Lucky Bamboo-2

Care and love that makes lucky bamboo happy    

Light: Lucky bamboo prefers bright, filtered sunlight, such as that found under a rainforest canopy. Avoid direct sunlight as it will scorch the leaves. They are more tolerant of too little light than too much. If the plant begins to stretch, or the green fades, provide more light.

Watering: Lucky bamboo can grow indefinitely in a simple vase filled with pebbles (for support) and at least an inch of water. However, they are very sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals commonly found in tap water. 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. Healthy lucky bamboo roots are red, so don't be alarmed if you can see red roots in a glass vase. Finally, change the water weekly for good hygiene.

Temperature: Lucky bamboo likes warmer temperatures of between 18ºC and 32ºC. Do not place the plants in front of air conditioning or heating vents.

Potting Media: In addition to water, lucky bamboo can be grown in a well-drained, rich potting soil. Keep the soil moist, but not soaking.

Fertiliser: Plants grown in water will only need to be fed every other month or so, using a very weak liquid fertiliser. A single drop of liquid fertiliser is plenty for most lucky bamboo arrangements.

Lucky bamboo is a very hearty plant that is easy to take care of as long as you follow the care instructions, it will make you happy too.

Common Problems with Lucky Bamboo
The most common mistakes related to lucky bamboo are usually connected to the water. Chlorinated water will kill them over time, and water that is dirty or infected with bacteria can be deadly. If a plant develops black roots, these should be cut away. Similarly, dead leaves should never be allowed to rot in the water as they might introduce bacteria. If algae is growing in the water, it's usually because the plant is potted in a clear vase, allowing light to penetrate and encouraging algae growth. Just clean it out and start again, switching to an opaque container if algae is a persistent problem.

Leaves that are yellow usually indicate too much sun or too much fertiliser. Cut out the fertiliser and move the plant to a shadier location.

Brown leaves usually indicate dry air or polluted water. Raise the humidity level by spraying the plant regularly and make sure you are using the appropriate water.

If the stalks themselves begin to rot or turn mushy, they are likely beyond saving. Worse yet, decaying stalks threaten any other stalks they are close to. Remove them at once. If you really want to save it, cut away the yellow parts and try to root the trimmed stalk in new water.

Finally, lucky bamboos are susceptible to the same insect problems as other indoor tropical plants. They can be treated manually (picking off bugs) or by the same methods you would use on any other indoor plant.

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