Propagation Methods and Shaping Techniques for Lucky Bamboo
Many people enjoy growing lucky bamboo. Kept at home, it can survive without sunlight. As long as you have one lucky bamboo plant, you can propagate it into many more. What are the propagation methods for lucky bamboo? How do you shape it? Lucky bamboo propagation method: generally, select a plant that has grown too tall and cut off a section.
Many people enjoy growing lucky bamboo. Kept at home, it can survive without sunlight. As long as you have one lucky bamboo plant, you can propagate it into many more. What are the propagation methods for lucky bamboo? How do you shape it?
Lucky bamboo propagation methods:
Generally, select a plant that has grown too tall and cut off a section to use for cuttings in water to root, or insert into slightly moist, loose potting soil.
Of course, soil-grown lucky bamboo easily produces side shoots. Simply snap off the small shoots and plant them in soil. Keep the potting soil slightly moist. For the propagation mix, you can add more fine sand; river sand and mixed soil at a 4:6 ratio is about right.
First place it in a cool, shaded spot. After about one to two months, it will begin to root, and then it can gradually be exposed to light.
Lucky bamboo shaping:
Lucky Tower shaping method:
Sellers love to shape lucky bamboo into a lucky tower, which looks like it is rising step by step. Do any plant enthusiasts like this? Of course, you can shape this yourself too, but it requires plenty of patience and care!
Generally, gold ribbon or red ribbon is used to tie together plants that have grown to the same height.
To keep the lucky bamboo tower in a full, rounded shape, many sellers usually apply a layer of wax to the nodes on the rhizomes of the lucky bamboo, usually green in color. If you do not look carefully, you really cannot tell. This is to control the growth of the lucky bamboo and prevent sprouting there, which would affect the plant's shape.
Curved lucky bamboo shaping method:
Do any plant enthusiasts want to learn how to shape curved lucky bamboo? It is actually about shaping young rhizomes. Most of the time, forceful methods are used, wrapping their rhizomes with tools such as aluminum wire. Old stems are relatively hard and cannot be changed.
Of course, there is also a gentler method: let the lucky bamboo grow toward the lit side, continuously turning the pot during care. This is a long process, and the resulting shape is not necessarily satisfactory!
That is all for the propagation methods and common shaping methods of lucky bamboo. Hurry up and make your own lucky bamboo even more beautiful.
Lucky Bamboo Dracaena sanderiana Lucky Bamboo Guide: How to Grow Lucky Bamboo / How to Propagate Lucky Bamboo
Lucky Bamboo ProfileLucky Bamboo Dracaena sanderiana
Lucky Bamboo Growing Methods and Precautions Lucky Bamboo Introduction
Lucky bamboo, also known as lily bamboo and fortune bamboo, is a foliage flower that has become deeply loved by people in recent years. Lucky bamboo can be grown both in water and in pots. Comparatively speaking, potted plants live longer than water-grown ones, grow more vigorously, and are easier to manage. Lucky bamboo is a shade-loving plant and rarely blooms. If it blooms, it represents good luck coming your way. It grows easily and vigorously, with upright stems and deep green leaves, staying green through winter and summer. Whether potted or with cut stems placed in a bottle, or processed into "fortune bamboo" or "curved bamboo," it all appears elegant and upright, with slender stems and leaves, graceful and refined, with a free and easy posture, full of bamboo charm, and exceptionally high ornamental value. The beauty of lucky bamboo is inseparable from its auspicious name. It has slender, elegant leaves and emerald green foliage, and its stem nodes show characteristics resembling bamboo nodes, though it is not true bamboo. China has the congratulatory phrase "flowers bloom in wealth and honor, bamboo reports peace." Because lucky bamboo has slender stems and leaves, is graceful and refined, and is rich in bamboo charm, it is very much loved by people. Lucky bamboo is easy to manage, has few pests and diseases, is easy to cultivate, and symbolizes "great fortune and great prosperity."
Lucky bamboo is a tropical evergreen foliage flower. It prefers a high-temperature, high-humidity growing environment, likes light but can tolerate shade, likes moisture but can tolerate drought, and can be kept indoors for a long time without deliberate care. As long as there is enough water, it will continue to grow. It can be said to be a crop that grows easily and vigorously, generally growing normally without deliberate care. However, in order to keep it full of vitality, proper care is very necessary. Lucky bamboo is most afraid of cold and frost. Generally, if the temperature is around zero degrees and it is placed outdoors, it will freeze to death. This is the reason why it can be grown outdoors in greenhouses in southern China, while in the north it can only be grown indoors. At the same time, if exposed to strong direct light outdoors, it grows slowly. Therefore, if grown in large quantities as an economic crop, it is necessary to set up posts and build a shed, cover the top with shade netting, and carry out reasonable fertilizer and water management, so it can grow smoothly. The umbel inflorescence has 3-10 flowers borne in the leaf axils or opposite the upper leaves, with 6 perianth segments, a bell-shaped corolla, purple. The berry is nearly spherical, black. Lucky bamboo is a perennial evergreen herb, with a plant height that can reach more than 1.5-2.5 m. If used for commercial or ornamental purposes, a cultivation height of 80-100 cm is appropriate. It is mostly cultivated in gardens and nurseries, and also grows wild. It likes shade and moisture, has thick stems and leaves, and dark green leaves, and is mainly used as an ornamental plant. Lucky bamboo can be potted or grown in water.
Morphological Characteristics of Lucky Bamboo
Evergreen subshrub-like plant. Plant height over 1 m, with slender plants and branches on the upright upper part. Rhizomes creep horizontally, nodular. Leaves alternate or nearly opposite, papery, long lanceolate, with obvious 3-7 main veins, short petioles, deep green. The umbel inflorescence has 3-10 flowers borne in the leaf axils or opposite the upper leaves, with 6 perianth segments, a bell-shaped corolla, purple. The berry is nearly spherical, black. Lucky bamboo is a perennial evergreen herb, with a plant height that can reach more than 1.5-2.5 m. If used for commercial or ornamental purposes, a cultivation height of 80-100 cm is appropriate. It is mostly cultivated in gardens and nurseries, and also grows wild. It likes shade and moisture, has thick stems and leaves, and dark green leaves, and is mainly used as an ornamental plant. Planting lucky bamboo has the advantages of high yield and high economic benefit. At present, the general market price can reach more than 3-5 yuan per plant, 18,000-25,000 plants can be planted per mu, and the annual output value per mu can reach 30,000-50,000 yuan. Cultivation of lucky bamboo begins in spring around Awakening of Insects, and harvest can be in mid-to-late December. This variety is easy to manage. You can choose loose, fertile rice fields or sloping land for cultivation.
