How to grow lucky bamboo? Detailed explanation of cultivation techniques and potted care essentials

Lucky bamboo, also known as sword-leaf dragon tree, is an evergreen small tree that can be grown in pots and also used as cut flower material. In recent years, the “tower-shaped” form, also known as “fortune bamboo,” as well as braided forms and curly bamboo, have high ornamental value and are quite popular in the market.

Lucky bamboo likes shady, humid and high-temperature conditions, is tolerant of shade, waterlogging and strong fertility; it prefers a semi-shaded environment. The suitable growth temperature is 20-28°C, and it can tolerate a low temperature of 2-3°C, but in winter it must be protected from frost. High temperature and humidity in summer is the best period for growth. The cultivation site should be provided with a 1.8 m high shade shed with 75% shading rate to avoid direct strong sunlight and exposure, otherwise it will cause the leaves to turn yellow and scorch, affecting growth and reducing value.

Propagation methods

Lucky bamboo has strong rooting and sprouting ability at the stem nodes, and cutting propagation is often used, which can be carried out all year round in Yunfu.

Generally, leaf-free stem segments are cut as cuttings, 5-10 cm long, with three nodes, and inserted into a sand bed or semi-muddy soil. Roots and buds can sprout in 20-30 days, and they can be transplanted to the field or potted in 30-35 days. The terminal bud can also be cut into 10-15 cm pieces and inserted directly into the field or pots. The most suitable cutting period is spring.

Field cultivation

Field cultivation of lucky bamboo is mainly for harvesting upright, tall stems as material for shaping and cut flowers, and the main purpose of cultivation is to cultivate upright and thick stems.

1. Land preparation: Choose deep, fertile sandy loam or semi-muddy soil. Apply 2500-3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure or 2000 kg of decomposed livestock and poultry manure, and 250-300 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu. Plow the soil deeply twice, make beds 1.2-1.5 m wide, 20-30 cm high, with 40-50 cm spacing between beds, and dig irrigation and water storage ditches 40-50 cm deep around the perimeter.

2. Planting: Open shallow furrows with a row spacing of 20-25 cm and a plant spacing of about 15 cm, and about 14,000-17,000 plants can be planted per mu.

3. Fertilizer and water management: 10-15 days after planting, apply a light application of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer once, using 15 kg of urea per mu, dissolved in water and poured on. During the seedling stage, fertilize once every 15 days, using 15-18 kg of urea, 15 kg of potassium fertilizer, 20 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu, or 35-40 kg of a ternary compound fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or 2000 kg of decomposed human manure water fertilizer, poured on to strengthen buds and promote growth. Loosen the soil appropriately in the early stage and weed in time. Keep 2-3 thick buds per plant and remove weak young buds in time to prevent excessive density from affecting growth. In April, when the temperature warms up, apply 40-50 kg of ternary compound fertilizer 1-2 times a month to promote stem and leaf elongation and thick stems. In May-June, apply a heavy fertilizer once, using 40-50 kg of bran powder, 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu, or 600-800 kg of decomposed chicken manure, then level the beds appropriately to prevent the plants from lodging. After that, topdress as appropriate according to the growth of lucky bamboo, avoiding excessive nitrogen causing leaf overgrowth. Spray foliar fertilizer plus plant growth regulators once every 15-20 days to promote taller and thicker stems, darker green leaf color and thicker leaves.

During the growth period, lucky bamboo is best kept moist. Keep a shallow water layer in the furrows. In high temperatures, sprinkle water to cool down and maintain humidity. Each fertilization should be followed by watering once to promote fertilizer dissolution and facilitate root absorption, so that the plants grow vigorously.

4. Insert stakes and pull lines. When the plants grow to a certain height, due to the weight of the upper part, they are prone to lodging, affecting growth and causing stem bending. Insert bamboo stakes every 1.5-2 m along the edge of the bed and pull lines along the stakes to prevent lodging. Pay attention to typhoon strikes, reinforce the shade shed, and do a good job of wind protection.

