Uses of Lucky Bamboo
A small, bamboo-like plant often sold in decorative containers, lucky bamboo is thought to attract abundance in many areas of life. While it's actually a member of the lily family known as Dracaena sanderiana, it does resemble bamboo. However, it fairs better as a potted plant, since it grows much slower and is smaller than many true bamboo varieties. Whether giving lucky bamboo as a gift or placing it in areas of your home for feng shui or decoration, it's useful as a beacon of good energy.
Lucky bamboo is often used for decoration. It requires little care, sunlight or attention such as pruning or fertilization, so it's a favorite plant for offices or in homes where plants may be neglected or forgotten about from time to time. This plant is frequently sold in decorative pots as a finished product rather than something to take home and re-pot in a more attractive vessel, which again makes it a good choice if you don't want to put much effort into plant care.
Lucky bamboo thrives in water as well as in soil, making it a suitable aquarium plant. It aerates and oxygenates aquarium water, which benefits fish. In a watery environment, lucky bamboo fares better with its leaves completely out of the water, otherwise they may rot. The plant requires fresh rather than saltwater. It can also be grown in water without being in an aquarium.
Feng shui is a practice of bringing and maintaining balance in our surroundings, often enhanced by natural elements. Lucky bamboo represents wood as a natural element; a red ribbon tied to the bamboo indicates the element fire, which fuels positive results. The plant's use in feng shui is to bring a sense of safety and well-being to a room or a home by creating a sense of balance.
Lucky bamboo requires prefers indirect over direct, bright sunlight. Its roots require continual moisture. If the plant is yellowing, it may be receiving too much sunlight. The type of water used on the plant could also cause yellowing. Filtered or spring water feeds lucky bamboo better than chlorinated tap water. Over time, the yellowing will spread beyond leaves into the entire plant, eventually killing it. Switch to a filtered water to see if the plant's health improves. If using tap water, let it sit a night or two before adding the lucky bamboo. Water from a freshwater fish tank can be added to fertilize the plant.
Kathy Adams is an award-winning journalist and freelance writer who traveled the world handling numerous duties for music artists. She writes travel and budgeting tips and destination guides for USA Today, Travelocity and ForRent, among others. She enjoys exploring foreign locales and hiking off the beaten path stateside, snapping pics of wildlife and nature instead of selfies.