Ecological Habits of Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo prefers shady, humid, high-temperature conditions. It tolerates shade, waterlogging, strong fertility, and strong cold resistance; it likes semi-shaded environments. It is suitable for growing in well-drained sandy soil or semi-muddy sand and alluvial clay. The suitable growing temperature is 20-28°C. It can tolerate low temperatures of 2-3°C, but in winter it must be protected from frost. In summer and autumn, the high-temperature and humid season is very favorable for the growth of lucky bamboo and is its best growing period. It is not strict about light and is suitable for growing under bright scattered light. Too strong light or exposure to the sun can cause leaves to turn yellow, lose green color, and grow slowly. Therefore, when planting in the field, a shade net shed 1.7-1.8 m high should be built, with a shading rate of 75% as appropriate, creating a semi-shaded, scattered-light environment. Especially from April to September, avoid direct strong light, exposure, or excessive drought; otherwise, the leaf surface is likely to become rough, scorched, and weak in growth, and the leaves will lack luster, reducing ornamental value. During the growing season, the soil should be kept moist frequently, and water should often be sprayed or sprinkled on the leaf surface to increase air humidity; in case of heavy rain, field water should be drained to prevent lodging. In winter, pay attention to cold protection and frost protection. Below 10°C, leaves will turn yellow and wilt. At this time, the soil should be alternately dry and moist, but it should not be too dry or too wet. Reduce watering and stop fertilizing.
Lucky bamboo is an evergreen small tree with upright stems, a delicate plant form, and thick stems reaching more than 2 m tall. The leaves are long lanceolate, the leaves are deep green, the growth is robust, and it is easy to keep alive in water. Its varieties include green leaf, green leaf with white edge (called silver edge), green leaf with yellow edge (called gold edge), and green leaf with silver center (called silver center). Green-leaf lucky bamboo is also called ten-thousand-year bamboo. Its leaves are deep green, its growth is vigorous, and it is relatively widely cultivated. It is generally mostly used for home bottle arrangement or potted maintenance, especially the "tower-shaped" form that spread from Taiwan, China, also known as "fortune bamboo," which has high ornamental value and is quite popular in the international market.
Lucky bamboo grows easily and vigorously, with upright stems and deep green leaves, staying green through winter and summer. Whether potted or with cut stems placed in a bottle, or processed into "fortune bamboo" or "curved bamboo," it all appears elegant and upright, with slender stems and leaves, graceful and refined, with a free and easy posture, full of bamboo charm, and exceptionally high ornamental value.
Distribution Area of Lucky Bamboo
Native to the Canary Islands and tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It was introduced to China in large quantities in the late 1980s.
Propagation Methods of Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo has strong growth, rooting, and sprouting ability, and is often propagated by cuttings. As long as the temperature is suitable, it can be done throughout the year. Generally, cut stem sections without leaves as cuttings, 5-10 cm long, preferably with 3 internodes, and insert them into a sand bed or semi-muddy sandy soil. In the south in spring and autumn, roots and buds generally sprout in 25-30 days, and they can be potted or transplanted to the field in 35 days. Water cuttings can also root, and soilless cultivation can also be carried out. In recent years, various places in Guangdong have used top spike branches (that is, tender stems) cut into 20-25 cm and inserted directly into sandy loam or semi-muddy sand or alluvial clay fields. After careful care and cultivation, they can be cut for bottle use by the Spring Festival of that year. In areas south of Guangzhou, such as farmers in Haiyan Town, Taishan City, they insert them directly into the field in spring and autumn. They can also use top spike branches or internode top seedlings or lateral bud top spikes cut into 15-20 cm cuttings from October to December, insert them into coarse sand or semi-muddy sand fields, bury 2 nodes in the soil, water once a day, and keep the soil moist. They generally root in 35-45 days. Spring cuttings are most suitably done from late January (after Great Cold) to mid-to-late February (around Rain Water), and can be directly inserted into the field in the open. They generally root in 30-35 days. They can also be cut from mid-March to early April (Spring Equinox to Pure Brightness). It is best to plant in late March, because during this period the temperature gradually rises and the humidity is suitable. After insertion, they can root in about 7-15 days, with a 100% survival rate, and those managed well can be marketed that same year.
Lucky bamboo has strong moisture and waterlogging tolerance. During the growing period, it is appropriate to keep it moist, and keep a shallow water layer in the furrows. During high temperature and drought, water should be irrigated into the furrows, and water should be sprinkled to cool and maintain moisture, so that the plants grow vigorously. Each time fertilizer is applied, a thin layer of water should be sprinkled once to promote fertilizer dissolution so the roots can absorb fertilizer quickly. In case of heavy rain or rainstorms, field water should be drained, and fertilizer should not be applied, to prevent disease. Pay attention to typhoon attacks, reinforce the shade shed, and use bamboo poles to steady the plants to prevent lodging. When dry north winds blow in winter, the soil should be kept moist, and water should be sprinkled or irrigated into the furrows.
Potted Maintenance
Lucky bamboo can be potted in a mix of leaf mold, vegetable garden soil, and river sand, or coconut coir, leaf mold, coal cinder ash plus a small amount of chicken manure, peanut cake, and compound fertilizer can be used as the growing medium. It is appropriate to plant 3-6 plants per pot. For plants that have survived cuttings, the key is to master temperature and humidity well. During the growing season, the potting soil should often be kept moist. Never let the potting soil dry out, especially in midsummer, when water should often be sprayed on the leaves. Excessive dryness will cause leaf tips and leaves to dry up. In winter, the potting soil should not be too wet, but water should often be sprayed on the leaves, and attention should be paid to cold and freeze protection measures to avoid leaves turning yellow, shrinking, and falling off. Potted lucky bamboo should be repotted and have its soil changed every 2-3 years; apply a nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer once every 20-25 days, keep the potting soil moist, and prevent leaf tips from drying up. It is better to place it on a balcony facing away from the north and toward the sun. In spring and autumn, give it appropriately more light, 3-4 hours of light per day, to maintain the bright color of the leaves. In summer and autumn, provide appropriate shade and spray water once a day to clean dust from the leaf surface, making growth more vigorous and leaf color greener.