Potted care

For potted lucky bamboo, a mixed soil of leaf mold, garden soil and river sand can be used, or a mixed soil of coconut coir, leaf mold, coal cinder ash plus a small amount of chicken manure, bean cake and compound fertilizer, or high-quality pond mud can be used as the culture soil. Plant 3-6 rooted cuttings or 6-12 plants with terminal buds per pot. During the growing season, keep the pot soil moist at all times, and never let the pot soil dry out to a whitish color. In midsummer, spray frequently to cool down and avoid dry and withered leaf tips and leaves. In winter, do a good job of cold and freeze protection to avoid yellowing and premature aging of leaves. Apply a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer once every 20-25 days, evenly applied around the flower pot. Potted lucky bamboo should be repotted once every 1-2 years, removing old roots and old soil, and adding new culture soil to encourage new shoots to emerge early.

Pest and disease control

Lucky bamboo is often harmed by spider mites, scale insects, cutworms, earthworms, rice locusts, etc., and carbofuran plus dichlorvos spraying can be applied. To control anthracnose and leaf spot disease, use thiophanate, kasugamycin, banana spot removal and anthracnose fumei for spraying control, alternating the drugs. Apply the drug once every 10-15 days.

Cultivation steps and care essentials for lucky bamboo as a potted plant

Potted care methods for lucky bamboo. Precautions and tips for household potted cultivation of lucky bamboo

Lucky bamboo is a common plant with both extremely high ornamental value and beautiful meaning. Therefore, it is deeply loved by many flower enthusiasts. So, do you know what requirements and precautions there are for household potted cultivation of lucky bamboo? Today, the editor will introduce them to you in detail. Let's learn together with the editor.

Pot and soil selection: For cultivating lucky bamboo, purple clay pots and plastic pots are suitable, while outdoors, earthenware pots are better. It is not very particular about soil, and grows most robustly in loose, fertile sandy loam. A mixed culture soil of leaf mold, garden soil and sand at 5:4:1 can be used. If a small amount of crushed eggshell is mixed in, the growth will be even more vigorous. Repot and change the soil once every spring. When repotting and changing soil, it is advisable to place a layer of broken hard plastic foam blocks at the bottom of the pot to facilitate ventilation and drainage, prevent root rot, and make it easier to remove the plant from the pot.

Water and fertilizer management: Lucky bamboo likes both moisture and fertilizer, but when potted indoors for viewing, it is better to control water and restrict fertilizer to make it grow slowly and improve its ornamental value. During the growing season, according to seasonal and climatic changes, water once every 2 to 5 days when the pot soil is dry, keeping the pot soil slightly moist but not waterlogged. Too wet pot soil easily causes overgrowth, while too dry soil easily causes dry leaf tips. Spray water on the leaf surface frequently to increase the air humidity of the small environment and benefit its growth. Persist in applying light fertilizer frequently, applying a small amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer once every 15 to 20 days. Excessive or single application of nitrogen fertilizer easily causes overgrowth. Do not fertilize in winter, and water less.

Temperature and light: Lucky bamboo originates from Madagascar in the western Indian Ocean. It likes warmth, and the most suitable growth temperature is 18°C to 25°C. It is not cold-tolerant. When the minimum temperature drops to 5°C, it should be brought indoors for the winter, and the room temperature should be kept above 5°C. It likes an environment with sufficient scattered light. In summer and early autumn, avoid scorching sun exposure. From late autumn to the following spring, it can be placed in direct light or in a place with sufficient scattered light within 2 m of a window. If too shady, the leaf color loses luster and is not beautiful. Renewal and propagation: After lucky bamboo has been grown for many years, the plant height becomes disproportionate to the pot size, affecting aesthetics. In May and June, it can be cut short at 10 cm to 15 cm above the pot soil. After cutting, the lower base will send out new branches, and the cut upper stems can be used as cuttings for propagation.

From May to September, for lucky bamboo grown in bottles with water, or lucky bamboo cut during renewal, any that have already rooted can be planted directly into soil. For those that have not rooted, cut them into 15 cm to 20 cm lengths, cut off all leaves on the part to be inserted into the soil, then apply sulfur powder or plant ash to the cut surface, insert into plain culture soil, place in a shady place, spray water frequently to maintain moisture, and after they grow new leaves, move them to a place with sufficient scattered light for care.

The above is all the content I learned today about lucky bamboo. I hope flower enthusiasts will find it helpful after reading this article. If you want to learn more about lucky bamboo, please continue to follow Duorou Huapu, and we will provide you with more related knowledge!