Lucky bamboo has become a popular choice for home décor. You’ll find it in offices, businesses, homes, and atop desks to provide a bit of natural green and help promote good feng shui.
Originally native to Africa, the lucky bamboo has been part of Chinese culture for centuries. While it looks like bamboo and grows as fast as bamboo, it’s not related to it at all.
The most appealing part of lucky bamboo is that it can be trained so its stalks grow straight as an arrow or sculped into eye-catching shapes, swirls, or braided stalks, making it a versatile decorating option.
Lucky bamboo has a well-earned reputation as being nearly indestructible. Keep in mind, though, that there are certain growing conditions your lucky bamboo needs to be healthy.
Are you caring for a live lucky bamboo or perhaps an artificial lucky bamboo and want to keep it in its best condition? Check out these tips to help you enjoy your lucky bamboo for a long time.
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Live lucky bamboos Can Grow in Water, So Watering Can Be Really Easy
One of the reasons lucky bamboo is so easy to care for is that it can be grown in soil or water. It thrives in well-drained, rich potting soil that is kept moist, but not soaking.
Additionally, you can display lucky bamboo in a bed of pebbles or a vase of water as long as it always has at least an inch of standing water around the base.
This is great news for novice plant owners or forgetful waterers because watering lucky bamboo properly is so easy. Getting the water amount right really isn’t an issue as it’s hard to overwater or underwater a lucky bamboo.
However, lucky bamboo is very sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals commonly found in tap water. Because of this, it’s a good idea to use a water test kit like this one to check the chemical levels of your water.
You can also water your lucky bamboo only with bottled or distilled water or tap water that has been left out for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate.
Live Lucky Bamboos Also Need Occasional Fertilizer, Depending on Your Water Quality
While lucky bamboo is extremely easy to care for, it does require periodic fertilizer if your water doesn’t carry the right nutrients. If your plant shows signs of distress or if the soil is out of balance, a little nutrition boost can help.
One situation in which you may need fertilizer is if you’re using distilled water because magnesium and iron are lost in the distillation process.
No matter the reason, a few drops of fertilizer are all you’ll need. A good fertilizer for lucky bamboo is Green Green Plant Food’s Lucky Bamboo Food.
Bright, Filtered Sunlight is Best for a Live Lucky Bamboo
Lighting is important for lucky bamboo. When it comes to light, lucky bamboo prefers bright, filtered sunlight, such as what is found under a rainforest canopy.
Be sure to avoid direct sunlight as it will scorch the leaves. Keep in mind that lucky bamboo is more tolerant of too little light than too much. However, if the plant begins to stretch or the green fades, provide it more light.
Artificial Lucky Bamboo Are Easy to Maintain
While live lucky bamboo can give provide a bit of beauty and natural green to indoor spaces and are easy plants to care for, maintaining and taking care of artificial lucky bamboo is even easier because it doesn’t need water or plant food.
Artificial lucky bamboo maintains its shape, so it’s easy to buy a beautiful artificial lucky bamboo that has the perfect look for your space – and you don’t have to worry about sculpting it or pruning it to keep it that way.
The intent of using artificial flowers and plants is to get the realistic look of live plants without the hassle and expense of caring for and replacing them. We like this artificial lucky bamboo because it has a realistic and beautiful look.
Be Sure to Periodically Dust and Rinse Your Artificial Lucky Bamboo
Cleaning artificial lucky bamboo is even simpler than caring for a live one. It typically only requires a bit of dusting and cleaning to ensure that artificial lucky bamboo remains clean and doesn’t contribute to dust allergies.
Start by using a simple Swiffer-style duster to remove any loose dust. Then use a wet cloth or towel and clean each flower or leaf individually. For areas that need a deeper clean, add a dash of mild dish soap.
Store Your Artificial Lucky Bamboo Properly When Not Using It
Although artificial lucky bamboo needs even less care to maintain than a live one, if you decide to store your lucky bamboo, you’ll want to do it right. Follow these tips for storing your artificial lucky bamboo to keep it looking healthy and vibrant when you bring it out of storage:
- Decide on a storage location. Choose a spot for your artificial lucky bamboo that is out of the way and keeps a steady temperature above freezing, so it doesn’t become brittle and break.
- Clean it well. Before storing your artificial lucky bamboo, clean it thoroughly following the tips above. Inspect it for damage and remove any irreparably damaged leaves or stalks.
- Bag it up. Storing lucky bamboo for any length of time can end up with it covered in dust, so make sure to cover it up. Since it is typically a small plant, consider using a small kitchen trashcan bag. Simply cover it up and pull the drawstring before storing.
Whether live or artificial, lucky bamboo can give indoor spaces a bit of natural green beauty. No matter which type you choose, you’ll love how easy lucky bamboo is to care for and how versatile it is when decorating.
Are you considering adding lucky bamboo to your home or business? We hope these tips help you care for it. If you have additional tips or ideas on your favorite to care for both live and artificial lucky bamboo, please share in the comments.