Field Cultivation
Lucky bamboo has strong fertilizer tolerance and likes high nitrogen, high phosphorus, and high potassium. The principle of fertilization is light first, heavy in the middle, and light at the end. For field planting, choose deep, fertile sandy loam or semi-muddy sandy soil, or alluvial clay. First plow the soil and turn it deeply twice, then make beds for planting. The bed width is 1.2-1.5 m, apply 75-100 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu to the bed surface, furrow depth 20-30 cm, furrow bottom width 40-50 cm, row spacing 23 cm, plant spacing 16 cm. Generally, about 13,000-16,000 plants can be planted per mu.
When the plants have 7-8 roots and the roots are 5-6 cm long, apply a quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer once every 15 days during the seedling stage: 15-17.5 kg urea, 15 kg potassium fertilizer, and 25 kg phosphate fertilizer per mu. Or apply 35-40 kg of compound fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N: 15, P: 15, K: 15), or apply 2,000 kg of decomposed human manure urine water fertilizer as a drench, to promote root growth, leaf growth, and thick, strong stems. In the early growth stage, loosen the soil appropriately and remove weeds in time. From April to July, nitrogen fertilizer should be dominant, with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers added. Apply 40-50 kg per mu of sulfur compound fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium 1-2 times a month to promote stem and leaf elongation and thickness. From May to June, peanut cake can be applied once, 40-50 kg per mu. It can be composted, decomposed, and drenched, or crushed and broadcast, and 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer should be applied. Or apply 600-800 kg of decomposed chicken manure. From August to September, topdressing can be applied as appropriate according to the growth of lucky bamboo, mainly compound fertilizer, with less nitrogen fertilizer, to prevent excessive leaf growth. Increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and foliar fertilizers. Spray foliar fertilizers such as 3% urea + 5% monopotassium phosphate + Lvwang + Zhibaosu + Yunda-120 once every 10-15 days to promote thick, strong stems, height growth, thick leaves, and dark green, bright leaf color.
Bottle Water Culture
1. Before inserting into the bottle, remove the leaves at the base of the cuttings and cut the base with a knife at a slanted angle. The cut should be smooth to facilitate the absorption of water and nutrients. Change the clean water once every 3-4 days. Do not move the position or change the direction within 10 days. After about 15 days, lucky bamboo can grow silver-white fibrous roots.
2. After rooting, it is not suitable to change the water. Only add water in time after the water evaporates and decreases. Frequent water changes easily cause yellowing and wilting of leaves.
3. After lucky bamboo roots, apply a small amount of compound chemical fertilizer in time, and the leaves will be oily green and the branches and stems thick and strong. If no fertilizer is applied for a long time, the plant will grow thin and weak, and the leaves will easily turn yellow. But do not apply too much fertilizer, to avoid "burning roots" or causing excessive growth. In spring and autumn, apply compound chemical fertilizer once a month. According to reference materials, to prevent excessive growth in water-grown lucky bamboo, do not apply chemical fertilizer. It is best to inject a few drops of brandy into the bottle about every 3 weeks and add a small amount of nutrient solution. This can keep the leaves emerald green.
4. Do not place lucky bamboo next to a television or in places constantly blown by air conditioners or electric fans, to avoid drying of leaf tips and leaf edges.
Variety Classification of Lucky Bamboo
Today, there are 4 relatively common varieties of lucky bamboo, namely golden-heart lucky bamboo, silver-heart lucky bamboo, silver-edge lucky bamboo, and golden-edge lucky bamboo. Different types have different characteristics and are suitable for decorating homes of different styles.
Golden-heart lucky bamboo
The middle part of the plant has green-yellow or golden-yellow longitudinal stripes, which is quite special. The lucky bamboo plant is relatively thick and strong, and the leaves are deep green.
Silver-heart lucky bamboo
Unlike golden-heart lucky bamboo, the center of the leaf of silver-heart lucky bamboo has a silver-white longitudinal stripe.
Silver-edge lucky bamboo
The green leaf has a broad silver-white band or border at the edge, which is very obvious and eye-catching.
Golden-edge lucky bamboo
Together with silver-edge lucky bamboo, it forms a pair of sister varieties. The difference is that the border at the leaf edge is golden yellow.
Ornamental Varieties
Fortune Bamboo
Fortune bamboo is also called lucky tower, bamboo tower, or tower bamboo. It spread from Taiwan, China, has high ornamental value, and is quite popular in the market. It has now been popular for more than ten years. Due to the relatively high cost of packaging and transportation, exported fortune bamboo is mostly products with two to five tiers.
Curved Bamboo
Curved bamboo is also called lucky bamboo. This product is a new variety that only began to become popular in the past two or three years. It was invented and promoted by flower farmers in Haiyan Town, Taishan City, Guangdong Province. A large amount of labor is required in the cultivation and processing process, so the production cost is relatively high. However, because its shapes are varied (spiral, heart-shaped, figure-8-shaped, etc.), it has relatively high ornamental value after combination, and people hope it can turn good luck around, so it is deeply loved by people. Its market share is above fortune bamboo, and it is currently the mainstream lucky bamboo product on the market. The most technically mature curved bamboo production area in the country is Haiyan Town, Taishan City, Guangdong Province.
Bamboo Cage
Bamboo cage is artificially woven into a cage shape during cultivation, taking the meaning of wealth and lingering affection, pig cage entering water, and abundant financial resources. Generally, only after it roots in the tray and grows to a certain height are the lower bamboo leaves peeled off, retaining the top 20 cm-30 cm of leaves and buds before weaving. Some people, for quick profit, weave cages from long branches that have just been planted and have not yet rooted, causing the top leaves to easily wither and turn yellow. This harms consumers and is truly not advisable.
Straight Branches
Straight branches generally use material with a diameter of more than 0.8 cm, and are cut to different lengths according to the requirements of different sellers. Multiple branches are tied into a bundle or inserted separately in a vase. The shape is vivid, and after the terminal buds of each branch open into leaves, it appears even more vibrant, with a strong momentum of rising step by step.
