“Happy Bamboo” or “Bamboo Lucky” is an easy-to-care indoor plant. It grows well in weak indirect light and is a miniature alternative to the huge evergreen grass growing in subtropical regions of Asia. This flower is actually not bamboo at all, but a species of tropical water lily called Dracaena Sander, originally from Africa. They say that the plant brings good luck to the inhabitants of any place where it is grown.
If you dream of a real giant, you can try to buy bamboo seeds. They can be germinated, but at home it will be difficult to maintain the temperature and humidity necessary for this subtropical plant. Young shoots can die quickly. But still, bamboo seeds are on sale. Therefore, those who crave experiments do not interfere with trying to sow them. Other lovers of indoor plants are suitable for growing indoor bamboo.
Features of the formation of the stem of the dracaena Sander
People interested in oriental culture and familiar with the teachings of Feng Shui sometimes combine this hobby with floriculture. They are constantly in search of suitable plants that can bring well-being, harmony and comfort to the house. According to popular beliefs, “happy bamboo” refers to just such living magnets for good luck and success, because it is so popular among followers of Feng Shui teachings.
On sale you can often see plants with spiral stems, but this is not the natural state of Sander dracaena. The shoots are bent artificially, forcing them to reach the light source and periodically turn in the opposite direction. The lower leaves are removed to increase resemblance to the larger ones. So from the trunk a beautiful smooth spiral is obtained. But in the process of growing bamboo at home in the ground, it begins to grow up as usual. This behavior of a flower disappoints many, but spinning it again is not so simple. Although some flower growers still try to form a dracaena by tying several stems with pigtails or directing them in different directions with the help of special brackets. To do so or to allow a flower to grow naturally - everyone decides for himself.
The use of dracaena Sander in the interior
Another thing is professional florists. They often use many bamboo stems to create intricate compositions, weaving and twisting them in different directions. This work is facilitated by the fact that the plant is able to grow without soil and maintain viability for a long time, remaining in a small amount of nutrient solution. Therefore, it is a real find for designers who design the interior in ethnic style. The flower looks attractive and does not require special attention.
Dracaena Sander in Feng Shui Practice
This type of indoor bamboo can look very exotic, because it fits well into the eastern interiors and it is not surprising that magical properties are attributed to it. It is believed that turning a plant into a talisman helps a red or yellow ribbon. Figures of various animals, such as elephants and dogs, enhance the effect. In Feng Shui practice, special attention is paid to the number of stalks of Sander dracaena. Therefore, before growing bamboo as a talisman, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the symbols. It is believed that the number of plants must be odd. For example, three stalks in the same pot or vase mean good luck, seven mean good health, and five mean wealth.
How to care for indoor bamboo in water
Dracaena Sander is usually sold as a single stem, the lower part of which is placed in a flask with liquid. This plant is considered one-day, because most often it is simply put in a vase with water and forgotten. There, the flower builds up the root mass and it seems that it does not need more. But gardeners who purchase a plant as an indoor plant are often worried about the question of how to grow bamboo further so that it actively develops and branches.
There are two answers to this question. First: leave it in water or hydrogel for a while and start feeding it with liquid fertilizers. The dose should be small, otherwise there is a high risk of burning the roots of the plant. It is advisable to add activated carbon to the water and make sure that the dying leaves do not fall into the liquid, otherwise the flower may rot. If you do not feed bamboo, it will not develop, will begin to turn yellow and may die, since there will not be enough minerals in the liquid for its growth. In such an environment, the flower can be located for about two years.
Hydrogel Cultivation
Hydrogel or aqua soil is a special substance that can hold water and gradually give it to the plant. Its difference is in the attractive appearance of the granules. They can be of different colors and look beautiful in a vase with flowers. But there are no special differences in the use of hydrogel from the cultivation of dracaena in water. Granules can be sold ready-made - then you need to add water with fertilizer to them, and dry ones just need to be soaked in a solution. Caring for a plant is simple: periodically add water, sometimes feed and replace the top layer of the hydrogel when it dries.
Potted dracaena cultivation
The second option on how to grow bamboo is a transplant into the ground. The plant grows well in the ground and quickly overgrows with new leaves. In order to increase the number of branches, small cuts are made on the trunk next to sleeping buds. Two years after growing in water, the flower will have to be replanted, as it will begin to fade. A bamboo pot is selected in advance, focusing on the size of the root system. Too large a container increases the chance to fill the plant. Before planting bamboo in a pot, a thick layer of expanded clay or other drainage, for example, pieces of polystyrene, is placed on the bottom.
"Happy Bamboo" does not like direct sunlight, so the place for it is selected shaded, away from drafts. In bright light, burns may appear on the leaves or they will begin to fade and fall off. A flower is able to grow without a daylight source, in a room without windows, because it is well suited for landscaping office rooms. The plant is watered when the topsoil dries by about 2 cm. The soil must not be allowed to dry out completely - then the dracaena may die. Humidity does not matter much, but the air temperature should not fall below +17 degrees. It is advisable to wipe the leaves of dracaena regularly, eliminating dust.
How to transplant home bamboo
Soil is selected in advance. The best option would be a special substrate for palm trees and dracaena. Another option: mix part of the turf land with two parts of sand and peat. It is advisable to add a disintegrant, such as perlite or vermiculite, to the soil. Every year, the plant is transplanted into a larger pot. The earthball cannot be disturbed at the same time, since the roots of the dracen are easily damaged, and the flower can become sick.
Propagation of the "happy bamboo"
The flower propagates easily. It is enough to cut a stalk about 10 cm long from it, sprinkle the slices with activated charcoal or cinnamon and put in a glass with clean water. Roots will soon appear from sleeping kidneys. To speed up the process, the lower part of the handle can be dusted with root or hold the shoot for several hours in a solution with a growth stimulator. The optimum temperature for the cuttings of Sander dracaena is + 25-27 degrees. The plant can also be propagated by seeds, sowing them in a mixture of sand and peat. They can germinate up to six months.
Diseases and pests of home bamboo
The flower is quite resistant to pests and rarely gets sick. Most often, it is damaged by a spider mite or mealybugs. Disease prevention is quite simple. Before you grow bamboo, bought in a store, you need to inspect it for pests, and then bathe in a warm shower. A new flower should be quarantined away from other indoor plants for two weeks. If everything is in order and no larvae or suspicious spots appear on it, the flower is moved to a permanent place. With proper care, the plant forms a strong immune system and it is able to fight pests. If infection does occur, bamboo should be treated with special preparations and isolated from other colors.
Of the diseases, the most common problem is trunk rot and yellowing of the leaves. These problems are related and may occur due to excessive waterlogging of the soil or high humidity. You can save a rotten flower only by cuttings. At the same time, the entire damaged part is cut off to healthy tissue, treated with an antifungal drug and sprinkled with activated charcoal. Another common problem is yellowing of the ends of the leaves. This is due to too dry air in the room. In this case, daily spraying of a flower or a tray with wet pebbles helps. If the leaves become too pale, perhaps the reason is too bright lighting. The flower is patient enough to lack of light. In the cold, bamboo leaves may fade and curl, therefore it is better to comply with the recommended temperature of maintenance - not lower than +17 degrees.