Lucky Bamboo adds FengShui and color to your home.
Written: Apr 23 '03 (Updated Apr 23 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy care, FengShui plant
Cons: I wasn't so "lucky" with mine.
The Bottom Line: Fun, attractive plant adds color and Asian influence to any environment...if you're lucky!
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| randfan's Full Review: Lucky Bamboo In Glass Vase |
My experience with Lucky Bamboo was decidedly unlucky, but I still like the plants. They are interesting, easy to grow (for most people) and add a bit of FengShui to your home.
Lucky Bamboo can be grown in containers with rocks and special material or in a vase of water. This review is for the water-grown bamboo.
Lucky Bamboo is actually not bamboo at all, but is a member of the Dracaena family. It grows in water, like fresh-cut flowers, but will (reportedly) last for years.
The bamboo is a deep green, with notches all along the stem. Elongated green leaves sprout from the top of the stem, in a fashion similar to a palm tree.
Lucky bamboo needs to be in water of not less than 1/2" and not more than 2". If you get too much, the stems will yellow and die. If you get too little, the stems will close up and die. These plants are pretty flexible as far as temperatures, tolerating 45 degrees to 90 degrees. The need low light or bright indirect sun light to prosper, but direct sunlight is too strong for them.
My story: I had my lucky bamboo for over a year. I had four stems. Two were stick-straight, and two had interesting spirals in them. I kept them in a large vase, as they were about 2 1/2 feet tall. I put marbles in the bottom of the vase and kept the water level at the recommended height.
I read various web sites and literature on this plant. All said it is so easy to care for, anyone can do it. One brochure even said, "Don't worry! You can't kill this one." Well, I managed somehow. Despite caring for it carefully, my lucky bamboo was unlucky and it died after about 14 months. I don't know what this indicates on my future luck, but I hope it's not an indicator of the rest of my life!
There are conflicting stories of caring for lucky bamboo. Some say to never change the water, just add slowly to it each month to keep the level the same. Some say change it monthly and add distilled water. Some say trim the roots as they grow, while others say never trim the roots. Some say feed it diluted plant food, and others say they never need feeding. I know I changed the water, didn't use distilled water, fed it once, and didn't trim the roots, so maybe those are the wrong things to do.
A person I know who has had huge success with her lucky bamboo (over four years and going strong!) keeps it in a fish bowl with a beta fish. She changes the water when she thinks of it, and doesn't do distilled water. Both the fish and the bamboo are thriving.
This plant is popular in Asia when the Chinese New Year is approaching or to celebrate a business grand opening, the purchase of a new home or just for pure good luck. "Lucky Bamboo" has the following spiritual meaning:
Career - Climb up the ladder (advancement)
Business - success in business venture (prosperity)
Health - Harmony and peaceful life (longevity)
Religious - Gracious, honorable and virtuous (Zen)
Relationship - Energize your love life
FengShui - Creation of positive energy in your environment (Chi)
I would give this plant an "excellent" rating if mine hadn't died and if I could find consistent information about its care. Since I couldn't, I give it an "above average" rating, but I think if a person grows this plant successfully, they will be pleased with its uniqueness, its care level and overall appearance.
Also, prices vary greatly on lucky bamboo. It has gotten very easy to find, so shop around for the best price. I have seen it as low as four dollars a stem and as high as thirteen.
If you decide to try lucky bamboo, I hope you have better luck than I!
Recommended:
Yes
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randfan
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