks in the nearby soil. They have underground runners called rhizomes, which can spread or travel for about 100 ft (30.5 m) in any direction. The rhizomes propagate the growth of a new stalk anywhere they spread.Because of this, it is considered illegal to plant bamboo that is the running type in some places. It can be invasive and, if not contained properly, an unwanted stalk could spring up in your neighbors’ houses at any time.However, it can be contained by surrounding the roots with concrete or metal sheeting, or a root barrier that can be buried underground. Bamboo plants generally don’t have deep roots; they have shallow roots. But, running bamboo plants is generally not preferred in residential areas.Additionally, this plant might obstruct the growth of native plants, strangle their roots, and damage underground lines. Even removing bamboo plants is an expensive procedure. So, before you decide to go for bamboo gardening, make sure you know the type you are planting!The climatic conditions of a region also influence the type of bamboo. For a cold region, the best running bamboo plants include black bamboo, golden grove, and Kuma bamboo, and the best-clumping bamboo plants are Chinese Mountain and Umbrella bamboo. For warm areas, the best running bamboo plants include Red Margin and Giant Japanese Timber, whereas the best clumping bamboo plants are Fernleaf, Chinese Goddess, Silverstripe, and Hedge bamboo.Bamboo Plant Care TipsThe healthy growing conditions for lucky bamboo plants, or Dracaena sanderiana, are easy to establish. Lucky bamboo plants require very low maintenance. They are primarily indoor plants, and the best growing conditions for them are in a low-light environment. Avoid placing this plant in direct sunlight as it will scorch the leaves. They prefer partial shade or indirect sunlight. If the plant shows signs of stretching or its green color fades, then it should be provided more light. The leaves of the lucky bamboo grow up to 1 in (2.5 cm) each month.This plant prefers warm temperatures. So, avoid keeping it near a window, heat vent, or an air conditioner, all of which provide extreme temperatures.Lucky bamboo plants mostly don’t need moist soil or fertilizer. If you keep it in soil, then keep it in moist soil only. You can add pebbles if preferred. But do your research if you wish to add fertilizer to this plant.When it comes to water, lucky bamboo plants grow best when placed in a container with 1 in (2.5 cm) of freshwater. Water should be carefully monitored as lucky bamboo is sensitive to chlorine, salt, and mineral build-up that can be found in tap water and bottled water. These can make your leaves turn yellow. Lucky bamboo thrives best in filtered water or distilled water. Since they are long-living plants, one should just add or change the water weekly in the container to avoid odors or diseases.The lucky bamboo plants have naked branches with tufts of thin and long leaves. The bamboo leaves slowly become part of the plant stalk. If you cut off the stalk, the place it was cut off from won’t grow any new leaves or have any new growth.To start new bamboo plants and grow them quickly, the bamboo stalks can be cut at the base and placed in distilled water in a new container. The stalks will then grow new shoots and become plants of their own, continuing their lifecycle.Some common issues with lucky bamboo are pests that affect it, like mites, mealybugs, and more. In such a case, you can wash the whole plant with mild soap and rinse thoroughly. Here are some more tips that you must know. If the leaf tips start to turn brown, then remove them before they rot. If your plant is sprouting yellow leaves and the stems are turning yellow, then it means your plant is receiving too much sun or fertilizer. You should move it to a place with less light or indirect light.The healthy roots of a lucky bamboo plant would be red or orange. If they turn black, it is termed ‘root rot’. When it happens, snip off the black roots and change the water and container. Also, in the case of algae growth in the water, it means light is penetrating through the container. You should change the plant to an opaque container. If you find mushy or black stalks, remove them. Move the remaining plant to a new container with fresh water and pebbles.Also, you may spot green algae growth if you are using the wrong type of container. Algae grow in containers that allow direct sunlight to reach the water. Also, adding chemicals like nitrates and phosphates to the water supports algae growth and harms your lucky bamboo.The Bamboo Plant’s SignificanceThe lucky bamboo plant is believed by some to have Feng Shui therapies. To some people, it signifies five elements: the stalk denotes wood, the water represents water, any pebbles, rocks, or soil denote earth, the red ribbon around it symbolizes fire, and the container, be it glass or another, indicates metal. The lucky bamboo is said to produce a sense of balance and safety in life.As per Asian culture, depending on the number of stalks in the lucky bamboo plant, the significance it offers changes. Having two stalks embodies love and doubles luck. Three stalks symbolize wealth, happiness, and long life. Five stalks denote wealth. Six stalks indicate luck and prosperity. Seven stalks represent wealth, health, and happiness. Eight stalks represent luck and motivation. Nine stalks signify good fortune. 10 stalks epitomize perfection and completion. 21 stalks bring in abundance and blessings. Lucky bamboo also comes in different shapes, such as two layers, three layers, and seven layers.Some believe that you can enjoy all the benefits of this lucky bamboo plant by keeping one in light shade in your office or home or gifting it to your loved ones.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for the bamboo plant: know amazing facts about this lucky Feng Shui plant, then why not take a look at where do bay leaves come from to learn fascinating food facts for kids or why do dogs like belly rubs.
The lucky bamboo plant originated in China and Southeast Asia, and it has been symbolic in Feng Shui practice for more than 5000 years.
