How to grow lucky bamboo so it thrives more? Practical care tips shared

Lucky bamboo is also known as wan shou zhu, kai yun zhu, fu gui ta, and so on. It is a perennial evergreen small tree foliage plant of the genus Dracaena in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). In China there is the well-wishing phrase "when flowers bloom, prosperity follows; when bamboo rustles, peace is reported." Because its stems and leaves are slender and graceful, full of bamboo charm, it is very popular. Let us take a look below at how to grow lucky bamboo so it thrives more!

The growth habits of lucky bamboo

Lucky bamboo likes shade, humidity and high temperatures, tolerates waterlogging, has strong tolerance to fertilizer and strong cold resistance, and likes semi-shaded environments. It is suitable for growing in well-drained sandy soil, semi-muddy sand, or alluvial clay. It likes warmth, with a suitable temperature of 18-24°C; it can grow all year round, but below 13°C the plant goes dormant and stops growing. When the temperature is too low, because the roots cannot absorb enough water, yellow-brown patches appear on the leaf tips and leaf margins. The minimum wintering temperature must be above 10°C. It is not strict about light and is suitable for growing under bright indirect light; too strong light or direct sun exposure can cause leaves to turn yellow, fade, and grow slowly.

Propagation methods for lucky bamboo

1. Cutting time: For spring cuttings, lucky bamboo is best propagated from late January (after Great Cold) to mid-to-late February (around Rain Water), and can be directly cut in the open field, generally rooting in 30-35 days. It can also be cut from mid-March to early April (Spring Equinox to Pure Brightness); planting in late March is best, because during this period the temperature gradually rises and the humidity is suitable. After cutting, it can root in about 7-15 days, with a 100% survival rate, and with good management it can be marketed the same year.

2. Cutting method: Lucky bamboo is generally propagated by cutting leafless stem segments as cuttings, 5-10 cm long, preferably with 3 nodes, inserted into a sand bed or semi-muddy sandy soil, burying 2 nodes in the soil, watered once a day to keep the soil moist, generally rooting in 35-45 days. In recent years, top shoot branches (that is, tender stems) are commonly cut into 20-25 cm lengths and inserted directly into sandy loam or semi-muddy sand or alluvial clay fields; with careful tending, they can be cut for bottle use by the Spring Festival of the same year.

How should lucky bamboo be grown to do well?

1. Soil: Lucky bamboo is not strict about soil and is suitable for growing in well-drained sandy soil, semi-muddy sand, or alluvial clay. It is best to keep it alternating between dry and moist; if the soil is too wet, reduce watering and stop fertilizing.

2. Temperature: The suitable growing temperature for lucky bamboo is 20-28°C, and it can tolerate low temperatures of 2-3°C, but in winter it must be protected from frost. Summer and autumn are high-temperature and high-humidity seasons, which are very favorable for the growth of lucky bamboo.

3. Light: Lucky bamboo is highly adaptable and can be placed long-term indoors for viewing in morning and evening light or in a bright location. Spring is the peak growing season for lucky bamboo, so it should be placed where there is morning and evening light; in summer it should be placed in a bright indoor spot.

4. Fertilizing: Lucky bamboo likes fertilizer and tolerates it, mainly nitrogen fertilizer. During the growing season, apply once every 20 days a mix of rotted 5-times diluted liquid fertilizer with an equal amount of 1000-times potassium dihydrogen phosphate or 1000-times "Hua Duo Duo" general-purpose fertilizer. In autumn and winter, when the temperature is lower, do not fertilize.

5. Watering: Lucky bamboo likes a moist environment but fears waterlogging, so the potting soil should be kept in a semi-dry state. In summer, the plant transpires heavily, so indoors it needs a thorough watering once every 1 day; in spring and autumn, water thoroughly once every 1 week; in winter, watering thoroughly once about every 20 days is enough.

6. Pests and diseases: The main pests and diseases of lucky bamboo include leaf spot, anthracnose, longhorn beetles, spider mites, scale insects, and so on. For household pest control, manual capture is the main method. For anthracnose and leaf spot, 75% chlorothalonil or 70% thiophanate-methyl 800-times solution can be used alternately, giving a relatively good control effect.