Thousand-Hand Fortune Tray
First, plant multiple lucky bamboo branches regularly in a tray, and artificially weave them during cultivation, shaped like Thousand-Hand Guanyin, meaning good fortune and auspiciousness.
Bamboo Basket
Use straight branches to tie the base of the basket, and use two 7-shaped curved bamboo pieces as the basket handle. You can also add two O-shaped curved bamboo pieces for decoration. Of course, this kind of shaping has no fixed format, and creative artistic shaping can be carried out according to various needs.
Vase
It is mainly tied from straight branches, with the middle left empty for flower arranging, and curved bamboo can also be used as a foil. Some also weave straight branches into a vase-shaped bamboo cage.
Processing Steps of Lucky Bamboo
High-quality lucky bamboo finished products must undergo multiple selections and be processed strictly according to each step.
Processing Fortune Bamboo (Tower)
1. Remove the leaves from the raw bamboo harvested from the field and wash it in clean water.
2. Use scissors to cut the bamboo into sections, classify and bundle the highly viable bamboo stalks according to length, and carry out strict medicinal disinfection, sterilization, and mold removal. This determines whether the bamboo stalks will deteriorate or die later.
3. Select high-quality bamboo stalks and place them in a greenhouse to sprout. During the sprouting process, room temperature and humidity must be well controlled.
4. Carefully select, bundle, and process the sprouted bamboo stalks. The buds of the same product are required to be consistent in length.
5. Care for the finished products, package them, and ship them from the factory.
Processing Curved Bamboo
1. Remove the leaves from the raw bamboo harvested from the field and wash it in clean water.
2. Use sharp scissors to cut the bamboo material, classify and bundle it according to the diameter and length of the bamboo material, generally 10 pieces per bundle (not absolute).
3. Carry out strict medicinal disinfection, sterilization, and mold removal to ensure that the bamboo branches do not deteriorate.
4. Put the bamboo bundles into a greenhouse by category for sprouting and rooting. Pay attention to controlling room temperature and humidity.
5. Care for the finished products, package them, and ship them from the factory.
Note: The processing steps for other varieties are largely the same as above, but the steps of medicinal disinfection, sterilization, and mold removal absolutely cannot be omitted.
Cultivation Techniques of Lucky Bamboo Soil Culture
It prefers shady, humid, high-temperature conditions, tolerates waterlogging, has strong fertilizer tolerance, and strong cold resistance; it likes semi-shaded environments. It is suitable for growing in well-drained sandy soil or semi-muddy sand and alluvial clay. The suitable growing temperature is 20-28°C. It can tolerate low temperatures of 2-3°C, but in winter it must be protected from frost. In summer and autumn, the high-temperature and humid season is very favorable for the growth of lucky bamboo and is its best growing period. It is not strict about light and is suitable for growing under bright scattered light. Too strong light or exposure to the sun can cause leaves to turn yellow, lose green color, and grow slowly.
Therefore, when planting in the field, a shade net shed 1.7-1.8 m high should be built, with a shading rate of 75% as appropriate, creating a semi-shaded, scattered-light environment. Especially from April to September, avoid direct strong light, exposure, or excessive drought; otherwise, the leaf surface is likely to become rough, scorched, and weak in growth, and the leaves will lack luster, reducing ornamental value. During the growing season, the soil should be kept moist frequently, and water should often be sprayed or sprinkled on the leaf surface to increase air humidity; in case of heavy rain, field water should be drained to prevent lodging. In winter, pay attention to cold protection and frost protection. Below 10°C, leaves will turn yellow and wilt. At this time, the soil should be alternately dry and moist, but it should not be too dry or too wet. Reduce watering and stop fertilizing.
Lucky bamboo has strong growth, rooting, and sprouting ability, and is often propagated by cuttings. As long as the temperature is suitable, it can be done throughout the year. Generally, cut stem sections without leaves as cuttings, 5-10 cm long, preferably with 3 internodes, and insert them into a sand bed or semi-muddy sandy soil. In the south in spring and autumn, roots and buds generally sprout in 25-30 days, and they can be potted or transplanted to the field in 35 days.
Water Cuttings
Water cuttings can also root, and soilless cultivation can also be carried out. In recent years, various places in Guangdong have used top spike branches (that is, tender stems) cut into 20-25
cm and inserted directly into sandy loam or semi-muddy sand or alluvial clay fields. After careful care and cultivation, they can be cut for bottle use by the Spring Festival of that year. In areas south of Guangzhou, such as farmers in Haiyan Town, Taishan City, they insert them directly into the field in spring and autumn. They can also use top spike branches or internode top seedlings or lateral bud top spikes cut into 15-20 cm cuttings from October to December, insert them into coarse sand or semi-muddy sand fields, bury 2 nodes in the soil, water once a day, and keep the soil moist. They generally root in 35-45 days.
Spring cuttings are most suitably done from late January (after Great Cold) to mid-to-late February (around Rain Water), and can be directly inserted into the field in the open. They generally root in 30-35 days. They can also be cut from mid-March to early April (Spring Equinox to Pure Brightness). It is best to plant in late March, because during this period the temperature gradually rises and the humidity is suitable. After insertion, they can root in about 7-15 days, with a 100% survival rate, and those managed well can be marketed that same year.
Shading
Building a shade shed means covering with shade netting. Erect a frame around the rice field with wooden posts or cement stakes. The wooden posts are required to be 2.4 m high and buried 0.4 m deep. If calculated at four wooden posts (or cement posts) per 20 sq m, about 30-35 wooden posts are needed per mu. Tie the top of the shed tightly with iron wire or nylon rope. Then cover with shade using 10 bundles of plastic shade netting per mu (width 1.5 m / 100 m, 55 yuan per bundle), and tie it firmly all around with nylon rope.
Reasonable Close Planting
When preparing the land, the bed surface height is 15-20 cm, the bed surface width is 120-150 cm, and the furrow is 25 cm. Apply 30 loads of decomposed farmyard manure per mu and level it fully, then insert the seedlings. The planting specification is 8 x 5 cun or 6 x 5 cun. More than 15,000-20,000 plants can be planted per mu. Generally, planting should not be too dense. The planting depth is preferably 2.5-3.5 cm (that is, for seedlings with 4 nodes, insert 2 nodes), maintaining appropriate space for ventilation and light transmission.
