Caring for a Lucky Bamboo Plant

Lucky Bamboo is not actually bamboo. It is a member of the lily family that grows natively in the deep shade of tropical rainforests. This is an attractive house plant that is suitable for even those of us without a green thumb.

A common name for Lucky Bamboo is Ribbon Plant. The true name for it, though rarely used, is Dracaena sanderiana.

Making the purchase - When purchasing a Lucky Bamboo plant you want to make sure it is fresh. If it has a bad odor to it you will know that it is in bad health and you don't want to purchase this one. - Make sure the pot your plant will live in is about 2 inches larger around than your plant.

Caring for the plant This versatile plant can grow in pure water or can be planted in soil. If planting in soil, make sure there is a drain hole!

If you choose to go with the water only method you will need some pebbles to hold your plant up. This can be fun because you can choose colors that will coordinate with your home. You will want to make sure that your water level is higher than your pebbles. You will also need to change your water once a week. When doing so, you will need to rinse your pebbles off , your plant off and your vase out for maximum quality of your plant. If you use distilled water in your vase, it will help prevent algae from growing.

If you prefer to use soil with your plant you may want to use a mixture of 1/3 parts sand, peat moss and regular soil, this will help to properly drain. Water your plant heavily the first time to saturate the soil. In between waterings your soil should be just damp, this will let you know when to water heavily again.

Most plants do not do well in standing water or sit well in soggy soil. So which ever way you choose, you will want to add a mild fertilizer periodically. The Lucky Bamboo will sit in fertilized water for days at a time.