- origin
- leaves
- blossom
- growth
- Size
- use
- Is lucky bamboo poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Multiply lucky bamboo
- sowing
- cuttings
- planting
- Water lucky bamboo
- Fertilize lucky bamboo properly
- Cut lucky bamboo correctly
- repot
- hibernate
- Diseases
- pests
- Yellow leaves
- sorts
The lucky bamboo is a popular gift at New Year's Eve celebrations or other festivities. The plant hides many secrets. It can be cultivated in different ways and requires little care in the right location.
The lucky bamboo is easy to soak in water
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- leaves
- blossom
- growth
- Size
- use
- Is lucky bamboo poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Multiply lucky bamboo
- sowing
- cuttings
- planting
- Water lucky bamboo
- Fertilize lucky bamboo properly
- Cut lucky bamboo correctly
- repot
- hibernate
- Diseases
- pests
- Yellow leaves
- sorts
- conservatories
- balconies
- pot arrangements
- windowsills
- Tap off the drained substrate from the roots
- fill the new pot with some soil
- Insert root ball and fill with substrate
- Press down the soil and water well
- Stedneri: cultivar of the species Dracaena fragrans. Individual shoots that are drawn out in a spiral. Forms long stalks, reaches heights of growth of up to 30 centimetres.
origin
The original distribution area of the lucky bamboo is in Cameroon and in tropical West Africa. Lucky Bamboo came to Europe in the 19th century, where the plant found admirers. The lucky bamboo bears the Latin name Dracaena Braunii, which indicates that it belongs to the dragon tree genus. The plant is therefore not bamboo, but related to the palm-like dragon tree. Other dragon tree species with a similar growth habit are often offered as lucky bamboo.
leaves
Dracaena braunii develops evergreen leaves that appear alternate. The leaf shape is reminiscent of the shape of a reed leaf, because it is not divided into leaf blade and stem. The leaf blades do not narrow to the bottom, but merge into the leaf sheaths. Due to the alternate arrangement, the leaf sheaths form a kind of stem. The elongated leaves are light green in color and have a smooth surface. They are lanceolate and have entire margins. Their veins are parallel to each other.
blossom
The lucky bamboo develops flowers in the shape of a peduncle, the six bracts of which are white. The inconspicuous flowers sit together in semicircular panicles and have short stalks. The individual flowers are hermaphroditic and exude a light fragrance. As is typical for dragon trees, the lucky bamboo blooms at night. They have thus specialized in certain pollinators that are active at night. This adaptation means plants don't have to invest energy in developing eye-catching bud shapes and colors.
It takes several years for a plant to flower. Most dragon trees bloom once in order to reproduce. Then the plant dies. So far, only wild specimens of the lucky bamboo have been observed flowering. The flowering period extends over the summer months. In the room culture, the plants do not flower.
growth
The natural growth form is upright and shrub-like. The lucky bamboo grows slender and develops several side shoots at the base. As a result, the plant grows very wide. The cultivated forms form long stems that are spirally twisted at the upper end. There are also straight-growing sprouts that form a lucky pyramid with different growth heights. The lucky bamboo that you can buy commercially is actually a rooted cutting. It is grown permanently in water or in hydroponics.
Size
The bred specimens reach a height of 100 centimeters. They can be between 60 and 100 centimeters wide.
use
For about 4,000 years this plant has symbolized luck, health and success. In modern times, it is given away on a wide variety of occasions so that the recipient can have a good life. The lucky bamboo is considered a tough plant, which gives rise to associations with longevity. In Hong Kong, the plant decorates almost every office. Here the lucky bamboo is often decorated with red ribbons, which stand for wealth.
The lucky bamboo is offered as a single stem or as a pyramid-shaped arrangement of several cuttings. There are hardly any limits to the imagination when it comes to design, as the plants do not need a deep planter. They can be cultivated in a shallow dish and arranged in a criss-cross, overlapping, or intertwined fence fashion as desired. The number of cuttings plays a role here. Three stalks symbolize happiness, five stems stand for energy. Seven rungs bring health and eight bring luck and wealth.
The lucky bamboo embellishes:
Is lucky bamboo poisonous?
The plant parts of the lucky bamboo are considered to be slightly poisonous. This classification is based on the ingredients. Dracaena Braunii contains saponins, which in high doses can have negative effects on the organism. Symptoms of poisoning rarely occur because the bitter taste naturally discourages consumption of large quantities. The gut is normally very poor at absorbing saponins. If the intestinal wall is inflamed, saponins can enter the bloodstream and dissolve the red blood cells.
Is lucky bamboo toxic to pets?
The toxic effect is similarly low in animals. Cats and dogs who have eaten large amounts can get diarrhea. Saponins are just as toxic to fish as surfactants. However, there is only a risk of poisoning if these secondary plant substances get directly into the water or if the fish eat the plant parts. This is not usually the case when keeping a lucky bamboo in the aquarium.
Which location is suitable?
Dracaena brownii prefers a light location all year round that should not be too sunny. You can influence the growth of the plant with the brightness. If you put your lucky bamboo in a darker place, it will grow more slowly. However, the permanent lack of light is harmful to health. High humidity improves vitality. If you cultivate your plant on the windowsill directly above the heater, there should always be plenty of water in the planter. Otherwise, the leaves dry out easily due to the dry heating air.
The ambient temperature should be at least 18 degrees Celsius. The plant is sensitive to cooler temperatures by stopping growth. Avoid drafts and a cold floor. In summer, the plant will thank you for an outdoor location with partially shaded conditions.
What soil does the plant need?