Scientific Fertilization
Lucky bamboo can grow on sloping land and semi-dry paddy fields. To accelerate its growth, shorten the production cycle, and improve economic benefits.
1. Apply sufficient base fertilizer: when inserting and planting, apply Jinzhi Yuye (rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, etc.) as a base fertilizer, then insert and plant.
2. Apply seedling fertilizer appropriately: 20 days after planting, the plants begin to send out new roots. You can drench once with 30-40 loads of manure water per mu. After 30-40 days, depending on the growth of the seedlings, apply a seedling-promoting fertilizer once, generally mainly compound fertilizer, 15-20 kg per mu. After application, cultivate the soil. When the plants grow to 35-45 cm tall, their nutrient requirements also increase, and this is the stage when plant growth begins to flourish. Therefore, topdressing at this stage should be heavy: 25-30 kg compound fertilizer and 10-15 kg urea per mu are appropriate. At the same time, foliar fertilizer can be sprayed in combination, using plant growth regulators such as Xinzhi Su or Penshibao, to promote balanced growth, lush leaves and thick stems, and improve stress resistance.
Pest Control
When planting lucky bamboo, pay attention to drainage in rainy days, drought prevention in dry days, and frost prevention in cold days. In case of drought, pay attention to running horse water and keep the field bed surface moist. In lucky bamboo fields covered with shade netting, adult Lepidoptera find it harder to fly in to lay eggs and reproduce, so pests are also fewer. Only a small amount of stem borers were found, and no diseases were found. From cultivation in early March to harvest in mid-to-late December, only 2 sprayings of insecticide are needed.
Cultivation Key Points
1. Remove leaves from the base and cut a slanted opening: before putting into the vase, remove the leaves at the base of the cuttings and use a sharp knife to cut the base into a slanted opening. The cut must be smooth to increase the area for absorbing water and nutrients. Change the clean water once every 3 to 4 days. A few small pieces of charcoal can be put in for preservation. Do not move the position or change the direction within 10 days. After about 15 days, silver-white fibrous roots can grow.
2. Change water to adding water: after rooting, it is not suitable to change the water. After the water evaporates, only add water in time. Frequent water changes easily cause yellow leaves and withered branches. The water added is best well water. If using tap water, first store it in a container for one day. The water should be kept clean and fresh. Do not use dirty water, hard water, or water mixed with oil, otherwise it will easily rot the roots.
3. Fertilize in time: to prevent excessive growth in water-grown lucky bamboo, do not apply chemical fertilizer. It is best to inject a few drops of brandy into the bottle about every 3 weeks and add a small amount of nutrient solution; you can also dissolve half an aspirin tablet or one VC tablet ground into powder in 500 g of water, and drip a few drops in when adding water. This can keep the leaves emerald green (no need after roots have grown).
4. Avoid wind: do not place lucky bamboo next to a television or in places constantly blown by air conditioners or electric fans, to avoid drying of leaf tips and leaf edges.
Cultivation Tips
In northern China, the growing season for lucky bamboo is from April to October. The potting soil should be kept moist, and humic acid liquid fertilizer should be applied once every half month. In summer, if maintained outdoors, it should be shaded. Too strong light will cause leaves to turn yellow. It is better to place it on a north-facing balcony or under light shade. When the climate is dry, pour water on the ground and leaves once to twice a day. From November to March of the following year, it should be maintained indoors, placed in front of a south-facing window where sunlight is visible. Keeping it above 10°C allows slow growth. Repot and change soil from March to April in spring. The growing medium can be prepared with peat soil plus 50% garden soil. First place 2 cm to 3 cm thick ceramsite or coarse gravel at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, then add the growing medium. After planting, keep the potting soil slightly moist. After new buds emerge, normal water and fertilizer management can be carried out. After about two years of cultivation, cut the stems and replant. The plant can be cut back leaving 5 to 6 nodes, and the cut parts can be used for cuttings or water culture.
The tied and shaped "fortune bamboo" is mostly grown in water. Usually place it in a bright place indoors. When the temperature is relatively low, change the water once every 7 to 10 days. In the peak growing seasons of spring and autumn, change the water once every 3 to 5 days. A complete-element compound fertilizer can be added to the water. During high-temperature summer, it is best to use cooled boiled water for water culture, to avoid root rot or algae growth. Stop fertilizing in winter. In severe cold seasons in the north, water culture in indoor spaces without heating facilities is prone to freezing damage. You can plant it in river sand in early October, cover the pot with a plastic bag when it is cold, and place it indoors where cold wind cannot reach it. It can overwinter safely at around 5°C.
In spring, it can be potted with growing medium or washed free of river sand and grown in water. During maintenance, if there are rotten stems or rotten roots, remove them in time, soak the roots and stems in a 1000-times water solution of 75% chlorothalonil for 30 minutes, rinse with clean water, and continue water culture. If the plant is already very weak, it should be soil-grown to restore vigor.
Water-grown lucky bamboo likes stale water. After rooting, it is not suitable to change the water. After the water evaporates and decreases, only add water in time. Frequent water changes easily cause yellow leaves and withered branches. To prevent excessive growth, do not apply chemical fertilizer. It is best to inject a few drops of brandy into the bottle about every 3 weeks and add a small amount of nutrient solution, which can keep the leaves emerald green.
After soil-grown plants root, apply a small amount of compound chemical fertilizer in time, and the branches and stems will grow thick and strong, and the leaves will be oily green. In spring and autumn, apply compound fertilizer once a month.
Do not place lucky bamboo next to a television or in places constantly blown by air conditioners, to avoid drying of leaf tips and leaf edges.
Propagation Tips
In spring, cut the removed stems into 5 cm to 10 cm leafless stem nodes, or cut the base tip, which easily dries up. For branchlets with stem tips grown in shaded indoor places for a long time, insert them into clean coarse river sand, water thoroughly, cover with a plastic bag, keep the substrate moist, and place in a bright indoor place. They can root in about 25 days. Or insert the cut branches into water. At 25°C, they can root in about half a month.
