Bamboo is a popular indoor plant loved by seasoned gardeners as well as the novice gardeners due to its minimal maintenance feature and easy growing habits. It has been named a bamboo plant because its appearance and fast-growing habits resemble the bamboo plant. It is also used for gifting purposes owing to its popularity to bring luck to homes. Many people keep it in their offices due to its captivating shapes, braided stalks, and good feng shui. It can be grown hydroponically or in the soil. In this article we will learn about how to take care of a lucky bamboo plant.
Significance of Stalk in Bamboo Plants
Knowing about the significance of stalks in bamboo plants may help you decide the best plant for your home.
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Two stalks signify love.
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Three stalks signify happiness, health, and long life.
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Five stalks signify balance, peace, harmony, and power in your life.
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Six stalks signify good luck and wealth.
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Seven stalks signify good health.
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Eight stalks signify growth.
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Nine stalks signify good luck.
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Ten stalks signify perfection.
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Twenty-one stalks signify a blessing.
Caring Tips for Bamboo Plants
The bamboo plant is undoubtedly a low-maintenance plant. However, it doesn’t mean no care is needed. They need good care for their long and healthy life. Here are some of the tips to care for bamboo plants.
1. Take Care of Lighting Requirements
Lucky bamboo prefers indirect light for robust growth, so it’s advisable to keep them away from the bright and direct light which also prevents the leaves from scorching. However, when the plants start to stretch, or the green color from the stalk fades, rotate the plant to ensure that the entire plant evenly receives the sunlight.
2. Keep an Eye on the Watering Requirement
Balanced watering is an essential part of the bamboo plant care. Lucky bamboo plants grow in soil as well as in water. If you prefer to grow them in water, use distilled or filtered water to maintain moist and healthy roots and change the water weekly. Avoid watering the plant with tap water, as it may contain chemicals that can burn the stalk.
3. Add Light Fertilizer
When growing lucky bamboo in water, add a few drops of water-soluble fertilizer for fast and healthy growth. Whereas, when you grow the plant in soil, use manure or compost. Overuse of fertilizer can destroy the plant because potted plants have no room for fertilizers to get diluted and run off like other plants sown in the ground.
4. Maintain Ideal Temperature and High Humidity
As these plants are native to tropical regions, hence, they thrive in warm and humid conditions. Maintaining a temperature between 60°F to 90° F and high humidity is vital for their proper growth. To increase the humidity, either place bamboo plants next to other plants, use a pebble tray, or use a humidifier. You can place the plants in the bathroom and kitchen as well in a naturally humid environment.
5. Care Tips When Grown in Soil
When lucky bamboo is grown in soil, make sure the soil is well-drained and moist but not soaked. Moreover, bear in mind that the plant should be kept in at least an inch of standing water.
6. Prune the Plant Occasionally
Occasional pruning of lucky bamboo plants is beneficial for their strong growth because, over the period, plants tend to lose their shape. However, make sure not to cut the main stalk of the plant. Rather, cut the offshoot and trim it back to an inch or two of the main stem. Soon, you will notice new shoots. Another point to note is that the main culprit for the unusual plant shape is its placement of stalks in front of the source of light and not the trimming because the plant tends to grow toward the light.
7. Pest Control
Bamboo plants are prone to pests like mealybugs, mites, and fungal infections. There are different ways to handle these pests. If you notice a grey fuzz on the plant, it’s an indication of a fungal infection, so remove the infected part and keep the stalk in a well-ventilated area for better air circulation. If small white mealybug insects can be seen, remove them manually or by rubbing alcohol. Don’t worry about mites as they won’t damage the plant.
8. Propagate the Plant
Propagation of bamboo plants has a dual benefit- one, to have multiple plants for free, and second, to avoid overcrowding in the pot. All you have to do is remove the extra stalk, put it in water, and see it growing.
9. Repotting in a New Container
When the plant starts to outgrow the pot/container, it’s time to repot them to avoid overcrowding of stalks. The simplest way is to remove them carefully from the pot without damaging the roots and repot them in a new and big container.
10. Remove the Dead Leaves
At times, you may notice that the tip of the leaves turns yellow, which indicates either underwatering, overuse of fertilizer, or overexposure to direct sunlight. In such a case, it is recommended to cut the yellow leaves using sterilized scissors or pruning shears. The best way to sterilize the scissors is to rub alcohol or vinegar.
