How To Grow Lucky Bamboo Plants In Soil?
Lucky bamboo is a perennial herbaceous plant that is popular as an indoor plant because it is easy to take care of. In Chinese legends, the number of lucky bamboo stalks means different things, most of which are good, like luck, love, money, and good health. Lucky bamboo is in the same plant family as asparagus (Asparagaceae) and is more closely related to asparagus than to true bamboo, which is a type of grass (family Bambusoideae). Contrary to popular belief, you can grow lucky bamboo plants in soil.
Some cultures believe that a lucky bamboo plant (Dracaena sanderiana ) will bring happiness and wealth to home. Even if you don’t believe that lucky bamboo is a pretty and fun plant to have in your home, the fact that the plant can grow in just water is why it is so popular. But if you know how to plant lucky bamboo in soil, you can help the plant grow bigger and stronger. Continue reading to learn the tips for growing lucky bamboo plants in soil.
Planting Lucky Bamboo Plants In Soil
Lucky bamboo can be grown in water if you want an easy-care houseplant. When growing lucky bamboo in water, a layer of pebbles must be put over the roots to help keep the plant steady. Always use water that has been filtered, and change the water if it starts to look cloudy or dirty. If your lucky bamboo plant is bigger or more established, you may want to plant it in soil instead. Lucky bamboo can grow in soil, but it needs special care.
Choose a soil mix that is good for succulents. You should also choose a pot with holes so that your plant’s roots don’t get too wet while you grow lucky bamboo plants in the soil.
Then, you can plant the end with the roots in the ground.
Lucky bamboo plants do best in a moist environment, so ensure the soil is damp but not soggy. Use filtered or distilled water to keep fluoride from burning the edges of the leaves and hurting your plant. Making sure the pot has a way for water to drain will keep the roots of your lucky bamboo healthy, which will keep the plant healthy.
Care Of Lucky Bamboo Plants In Soil
Light
- Lucky bamboo likes bright, filtered sunlight, like what you’d find under the canopy of a rainforest. Keep the leaves out of direct sunlight because it will burn them.
- They can deal with too little light better than too much. But if the plant starts to sag or the green starts to fade, give it more light.
- Rotate your plant often so that all of its leaves get the same amount of light while growing lucky bamboo plants in the soil.
Soil
- Lucky bamboo can be grown in rich potting soil with good drainage.
- Keep the soil moist but not drenched when you grow lucky bamboo plants in the soil.
- If you plant your lucky bamboo in the soil, a chunky, well-draining mix will serve you well.
- Pot it in a mix of orchid bark, perlite, charcoal, and organic potting soil.
Water
- Lucky bamboo doesn’t like chlorine and other chemicals often in tap water.
- If you have hard water, you could use tap water (containing many minerals) for lucky bamboo plants in the soil.
- Because of this, you should only water your lucky bamboo with water that has been bottled, distilled, or left out for 24 hours to let the chlorine evaporate.
- Water daily or on an alternate days.
Temperature
- As you might expect, lucky bamboo plants do best in warmer temperatures, between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit while growing lucky bamboo plants in soil.
- Don’t put your plant near a hot or cold draft, like in front of an air conditioner, a heating vent, or a window with a draft.
- Your lucky bamboo plant doesn’t need more humidity than what’s already in your home, so don’t worry about it.
Fertilizer
- Most lucky bamboo arrangements only need a few drops of liquid fertilizer diluted in water each month.
- There are also special fertilizers whether you grow lucky bamboo plants in soil or water.
- Plants grown in water will only need a very weak liquid fertilizer every other month or so; however, it needs a stronger fertilizer for the soil. Don’t worry if you see red roots. This means that the roots are healthy.
Pruning
Even though lucky bamboo looks complicated, it is not pruned and is shaped like bonsai, which is done with plant wire and careful trimming.
To keep your lucky bamboo healthy, it’s important to prune it while you grow lucky bamboo plants in the soil because growth is vigorous in soil. Most plants will start to lean toward the top or lose their shape over time, but trimming keeps that under control.
- Cutting the main stalk of lucky bamboo is not a good idea.
- Use sterile snippers to cut off the branches. You can cut them back, so they are about an inch or two from the main stem.
- Soon, new shoots will grow, and the plant will become bushier.
- Dip the cut end in paraffin to stop new growth.
- Lucky bamboo plants get their shapes not by cutting but by turning the plant stalks in front of a light source for lucky bamboo plants in soil.
- This makes the plant grow toward the light. The spiraling shapes of stalks are often made by growing them on their sides.
But doing this at home is hard work that takes time and patience to get right. It can be done by putting the plants under a box with three sides, paying close attention to how fast they grow, and slowly and regularly moving the plants around.
Propagating Lucky Bamboo Plants In Soil
Lucky bamboo can be grown from cuttings at any time to make new plants for yourself or as a lucky gift for someone else. But the roots won’t look like the plants you buy at the store. Follow these steps to get lucky bamboo to grow:
- Use a clean, sharp cutting shear to cut off the main stalk of a stem with at least one leaf joint. Then, trim the leaves so that the growth nodes are visible.
- Put the cutting in a container with enough distilled water to cover the bottom of the cutting completely.
- Keep the water clean and fresh, and watch for red roots to grow. In about 30 days, roots should start to show.
- When the roots show up, put the stalk in a pot with soil.
Problems Of Lucky Bamboo Plants In Soil
Insects and Pests
Lucky bamboo has the same insect problems as other tropical plants that you keep indoors. You can take care of them by hand (by picking off bugs) or in the same way as any other houseplant. Be on the lookout for mealybugs, aphids, and mites while growing lucky bamboo plants in the soil.
You can even wash the whole plant with very mild liquid dish soap, water, and a good rinse to eliminate bugs and mold.
Brown Leaves
Most of the time, brown leaves on lucky bamboo mean the air is dry, or the water is dirty. By spraying the plant often, you can raise the humidity level. Also, ensure that you apply a clean and right amount of water while growing lucky bamboo plants in the soil.
Tips for Browning Leaves
If you water a plant with water that has a lot of chlorine or additives, the leaf tips may turn brown, and the plant may die over time. Use a pair of clean, sharp scissors to cut off the affected leaves. Take the dead leaves out, so they don’t rot and let bacteria in.
Yellow Leaves
When lucky bamboo has yellow leaves, it usually means getting too much sun or too much fertilizer. Stop giving the plant fertilizer and move it to a place with more shade. Read our article to learn more about the yellowing of lucky bamboo plants and to prevent it.
(Also Read-Easy Beginners Guide To Care Of Lucky Bamboo Plant)
Conclusion
We’ve tried to talk about everything you need to know about growing and taking care of lucky bamboo plants. This is one of the plants that every gardener loves to keep inside. The plant’s popularity can be linked to the numerous benefits it provides. It is a hardy plant that doesn’t die easily and grows quickly. Follow these tips to grow lucky bamboo plants in the soil.