Special Reminder
In the north, it is better to buy lucky bamboo in spring. After buying it, it immediately enters a suitable growing period. If there are heating facilities in winter, it can also be purchased before the New Year or Spring Festival. For potted plants, choose robust plants with deep green, glossy leaves, bright golden-edge stripes, no dry tips, no bare lower stems, plant height under 30 cm, and 3 to 6 branches. For water-grown plants of various shapes, choose plants with uniformly thick stems, beautiful shapes, and no rot at the base and root system. In particular, note that lucky bamboo grows poorly in alkaline soil and dry climates, and its leaves also grow thin and weak, with dull, lusterless leaf color, so attention should be paid to this.
Winter Cultivation
The suitable development temperature for lucky bamboo is 22°C-25°C. It does not tolerate high temperatures; when the temperature exceeds 32°C, growth slows. During overwintering, room temperature needs to be maintained above 10°C, fertilization should be stopped, and watering should be controlled, so it can overwinter safely. Below 13°C, the plant goes dormant and stops growing. When the temperature is too low, due to insufficient water absorption by the roots, yellow-brown patches will appear on leaf tips and leaf edges.
It also depends on how your lucky bamboo was cultivated. At present, there are three main cultivation methods for lucky bamboo: first, soil culture; second, water culture; third, bottle insertion. For water culture in winter, you can change the clean water about once a week as appropriate.
In winter, protect against frostbite. In the north, do not place it outdoors, and indoor temperatures should preferably not drop below 10°C. Otherwise, the leaves will easily turn yellow. If grown in water, avoid the water freezing, which can frostbite the roots.
It is best to place it in a spot with sufficient light. For growing lucky bamboo in a vase with water, grasp the following key points:
1. Before placing it in, cut off the leaves at the base of the cutting, and cut the base at an angle with a sharp knife. The cut should be smooth to facilitate the absorption of water and nutrients. Change the clean water once every 3-4 days. Within 10 days, do not move its position or change its orientation. After about 15 days, snow-white fibrous roots can grow.
2. After rooting, it is not suitable to change the water. Only add water in time after the water evaporates and decreases. Frequent water changes easily cause yellow leaves and withered branches.
3. After rooting, apply a small amount of compound fertilizer in time, and the leaves will be glossy green and the branches thick and strong. If no fertilizer is applied for a long time, the plant will grow weakly and the leaves will easily turn yellow. However, fertilizer must not be applied too much, so as to avoid "burning the roots" or causing leggy growth. In spring and autumn, applying compound fertilizer once a month is enough. According to material introduced, for water-grown lucky bamboo, to avoid leggy growth, do not apply chemical fertilizer. It is best to inject a few drops of brandy into the bottle about every 3 weeks and add a small amount of nutrient solution, which can keep the leaves emerald green.
4. Do not place lucky bamboo beside a television or in places often blown by air conditioners or electric fans, so as to prevent the leaf tips and leaf edges from drying out. How to grow lucky bamboo in winter is not too frightening. Many netizens say that lucky bamboo easily dies once winter comes. After reading the above knowledge on how to grow lucky bamboo in winter, deaths should no longer occur.
Disease and pest control of lucky bamboo
Lucky bamboo anthracnose
It is a common disease and occurs fairly widely. It is a serious disease harming lucky bamboo in the south. Because the temperature was high last winter and this spring and the drought lasted a long time, early-planted lucky bamboo in Zhanjiang, Guangzhou, Taishan and other areas of Guangdong has already grown luxuriantly. According to many flower growers, many lucky bamboo leaf tips to leaf blades became dry and withered and continuously spread and expanded to the upper leaves; because of the long period of drought and high temperature, the arrival of rainfall led to an outbreak of the disease. Diagnosis showed it was an epidemic caused by lucky bamboo anthracnose, and it occurred in an epidemic earlier than usual in mid-March.
[Symptoms]The disease mostly begins on leaf tips, leaf edges or leaf blades. In the early stage, the diseased part shows water-soaked dark green irregular lesions and gradually spreads and expands to the upper leaves; in the middle stage, they are semicircular to irregular, with dark brown edges and clear boundaries; in the later stage, the outer edge of the leaf lesion has a yellow halo, and the center of the lesion is grayish brown or grayish white to yellowish brown. The concentric rings on the lesion surface are obvious or not obvious, and small black spots appear on the lesions. The leaves begin to gradually turn yellow and die. Once the lesions spread and expand to the leaves, young leaf buds, main stem and base of the leaf stem, when the disease is severe, the stems and leaves will quickly wilt and die. Under weather conditions of continuous rain and abundant fog and dew, the diseased leaves spread, the plant grows poorly, and the ornamental effect of the foliage is seriously affected.
[Control methods]Strengthen the maintenance and management of lucky bamboo, and do not plant too densely; take care to avoid frost damage and frost injury; irrigate moistly, fertilize reasonably, and apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote growth and improve disease resistance. In winter and spring, cut off diseased leaves and clear away dead leaves, and burn them in a centralized way to reduce disease occurrence, and spread quicklime once to sterilize and disinfect the soil; or spray 50% compound carbendazim 500 times solution once to prevent disease, with fairly good preventive effect. Improve field or garden permeability. For open-field cultivation, pay attention to digging ditches after rain to drain accumulated water, reduce field humidity, and do not apply too much nitrogen fertilizer. During the growing period, set up shade nets to reduce exposure to high temperature and strong light. Promptly kill spiders, longhorn beetles, spider mites, scale insects, etc., to reduce transmission vectors.
When diseased plants are found, spray pesticides in time to control the disease. In the early stage of the disease, alternately spray 75% chlorothalonil + 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder (1:1) 600-
800 times solution, or 50% compound thiophanate 800 times or 50% Kasugamycin wettable powder 600-800 times solution, or 12.5% emulsifiable concentrate Jiaobantuo 1000-1500 times solution, 25% Tanteling wettable powder 500 times solution, or 50% anthracnose thiram wettable powder 500 times, 50% Shibaogong wettable powder 1000 times solution, or 75% chlorothalonil + 70% Daigaole (1:1) 1000-1200 times solution, with good control effect. The above pesticides should be used alternately, once every 7 days, spraying continuously 3-4 times. Generally, spray quickly before or after heavy rain to control the production of fungal spores and the spread and infection of conidia, with good control effect.
Lucky bamboo leaf spot disease
[Symptoms]It occurs on the leaves. In the early stage, the lesions are brown spots with yellow edges; after expansion, the lesions are nearly round, gray inside, with dark brown edges and yellow around them. Under humid conditions, black granular substances appear on the lesions.