You can plant your lucky bamboo in a loamy substrate that has been enriched with sand. The plants prefer a humus-rich substrate. Commercial potting soil, loosened up with sand or perlite, is ideal. The cuttings can be grown in pure hydroponics. Expanded clay (€19.73) or clay granules are suitable for this. If the plant has not yet developed a strong root system, you can place the plant in a vase filled with water.
Multiply lucky bamboo
The easiest way to propagate the lucky bamboo is to use side shoots. These are cut off healthy and strong stems with a sharp knife. Remove the bottom leaves from the side shoot and place them in a container filled with water. Place the vase in a bright spot with indirect sun for a month. You should change the water weekly. After about 30 days, the side shoots will have developed enough roots to be transplanted or grown hydroponically. Ideally, the side shoots have reached a length of ten centimeters.
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sowing
Propagation from seeds is almost impossible, as the cultivated specimens do not flower. Should it still succeed, the actual sowing is very simple. The seeds germinate on potting soil under high humidity. The planter should be in a bright location.
cuttings
Another form of propagation is cuttings. Here, a trunk is divided into several pieces, which should be about ten centimeters long. Always cut the pieces just above a knot. The cuttings will later sprout again at these points.
Dip the top interface in liquid soy wax that is color and fragrance free. The candle wax seals the interface so that no pathogens and fungal spores can penetrate the wound. Then the cuttings are placed in water and placed in a warm and bright place.
planting
If you want to plant the lucky bamboo in soil, you should choose a sufficiently large container. The pot diameter should be five centimeters larger than the plant. A terracotta pot is ideal because the material ensures optimal air and moisture circulation. Make sure the jar has a drainage hole. A mixture of normal soil, peat and sand is suitable as a plant substrate. Put the lucky bamboo as deep in the ground as it was in the water before. This gives the plant stability.
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Water lucky bamboo
If you cultivate the lucky bamboo in hydroponics, the roots should always be covered with water. Give the plant enough water so that the lower end is two to three centimeters in the water. If the shoots grow in soil, regular and economical watering is recommended. The substrate should be damp but not wet. Make sure that excess water can drain off easily.
If the Lucky Bamboo is in clean water, you should maintain the water level and change the water weekly. This will prevent algae from forming. Dirt and deposits are removed in this way.
You should use soft water for watering, because lime damages the plants. The water should be at room temperature so that the roots do not get a cold shock from cold tap water. Spray the leaves regularly with water from a flower sprayer. This measure increases the humidity.
Fertilize lucky bamboo properly
The plants have a high nutrient requirement and are grateful for regular fertilization. Make sure you use it sparingly, as excess nutrients damage the plant. Give the lucky bamboo a special hydroponic fertilizer every ten days, which you add to the irrigation water. When cultivating in the substrate, no additional fertilization is necessary. The plant draws nutrients from the substrate.
Cut lucky bamboo correctly
Dracaena braunii does not need pruning. You can promote certain growth forms by pruning and steer your lucky bamboo. To form a crown, the lateral shoots are cut off close to the trunk. Also cut off the new shoots. The plant will keep developing fresh side shoots that will gradually thicken into a crown.
Dead plant parts can be cut off regularly. They often occur in winter when the indoor air is too dry. Rotten and diseased leaves and shoots must be generously removed so that the healthy part is not affected.
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repot
The ornamental plant can grow to a considerable height over the course of its life, so that the container eventually becomes too narrow. As soon as your lucky bamboo is too tall and the container can no longer provide stability, you can treat the plant to a larger pot. Choose a heavy and stable bucket with sufficient volume. If the plant grows in the substrate, it should be transplanted every year. Before planting the plant in fresh soil, the roots should be thoroughly cleaned. This prevents diseases.
How to transplant the lucky bamboo:
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hibernate
The lucky bamboo prefers to spend the winter at constant temperatures, which should not fall below 18 degrees Celsius. Since the air is particularly dry in winter due to constant heating, you need to spray the plant with water more often. Protect the plant from drafts. Intermittent ventilation for a maximum of ten minutes is not a problem.
Diseases
The lucky bamboo is rarely afflicted by diseases. Damage patterns are often due to incorrect care measures or suboptimal site conditions. If no maintenance errors are apparent and the trunk turns yellow in places, yellow rot can be a cause. It is suspected that bacteria or mold are possible pathogens. You save the plant from rotting by generously cutting off the damaged piece. Use gloves and a sanitized knife.
A yellowing of the trunk that stretches upwards from the base indicates an excess of nutrients in the substrate or water. On the other hand, rapid transplanting helps.
pests
In winter, the dry heating air often leads to pest infestation. During this time, the plants are weakened by incorrect site conditions.
scale insects
They settle on the underside of the leaves and the sprouts and feed on the plant sap. If the pest infestation is low, you can remove the scale insects with a sharp jet of water. Plant protection sticks help the plants that are cultivated in soil. In hydroponics, the pests are eliminated with summer oil. After this treatment, you should rinse the plant thoroughly with clear water.
spider mites
The pests multiply in dry conditions, leaving fine cobwebs between the leaves and light-colored speckles on the upper surface of the leaves. As a first remedial measure, we recommend showering the plant with a hard jet of water. Keep the humidity high to keep pests out.
Yellow leaves
If the leaves of the lucky bamboo turn yellow, this indicates a lack of water or suboptimal lighting conditions. Dracaena braunii needs a bright location that is protected from direct sunlight and sufficient water. If the water is too calcareous, limescale will appear on the stems in addition to the yellow leaves. Chlorine in the water also causes the leaves to turn yellow. Change the water or plant the plant in fresh soil. Make sure that the irrigation water is low in lime.
tips
The lucky bamboo is offered in many different forms. The shoots are intertwined, twisted up into a screw or arranged in a pyramidal shape. A white lily suits this plant perfectly. The arrangement has a harmonious and calming effect.