lucky bamboodracaena sanderiana) is believed to bring good luck to the house, so more leaves and stems must be better! Unfortunately, they aren’t “woody” by nature, but there are a few tricks you can use to make them thicker and increase your wealth.
Cutting off the top of your Lucky Bamboo encourages the growth of new stems, often resulting in two or more new stems where there was only one. You can also propagate the removed buds by including them in the arrangement to give the impression of thicker growth.
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cut the top
Lucky Bamboo is a Dracaena, a group of plants that grow from their crowns. This means you can manipulate the growth by completely removing the crown. It sounds dramatic, but Dracaena is in no way affected by it.
The old growing point dries out as soon as it is cut. Then, just below the scar, the bamboo will grow new nodes. It is not uncommon for a healthy plant to produce two or even three fresh leaves.
Root the top to start a new stem
Do not discard the cut crown of the Lucky Bamboo. This part of the plant is still very much alive and can easily take root and grow into a new one.
I like to root the top of the bamboo and replant it with the original bamboo. This creates the appearance of a bushier, lusher plant.
With water-propagated Lucky Bamboo, it’s easy to do. Many of the more expensive store-bought arrangements consist of many individual plants artfully strung together.
At home, it’s simple, and the process benefits the oldest plant. Now is a good time to top up the water, clean the gravel and trim the dead leaves.
You can also root directly into the ground. The success rate is lower than rooting in water, but under the right conditions the difference is negligible.
It also gives your Lucky Bamboo a better long-term environment. Although they grow in water, soil is necessary for truly durable plants.
How to Root Lucky Bamboo in a Water Cup
You need:
- lucky bamboo plant
- scissors or pruner
- cleaning alcohol
- clean water
- Clear container: A repurposed jar or glass works well.
Step 1 – Take your part
Remove the top of the Lucky Bamboo leaving at least 10cm of stem below the lower leaves.
To ensure a clean cut, clean cutting tools with isopropyl alcohol before making a clean cut in the branch.
Step 2 – Dry the Cut
Let the cut end dry a bit. Between 6 a.m. and midnight is ideal for Lucky Bamboo.
Step 3: Place the cutting in a bowl of clean water
Water quality is critical when growing Lucky Bamboo, especially for new cuttings. The water should be free of chlorine or fluoride, which can damage emerging roots, so use filtered, distilled or rainwater.
Since spring water in many areas contains a lot of mineral salts, I don’t recommend it for this purpose.
Step Four: Provide Enough Light
Place Lucky Bamboo in a warm place with plenty of indirect light.
Although Lucky Bamboo will tolerate some morning sun, direct sunlight on water barrels usually causes the roots to warm and overheat.
Fifth step: transfer to the pan
Roots will appear gradually and take a month or more to fully develop. You can transfer it to the same arrangement as the parent plant once it is 2 inches or taller.
I recommend that you take the opportunity to refresh the entire screen. Rinse gravel or river rocks with clean water after emptying the barrel. Remove yellow or brown leaves.
Then just put all the bamboo back in clean water and move it around. Take care when covering new roots if you are growing with gravel or river rocks.
Root the Lucky Bamboo Cutting in the Ground
You need:
- a lucky bamboo
- A small pot of soil
- cleaning alcohol
- Garden shears or shears
- small or flat shovel
- chopsticks or a small garden stake
- soft tires
- Cinnamon powder
First step: take the cup
The more Chest you can donate, the better; after all, there will be something underground. Finally, a clean cut without ragged edges after sterilizing your scissors.
Second step: allow calluses to form
Leave the cutting facing the callus to prevent it from rotting in the ground. This method works best if you do it at night.
Step Four – Use Rooting Hormones
Sprinkle ground cinnamon on the bottom of the cup. Cinnamon powder contains natural hormones that promote root growth. It is also a strong natural fungicide that will prevent the base of the cutting from rotting.
Fifth step: make your soil
Dracaena is closely related to succulents and requires a growing medium that is rich in organic matter and free-flowing. A good choice is a mix of high quality cacti and succulents.
Step Six – Insert the Cutting into the Ground
Stick an inch or two of your cut into the jar. If necessary, hold it upright with a toothpick or garden stick and gently tie it in place.
The mother plant should show signs of new growth within the next few weeks. It may take a month or two to see a recent change in your pot propagation, but those roots are growing. Once established, they will begin to stimulate fresh leaf growth.
How do I make my lucky bamboo bushier?
- Remove the tops to encourage new growth.
- Grow clumps of water-grown lucky bamboo in the same container.
- Temperatures between 18 and 32°C (65 and 90°F) and plenty of indirect light are ideal growing conditions.
- Change the water in your Lucky Bamboo regularly and avoid tap water.
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