[Cause]It is a fungal disease. The pathogen survives on diseased plant residues and spreads by air currents, insects, etc., and can directly infect and harm through leaf stomata. It easily occurs year-round in greenhouse environments; under humid conditions, the disease is severe.
[Control methods]During the maintenance period, control the planting density and maintain ventilation and light transmission. In the early stage of the disease, spray fungicides such as Ribangkejun and ethylicin-mancozeb.
Lucky bamboo stem rot
This disease causes the death of lucky bamboo and reduces its ornamental value. It occurs more often from May to September under high temperature and high humidity, and mainly harms leaves and stems.
Symptoms: The leaves at the base of the stem of the seedlings turn yellow; the stem base rots, turns yellow and softens; the inside of the stem turns red; the pathogen gradually harms upward from the lower cut.
[Control methods]:
(1) Cultivate robust seedlings with well-filled tissue; remove diseased plants and burn them in a centralized way; dig deep drainage ditches and make high beds 25 cm tall for planting.
(2) Soak the lower cut of the seedlings for 24 hours in 42% Kejunjing powder 3000 times solution, or 88% oxytetracycline 1000 times solution.
Yellowing leaves
During the growth of lucky bamboo, leaf yellowing often occurs, and the cause is mostly improper cultivation management. Too much or too little water, too strong or too weak sunlight, and too much or too little fertilizer can all cause leaf yellowing, but the yellowing conditions differ. The causes should be carefully observed and analyzed and then corrected.
Water yellowing
The young leaves are dull yellow and lack luster, the old leaves show no obvious change, the branches are thin and yellow-green, and the new shoots shrink and do not grow, indicating overwatering. Remove the plant from the pot, place it in a ventilated and cool place to let the soil ball dry naturally, and then put it back in the pot.
Drought yellowing
The yellowing from lack of water is different from the yellowing from too much water. The yellowing from lack of water shows withered and dry leaf tips or edges, and old leaves wither, turn yellow and fall from bottom to top, but new leaves grow relatively normally. Just pay attention to watering thoroughly and sufficiently.
Scorch yellowing
Strong direct sunlight shining on some shade-loving flowers (such as spider plant, hosta, etc.) easily causes the leaf tips and leaf edges to wither, and yellow spots appear on the sun-facing part of the leaves. Move it to a shaded place.
Light-deficiency yellowing
If placed in a shaded environment for a long time, the leaves cannot get enough sunlight and cannot form chlorophyll. The whole plant's leaves turn yellow and then fall off. Supplementing light can avoid this problem.
Fertilizer yellowing
Flower yellowing caused by too much fertilizer or too high concentration shows dry brown tips on new leaves. Generally, the leaf surface is thick and lacks luster, and is uneven and not smooth, while old leaves scorch, turn yellow and fall off. Stop fertilizing immediately, and in severe cases use a large amount of clean water to rinse out part of the fertilizer.
Nutrient-deficiency yellowing
It shows that the color of young leaves becomes lighter, yellow or light green, while old leaves are relatively normal or gradually turn from green to yellow. Check the potting soil. If there is hardening, replace the soil. Usually apply thin fertilizer frequently and water with some alum water at the right time (lucky bamboo is a foliage plant and should be given fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer). Steps for growing lucky bamboo in water
1. At the beginning of growing it, cut off the leaves at the bottom to prevent them from inhibiting the bamboo's own growth. The specific situation depends on the size and length of the bottle. Note that the leaves below the bottle mouth should be cut off. Also, cut off a small section at the bottom of the root at an angle, and note that the cut should be smooth, so that lucky bamboo can absorb water better.
2. Control the amount of water and choose water selectively. The water amount only needs to account for about one-third to two-thirds of the bottle. Also, before roots grow, change the water frequently, once every 3-4 days. After rooting, it is almost unnecessary to change the water; just add an appropriate amount of water to the bottle. In summer and other dry weather, spray more water on the leaf surface.
3. Grasp the indoor temperature for water-grown lucky bamboo well, because lucky bamboo prefers warmth, with 16°C to 25°C being suitable. It is not suitable to place it in a cold place for cultivation, and frost protection measures should be taken.
4. Give lucky bamboo enough lighting time. Even if grown indoors, let lucky bamboo receive sunlight appropriately. Placing it in a ventilated place with sufficient light is enough.
5. Depending on the actual situation, apply fertilizer about once every 30 days on average. Moderate fertilization can keep its leaves glossy green and spread out for a long time, or adding an appropriate amount of culture solution also works.
Other control methods
While growing it, you should also pay more attention to the following issues:
1. If the leaves turn yellow, pay attention to whether there is insufficient light or too much fertilizer.
2. If there are rotten leaves or rotten roots, remove them in time.
3. Change the water frequently. If an unusual smell is found, change the water immediately.
4. Do not place it beside electrical appliances.
The role and uses of lucky bamboo: ornamental value
Lucky bamboo is an evergreen small tree. The beauty of lucky bamboo is inseparable from its auspicious name. It has slender and elegant leaves and emerald green leaf color. Its stem nodes show features resembling bamboo nodes, but it is not true bamboo. In China there is the congratulatory phrase "flowers bloom in wealth and honor, bamboo reports peace." Because lucky bamboo has delicate stems and leaves, is soft and elegant, and is rich in bamboo charm, it is very much loved by people. Lucky bamboo is easy to manage, has few diseases and pests, is easy to cultivate, and symbolizes "great fortune and great profit."
(1) Fortune-opening bamboo, also called fortune tower, bamboo tower, tower bamboo, has well-arranged staggered layers, a noble and elegant shape, rising step by step, with green emerging layer by layer, resembling a pagoda;
(2) Curved bamboo, also called fortune-turning bamboo, has combinations such as spiral, heart, and figure-8 shapes, meaning bringing good luck;
(3) Bamboo cage, which is artificially woven into a cage shape during cultivation, taking the meaning of wealth and lingering affection, bamboo cage entering water, and abundant financial resources;
(4) Straight branches, with multiple branches tied into a bundle or inserted separately in a vase, with a vivid shape. After the top buds of each branch open leaves, it looks even more full of vitality, with a strong momentum of rising step by step;
(5) Thousand-hand fortune plate, first planting multiple lucky bamboo branches regularly in a plate, and weaving them artificially during cultivation, shaped like Thousand-Hand Guanyin, meaning good fortune and auspiciousness;
(6) Bamboo basket, using straight branches to tie the base of the basket and using two 7-shaped curved bamboos as the basket handle, and also adding two O-shaped curved bamboos for decoration, creating an artistic basket shape;
(7) Vase, tied with straight branches, left hollow in the middle for inserting flowers, and can also be matched with selected curved bamboo as a foil.
