What Water Is Best for Growing Lucky Bamboo? Home Hydroponic Methods and Tips
Lucky bamboo is a plant very well suited to hydroponic growing. Hydroponics not only lets lucky bamboo root better, but also allows the overall form of the whole plant to be displayed to better effect. However, hydroponics is a cultivation method that requires a great deal of skill, and only by mastering the techniques can you achieve fairly good results.
How to Grow Lucky Bamboo in Water
1. Choosing a container
Choose a suitable container according to the growing style and the length of the material, among other factors. For example, for shaped water growing, use a shallow-rimmed flower pot. When the requirements for growing the plant in water are not high, a wine bottle, drink bottle or similar item on hand can also be used.
2. Growing styles and methods
1) Growing a whole potted plant in water
Take the potted plant out with its roots, wash it clean, cut away some of the old roots and damaged roots, and then grow it directly in water.
2) Water rooting of cuttings
Cut a well-grown mature branch, use a sharp knife to cut the base of the cutting at a slight angle, and keep the cut smooth so as to increase the area for absorbing water and nutrients. Insert the base, with its lower leaves removed, into a bottle or vessel, and let the water cover the base to a depth of 1-2 cm; in about 15 days silvery-white fibrous roots will grow.
3) Growing a single branch or multiple branches in water
When growing a single branch in water, the bottle opening should not be too large, and the bottle height should be about one third of the branch height. When growing multiple branches in water, the bottle opening should be larger; cut the branches to the same length and insert them at an angle so as to form a geometric arrangement with the vessel.
4) Shaped water growing
When lucky bamboo is still a young plant, various shapes can be made by twisting and bending the branches, and once mature it can keep that shape. Mature stems have a strong ability to sprout and root, and can be cut to different lengths and tied and shaped into a tower shape and so on, which is the product sold on the market as lucky bamboo tower. Choose a shallow pot slightly larger than the tower stem, place the tower in it, and add clear water to just cover the node at its base.
Methods and Tips for Growing Lucky Bamboo at Home in Water
1. When inserting, pay attention to trimming the roots. On the first insertion, remove the leaves at the base so as not to affect the bamboo's growth; the exact amount depends on the size of your vase, and it is enough to remove the leaves below the bottle opening. In addition, use scissors or a knife to cut off a small part of the root at an angle, which lets the bamboo absorb water better; make the cut as smooth as possible.
2. Water volume control and choice of water. Add water to one third of the vase, and no more than two thirds. Before rooting, change the water once every 3 days; after rooting, do not change the water again, just add water directly to the vase. When the weather is dry and muggy, spray water on the leaf surface. It is best to use well water or purified water; if you use tap water, it is best to store it for one day before use.
3. Maintain indoor temperature. Lucky bamboo is suited to growing between 16°C and 26°C, and cold easily causes the plant to die. In winter, do not place it on a balcony, beside a window or in other colder places, and never let the water freeze. Take anti-freeze measures when necessary.
4. Ensure sufficient light. Lucky bamboo grown in water is generally placed indoors; although its demands for sunlight are not high, if it gets no sunlight at all, the leaves will likewise turn yellow and dry and growth will be poor. So place it in a bright, well-ventilated environment as far as possible so that it gets full exposure to light.
5. Fertilize once a month. For plants grown in water, we generally neglect fertilizing, but this is not right; fertilizing can make the plant grow better. Lucky bamboo grown in water only needs fertilizing once a month. You can go to a flower market and choose a professional fertilizer, or simply drip a few drops of dissolved vitamin C1 into the water when adding it.
What to Do If Hydroponic Lucky Bamboo Does Not Root
If, when growing lucky bamboo in water, flower lovers find that it has not rooted for a long time, they can take it out, cut it again at a 45° angle, and then grow it in water again.
Of course, sometimes there may be some problem with the lucky bamboo plant itself that prevents it from rooting smoothly, in which case it is best to change to another lucky bamboo plant for water growing.
The Correct Way to Pair Lucky Bamboo
The correct feng shui use of lucky bamboo is to promote official career luck and academic luck.
If you want to advance in studies or official career, place 4 lucky bamboo stalks in the Wenchang position of the home; a Wenchang pagoda and a brush rack can be used at the same time to increase the power of the Wenchang position.
There are many points to note in hydroponic growing of lucky bamboo, and there are also many techniques. If we want lucky bamboo to better use the nutrients in the water to root and sprout, we need to make constant efforts throughout the whole process. At the same time, the strengthening of lucky bamboo's effects can also make use of some other external factors.