How to propagate lucky bamboo by cuttings? A detailed guide to the method

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Dracaena in the family Asparagaceae. It has great ornamental value, is relatively easy to grow, and can purify indoor air. It can be grown both in water and in pots. Because of its strong growth and strong ability to root and sprout, cutting propagation is often used in production. As long as the temperature is suitable, it can be done all year round. Let's take a look at the lucky bamboo cutting propagation method below!

Lucky bamboo growth habits

Lucky bamboo likes shady, humid and high-temperature conditions, is tolerant of waterlogging, has strong fertilizer tolerance and strong cold resistance, and likes a semi-shaded environment. It is suitable for growing in well-drained sandy soil or semi-muddy sand and alluvial clay. The suitable growth temperature is 20-28°C, and it can tolerate a low temperature of 2-3°C, but frost protection is needed in winter. The high-temperature and humid seasons of summer and autumn are very favorable for the growth of lucky bamboo and are its best growth period. It is not strict about light requirements and is suitable for growing under bright scattered light. Too strong light or exposure to the sun can cause yellowing of leaves, loss of green color, and slow growth.

Lucky bamboo cutting time

For spring cuttings of lucky bamboo, the most suitable time is from late January (after Great Cold) to mid-to-late February (around Rain Water). They can be directly cut in the open field, and generally take 30-35 days to root. They can also be cut from mid-March to early April (from Spring Equinox to Qingming). It is best to plant in late March, because during this period the temperature gradually rises and the humidity is suitable. After cutting, they can root in about 7-15 days, with a survival rate of 100%, and those managed well can be marketed in the same year.

Lucky bamboo cutting treatment

For lucky bamboo, generally leaf-free stem segments are cut as cuttings, 5-10 cm long, preferably with 3 internodes, and inserted into a sand bed or semi-muddy sandy soil, burying 2 nodes in the soil, watering once a day to keep the soil moist. They generally take 35-45 days to root. In recent years, top shoots (that is, tender stems) are commonly cut into 20-25 cm lengths and directly inserted into sandy loam or semi-muddy sand and alluvial clay fields. With careful care and cultivation, they can be cut for bottle use by the Spring Festival of the same year.