Feng shui role
Fortune-opening bamboo is what we often call lucky bamboo, also called fortune tower, treasure tower, tower bamboo. It spread from Taiwan, China. It has high ornamental value and is quite popular in the market. It has now been popular for more than ten years. The reasons for choosing lucky bamboo as a green plant:
1. It can be placed anywhere indoors.
2. It can grow with water and a little sunlight.
3. Its emerald green color will make you feel happy in body and mind.
4. It can absorb harmful gases and dust indoors and regulate air humidity.
5. It takes only a little of your time to maintain and is easy to care for.
6. It can remain lush for a long time and has a long survival time.
Feng shui and placement
Plants occupy a very important position in feng shui, because they are easy to buy and also conform to natural feng shui principles.
Plants are used in a very wide range of feng shui applications, some for blocking evil influences and some for promoting wealth. However, many people only half understand it and think that placing plants is definitely good. In fact, using the method of placing plants to enhance feng shui also involves a great deal of knowledge.
In feng shui, lucky bamboo is used to promote official luck and academic luck. If you are going to take an exam, be promoted, or write next year, you can place four lucky bamboo stalks at the Wenchang position in your home, and a Wenchang tower and brush holder also have the effect of promoting official luck and academic luck. These can be used at the same time to increase the power of the Wenchang position.
Plants placed in the wealth position should preferably have large leaves, and plants with long pointed leaves should absolutely not be planted. Gardening and Flower Network reminds you: lucky bamboo should not be placed in the wealth position. Placing it in the wealth position or the sha position will only make fortune worse. Many people misunderstand lucky bamboo as a feng shui item for improving wealth. In fact, this name was only added by people later. Placing lucky bamboo in the wealth position of the whole house will lead to losses in wealth luck.
Garden uses of lucky bamboo
Overview
Placing lush flowers and plants indoors is not only a good decoration, but also has a certain effect on improving the temperature, humidity and air quality of the local environment. But the potting soil in flowerpots often gives off an unpleasant smell, and especially after applying flower fertilizer, it also breeds small insects. In fact, growing some water-grown plants indoors has a better effect.
Advantages of water culture
First, because water can evaporate freely, in the same environment it has a more obvious effect on regulating air humidity than plants grown in potting soil;
Second, water-grown plants can omit the management work of potting soil, are clean and hygienic, and are simple to maintain;
Third, if plants whose root systems can be exposed to light are chosen and matched with suitable containers, the whole plant can be viewed, giving higher ornamental value.
Matching with home decor
1. Create a home style that pursues wealth and aspires to goals. Lucky bamboo means wishing the owner prosperity and a flourishing life. The home style that such a plant with a good meaning is meant to present is self-evident.
2. Lucky bamboo creates a style showing the owner's integrity. "One would rather eat without meat than live without bamboo." It can be seen that since ancient times, bamboo has had a great effect on the formation of character, and with its guidance for how we conduct ourselves, we can certainly live out our own style.
3. Besides the two obvious home styles above, beauty and practicality are also very prominent home effects of lucky bamboo. Plant one, and your home furnishings will certainly surprise you. Growing some water-grown plants indoors has a better effect.
The flower language of lucky bamboo
Flowers bloom in wealth and honor, bamboo reports peace, a life of wealth and honor, great fortune and great profit, and pine, bamboo and plum are the Three Friends of Winter.
Lucky bamboo pictures
What are the shaping methods and precautions for lucky bamboo? How to make lucky bamboo bonsai shapes
Lucky bamboo is a common flower used for making bonsai, and it has the beautiful meaning of auspiciousness and wealth. Many flower lovers have also had experience growing lucky bamboo. How much do you know about making lucky bamboo bonsai? Today the editor will introduce in detail the precautions for controlling the top and lateral buds of lucky bamboo and the precautions for shaping lucky bamboo.
1. Precautions for controlling the top and lateral buds of lucky bamboo
The branches and leaves of lucky bamboo easily grow wildly without end. If not handled, it will affect the ornamental effect; ways to inhibit leggy growth of branches and leaves include:
Control watering.
Place it in a low-temperature environment below 18°C for maintenance, and change the water frequently to prevent the roots from rotting.
Pinching.
When the top bud of each stem section grows to 1 cm, pull out the tip. That is, use the left hand to hold the bamboo tower steady, and use the thumb and index finger of the right hand to carefully pinch the two small leaves at the tip, pull outward with force to extract the heart leaf, and be careful not to damage the other small leaves.
2. Precautions for shaping lucky bamboo
Lucky bamboo has an auspicious meaning. Whether given as a gift or viewed by oneself, it is a beautiful enjoyment, and it can also be shaped according to preference.
Pagoda shape.
Lucky bamboo grows robustly, has strong vitality and strong reproductive capacity, and is easy to manage. Based on these characteristics, use mass propagation of new bamboo, cut many stems of different lengths to form a pagoda, and the upper end of each stem must carry a shoot. Keep the bud eyes so that the top of each layer of the pagoda can sprout and grow branches and leaves, forming a new living pagoda.
Bottle-type bonsai.
Cut lucky bamboo stems about 20 cm long and insert them into a vase or hanging bottle, then add water 5 cm deep, change the water once every few days, and usually place it on a cool and ventilated table indoors. It can keep its leaf color emerald green for a long time, with a special charm.
Green pillar.
Place two pots of lucky bamboo on both sides of a hall screen. If not moved or pruned for a long time and allowed to grow freely, it can soar upward and grow taller than 1 m, forming a green pillar.
Jungle-style bonsai.
After the new bamboo grows, old, weak and dense bamboo can be cut away, and appropriately pruned and shaped to make a jungle style; after shaping, peel off the dead stalks and old leaves on the lower part of the bamboo stems, and the green, bright and glossy bamboo nodes can be seen. Set off against each other with rocks, it can improve the ornamental effect.
The above is all the content I have learned today about lucky bamboo. I hope flower lovers 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!